Bicycle Lock Recommendations

[Alex321]

The angle grinder carriers is a small minority

Agreed - I even stated that myself above.

I misunderstood what it was you were saying was the small minority there.

What I was trying to say is that there isn't much point having a lock which is significantly better security than what you are going to lock it to.

 

[Dadam]

Of course, what we have to remember here is that there isn't much point having a lock which is signoficantly stroinger than what the bike is going to be locked to.

Most of the "sheffield" bike stands are made of material that an angle grinder will go through like a knife through butter.

Very true, but what can you do about it apart from be picky about where you lock up? And what do you class as a good stand?
A Sheffield stand is about the best you can do in many places but yes they are mild steel tube. Lamp posts are good if your lock will go round but apart from that it's railings etc. As mentioned it's about assessing the risk. The time it's there, the exposure (how public), how fancy the bike looks, how good the lock is. Exposure cuts both ways: more scrotes will see it but too much public exposure will reduce the attractiveness

 

[Electric_Andy]

Just my teppence worth: If I had a nice and/or expensive bike, I wouldn't commute on it if in a high crime area or I knew it would be out of site. My old commuter was £1500 new, but the area is low crime and there is cctv on site, plus offices overlooking the bike stands. So I was happy using a Kryptonite D-lock (think it was £70-£80 at the time).

If you really want to ride your nice bike to work and lock it up, I would say if you can afford hundreds on a bike then you can afford the litelok X1 or X3, for me that would be a no brainer. A bit like buying a motorcycle and then spending a few hundred on helmet, gloves, boots, locks etc. It's got to be done.

I've just watched the angle grinder attack on the X1 and that seems really impressive. At the point where someone is going to go through multiple discs and risk having the police called on them, I think that's the best you can do (and insure it)

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I would say if you can afford hundreds on a bike then you can afford the litelok X1 or X3

I don’t think anyone is complaining about the cost of these locks per say. It’s the weight, size and inconvenience of carrying them.

 

[Dadam]

As I mentioned upthread I'm lucky to lock my bike up in a pretty safe environment, or for just few minutes at a shop, so a sold secure gold D lock is sufficient. If the Litelok X1 had been available at the time I'd have bought one of those and if I need to replace the current one the X1 will be top of the list.

 

[wiggydiggy]

I don’t think anyone is complaining about the cost of these locks per say. It’s the weight, size and inconvenience of carrying them.

I can just squeeze the longshackle into my rack top bag, and an extra kilo or two makes near as no difference to my heavy eBike but its a valid complaint.

 

[vickster]

I've never seen a cut through Sheffield stand even in very high risk areas i.e. London!

 

[PedallingNowhereSlowly]

The other aspect of course, is the fact that so many people leave their bikes inadequately secured.

So in theory all you need is a bike that is no more desirable than the one you are locking yours up next to and a better lock. That's of course assuming there isn't an organised gang of thieves working the area with a van or nearby storage.

 

[Electric_Andy]

I don’t think anyone is complaining about the cost of these locks per say. It’s the weight, size and inconvenience of carrying them.

Yes understood. But IMO weight and invonvenience are part of the same package, and part of the punishment cyclists have to go through to have nice things where srotes don't nick them

 

[SO8]

I'm looking at a Hiplok DX1000 now as my D1000 won't go through the wheel and frame onto a Sheffield stand. It's heavy and costly but as I have a hybrid bike and quick release wheels I am currently using a combination of either 2 locks and a chain or 3 locks to secure itwhich weigh more.

The DX1000 will do the frame, wheel and onto a stand where the smaller locks won't ... it all costs though and to save carrying 1.5kg extra in weight as I currently do will cost £300 .... so maybe I keep carrying the extra weight in my panniers lol

 

[SO8]

I'm looking at a Hiplok DX1000 now as my D1000 won't go through the wheel and frame onto a Sheffield stand. It's heavy and costly but as I have a hybrid bike and quick release wheels I am currently using a combination of either 2 locks and a chain or 3 locks to secure itwhich weigh more.

The DX1000 will do the frame, wheel and onto a stand where the smaller locks won't ... it all costs though and to save carrying 1.5kg extra in weight as I currently do will cost £300 .... so maybe I keep carrying the extra weight in my panniers lol

Oops ….DX1000 now in pannier. My locks cost more than the bike is now worth ! It was £1200 back in 2012 though 🤣

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

In my opinion part of the thing a thief things (!) about is time

They want something that is quick

so a bike with 2 locks of different types requires a bit longer to get through than a single lock
3 locks even more
and a cable lock - although generally easy to defeat - plus a decent U-Lock takes that little bit longer and may even require swapping to a different cutter such as an angle grinder for the U-lock then a bolt cutter for the cable lock - all takes time

around here I can generally walk up the high street (it isn;t that long) and spot several mountain bikes learning against a wall with no locks
and a couple more with a cheap supermarket type cable lock
so I reckon my ebike with no battery will be OK with a Gold U-lock and a cable lock

ALso - you have to consider the tye of thief that will be around
on out High Street no real pro will bother as they will get one bike if they are lucky - that is worth more than the cost of the angle grinder
they are more likely to go to a larger, and richer, town nearby where they will find more targets

 

[presta]

The stand is directly outside our door, overlooked by roughly 50 office windows, out of view of the road and footway, has no passing foot or road traffic and there's people coming in and out all the time.

Google Kitty Genovese.

 

[Dadam]

Google Kitty Genovese.

Yes the bystander effect. Not the point at all. The point is it's not an attractive proposition from the risk point of view and far less likely to be spotted as a prospect by the wrong sort of people in the first place.

I also very much suspect given where the bike stand is, and the people in the building, they would definitely be challenged.

And even if you were right, I'm not sure what you're suggesting I do about it.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

SLightly different subject

but just how secure are the public bike stands?
The loop ones seem secure - but the metal seems quite basic and I would wonder if an angle grinder would easily cut one - easier than e half decent lock?
and if it would then looping the u-lock round the stand and frame is pretty useless as they can cut the stand and be off with the bike
then cut the stronger lock when at home and take as long as they want!