Discussion
Hey everyone...
Anyone recommend a good lock thats easy to cary on a bike? Ive been told a d-lock is one of the best and is easy to attach to the bike from a carrying perspective?
Want something that i can use for the odd times i will pop to the shops with my bike in town or the post office etc.
Thanks & merry christmas
Anyone recommend a good lock thats easy to cary on a bike? Ive been told a d-lock is one of the best and is easy to attach to the bike from a carrying perspective?
Want something that i can use for the odd times i will pop to the shops with my bike in town or the post office etc.
Thanks & merry christmas
Budget?
The Oxford Magnum Ultra Strong U-Lock came out on top for value in a recent WMB lock test (around £40.00). Kryptonite Evolution LS Series 4 was 2nd for value at around £50.00 although it came out a lot better in the angle grinder test
The Oxford Magnum Ultra Strong U-Lock came out on top for value in a recent WMB lock test (around £40.00). Kryptonite Evolution LS Series 4 was 2nd for value at around £50.00 although it came out a lot better in the angle grinder test
Edited by Buzzkill on Wednesday 30th December 14:51
Both these are great locks, i've never seen one broken open though have seen many of the other brands lying broken on the floor. They attach onto the frame. Chains are heavy and cable-locks are a waste of money, they are the ones you see cut through more than any other.
The Abus locks are expensive but worth it IMO, I have seen several frames still attached to railings by these locks when the wheels, headset, bottom brackets etc have all been removed!!! Above point is correct though with D-locks you need to fill as much of the D with frame/tyres/railings/post as possible to reduce the amount of space to get a lever in. Ultimately it's best to have bikes on insurance too as if someone wants it badly enough they will steal it.
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Abus-Granit-Power-58-D-Loc...
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Abus-Granit-X-Plus-54-D-Lo...
Hope this helps.
The Abus locks are expensive but worth it IMO, I have seen several frames still attached to railings by these locks when the wheels, headset, bottom brackets etc have all been removed!!! Above point is correct though with D-locks you need to fill as much of the D with frame/tyres/railings/post as possible to reduce the amount of space to get a lever in. Ultimately it's best to have bikes on insurance too as if someone wants it badly enough they will steal it.
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Abus-Granit-Power-58-D-Loc...
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Abus-Granit-X-Plus-54-D-Lo...
Hope this helps.
I looked into locks when I recently bought a bike for commuting and I drew a bit of a blank in the end. Decent chain locks are far too heavy to carry around and anything cheaper and lighter can be seen to in seconds by a decent set of bolt cutters. D-locks are better but don't work with the bike racks we have at work unless you go for the larger sizes and then they're vulnerable to bottle jack attacks and a pain to carry.
The other issue was the more I read the more I seemed to end up with the recommendation being to buy a £100+ lock, which seemed a bit steep considering my bike only cost £400.
In the end I bought a reasonable lock for £20, replaced the quick release skewers on my wheels with slightly unusual security allen key alternatives for £10 and took out a fairly extensive bike insurance policy with my home insurance for about £10.
The other issue was the more I read the more I seemed to end up with the recommendation being to buy a £100+ lock, which seemed a bit steep considering my bike only cost £400.
In the end I bought a reasonable lock for £20, replaced the quick release skewers on my wheels with slightly unusual security allen key alternatives for £10 and took out a fairly extensive bike insurance policy with my home insurance for about £10.
After reading and your advice i decided to get the following for the random one off times i take my bike to the postoffice or the bank:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kryptonite/kry...
Will look into a cable also.
Thanks for all the advice guys
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kryptonite/kry...
Will look into a cable also.
Thanks for all the advice guys
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yip, pretty much no matter how the bike is locked, it will be stolen given enough time. Therefore, you buy the better tougher locks to deter the pikey and make them want to try someone elsesPersonally, I have the small new york fahgedaboutit - its thick and small (ahem..) so takes longer to cut it, and as its small, less able to get any leverage to pry it open
I've been thinking about this as well as I should be taking delivery of my bike this week. Is the conclusion a decent D lock combined with a strong cable (perhaps locked with the D lock?) threaded through the removable parts? Also, is it a struggle to find somewhere to lock it to with a small D lock?
Cheers
Dan
Cheers
Dan
BermyAndy said:
you have to copy and paste the above link otherwise it takes you to a porn page... this has happened before with londonfgss links for some reason...In my opinion the two locks i mention above are the best. I have not tested the Kryptonite New York Fargetaboutit's but preferred the Abus after reading a review that showed it took longer to break the Abus than the Kryptonite. They cost about the same.
In terms of the removable components I'd advise investing money in these:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Brands.aspx?Bra...
Once fitted only you can remove them via that specific key that comes with the locks, downside is if you lose it but you can send away for replacements/extras as i did and only takes a coulple of weeks from the manufacturer... It is a one off key specific to your lock. The good thing about these is that if it is stolen the thief cannot remove your wheels without sawing through the wheel and hub so if he gets a puncture that is it. This also makes it not very attractive to thieves and virtually unsellable without the key.
Cable locks of all types are a total waste of money in my opinion... even those costing £80-90. They consistently do awfully in the reviews and I have seen more chopped in half lying on the street than any other type of lock.
Hope this helps
In terms of the removable components I'd advise investing money in these:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Brands.aspx?Bra...
Once fitted only you can remove them via that specific key that comes with the locks, downside is if you lose it but you can send away for replacements/extras as i did and only takes a coulple of weeks from the manufacturer... It is a one off key specific to your lock. The good thing about these is that if it is stolen the thief cannot remove your wheels without sawing through the wheel and hub so if he gets a puncture that is it. This also makes it not very attractive to thieves and virtually unsellable without the key.
Cable locks of all types are a total waste of money in my opinion... even those costing £80-90. They consistently do awfully in the reviews and I have seen more chopped in half lying on the street than any other type of lock.
Hope this helps
its a case of how long are you leaving it for and the area. if its well lit, frequented by people passing by who would notice someone hacking away at a lock then i tend to use a strong cable lock as its easier to carry just one lock. if its dark and scary then i dont take my bike becuase theywil get through anything given the time.
if its for trips to the shop and you dont want to take an extra lock, take a d-lock and have a look at the "pinhead" system http://www.bromleybike.co.uk/shop/accessories/secu...
there is another similar device which requires the bike to be rotated 180 degrees before anything can be removed thus if you lock it right, the thieves cant take your wheels/seatpost off.
if its for trips to the shop and you dont want to take an extra lock, take a d-lock and have a look at the "pinhead" system http://www.bromleybike.co.uk/shop/accessories/secu...
there is another similar device which requires the bike to be rotated 180 degrees before anything can be removed thus if you lock it right, the thieves cant take your wheels/seatpost off.
pablo said:
its a case of how long are you leaving it for and the area. if its well lit, frequented by people passing by who would notice someone hacking away at a lock then i tend to use a strong cable lock as its easier to carry just one lock.
I don't know if you've seen this? It's quite a funny observation of how much you can rely on your fellow citizen if your bike is being stolen... My favourite has to be the angle grinder!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7zb8YXrmIA&fea...
Also there were some concerns about Kryptonites locks being picked by Biro pens and example is below not sure if this has been entirely resolved... you only need to search youtube for to see all the ways that your lock can be hacked.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCxHD9_uEf8&fea...
hope this helps
Thanks, the special bolts seem like just what I need. I've ordered a Kryptonite New York D Lock as I managed to find one at what seems to be a decent price and was planning on getting a cable to attach to it and weave through the removable parts but not only would that be a faf but bolt cutters are easily hidden and very quick.
I'm only likely to nip to the shops on it as I don't really want to risk leaving it anywhere for any length of time but the pinheads would lessen this concern. I guess if I'm going for a trip into the mountains I could always refit the quick releases.
Now I just have to work out what lights, helmet, tools, clothing ... I need!
I'm only likely to nip to the shops on it as I don't really want to risk leaving it anywhere for any length of time but the pinheads would lessen this concern. I guess if I'm going for a trip into the mountains I could always refit the quick releases.
Now I just have to work out what lights, helmet, tools, clothing ... I need!
Gnarlybluesurf said:
pablo said:
its a case of how long are you leaving it for and the area. if its well lit, frequented by people passing by who would notice someone hacking away at a lock then i tend to use a strong cable lock as its easier to carry just one lock.
I don't know if you've seen this? It's quite a funny observation of how much you can rely on your fellow citizen if your bike is being stolen... My favourite has to be the angle grinder!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7zb8YXrmIA&fea...
Also there were some concerns about Kryptonites locks being picked by Biro pens and example is below not sure if this has been entirely resolved... you only need to search youtube for to see all the ways that your lock can be hacked.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCxHD9_uEf8&fea...
hope this helps
i do agree with one of the comments on youtube though, if you have a nice shiny bike and leave it on display, you are running a massive risk regardless of what lock you use. i will get slated for saying this but if you leave £1K+ worth of bike in public unattended then you are a tempting an opportunistic thief . no one should have anything stolen but we just live in the world we live in.
I'm just trying to work out which of the locking skewers are best now. I read a bad review of the pinhead ones, not in terms of quality but difficulty in keeping the key in place to tighten them properly. The hublox are alloy I think - are they strong enough for mountain bikes? The Zefal look interesting (the one's that only work with the bike upside down) and the pitlocks look to be stainless steel and secure. Does anyone have any idea which are best?
I have the pinheads and do understand what the criticism is regarding fastening/loosening. The problems is if you don't thread the locking nut properly onto the bolt (i.e. at a slight angle) and you give it everything you've got tightening it.... Then it can be difficult to loosen, but you can do it. However if you just thread the nut properly then you don't have any of these problems and it comes off again just as easily. This is because it is a precise fit of nut on key so it's easier if it's flat rather than at an angle. That said it really isn't an issue in my opinion... just fasten it correctly/normally !!
To my mind the pinhead is the only one that you can be sure can't be removed by thieves. The pitlock and the hublock can be sawn through with a hack saw, removing the lock and allowing someone to replace it with a new quick release and allowing it to be sold on gumtree etc. Alternatively they can just go and buy another set, get the key that comes with it and remove them that way.
The pinhead is the only one with a key specific to your specific locking nuts preventing them from doing this. It can be a pain if you lose your key but as I said you can order a spare as I have.
It's upto you, the pinhead i'd say much more secure but the others will still be a deterrent just not as much. If you went up the mountain, just take your unlocking key with you, they're easy to take off.
Hope this helps.
To my mind the pinhead is the only one that you can be sure can't be removed by thieves. The pitlock and the hublock can be sawn through with a hack saw, removing the lock and allowing someone to replace it with a new quick release and allowing it to be sold on gumtree etc. Alternatively they can just go and buy another set, get the key that comes with it and remove them that way.
The pinhead is the only one with a key specific to your specific locking nuts preventing them from doing this. It can be a pain if you lose your key but as I said you can order a spare as I have.
It's upto you, the pinhead i'd say much more secure but the others will still be a deterrent just not as much. If you went up the mountain, just take your unlocking key with you, they're easy to take off.
Hope this helps.
Yes, it does, thanks. I have ordered a reasonable D Lock (Kryptonite New York) and don't really want to have to lug two around. Being able to protect the seat and bars is a plus too. I don't intend leaving it around for hours (currently I work from home so no long commute!) either, just brief trips to the shops really though I may occasionally ride it to swimming but I think you can lock them up right outside reception where I think there is CCTV. It would seem a shame to get a light weight bike then have carry 3 or 4 kg of locks around.
That's one thing I needed to look into sorted - about 50 others to go!
That's one thing I needed to look into sorted - about 50 others to go!
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