Step by step guide; Replacing a frame lock on your city bike/touring bike

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Frame locks can only be mounted on bicycles with enough space on the frame between the seat tube, seat stay and rear wheel.
This excludes many mountain bikes, road bikes and smaller children’s bikes.
This blog only covers how to mount a frame lock on the seat stay (also known as the “rear fork”).

What you'll need

Important to know before you begin

With most modern city bikes, the frame lock is mounted directly onto the frame.
A thread tapped in the frame makes it possible to mount the lock using a socket wrench or allen key.
If a bicycle does not feature these mounting points on the frame, you can also mount the frame lock using separate mounting materials.

Step 1 : Removing the frame lock

Remove screw caps to uncover the screws. (1)
Use a small flat screwdriver for this.
Then loosen the screws on both ends, using the socket wrench or allen key. (2)
Now you can separate the lock from the frame. (3)

Be careful not to damage the mudguard while removing the frame lock.

Step 2 : Mounting the frame lock

Tilt the lock so it can be pulled between the frame and the mudguard. (1)
Place the new frame lock over the rear wheel and make sure that the lock’s mounting holes are level with the lock holes in the frame. (3)

Step 3 : Mounting the frame lock

Determine the right mounting height to make sure there is enough space to lock the frame lock.
There are usually three different height options for a frame lock. (1, 2)
First lightly tighten one screw, leaving it loose enough so that you can still mount the lock horizontally.
Then tighten the screw the same way on the other side.
Make sure the frame lock is centered, then tighten the other screws. (3)
If you removed any screw caps during step 1, put them back over the mounting screws now.

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