Cheap second lock

[GrasB]

Thanks for your reply, it's a £450 bike

I am looking for something light and smallish as my backpack gets a bit full. I don't want to attach to the frame when transporting as I did that before, it annoyed me trying to fit it every time and the bracket just broke

This is meant to be short and light, I know it has a key lock...

http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=5466&categoryID=114

I've personally taken one of those out in less than 2min with wide jaw bolt croppers & decent quality wire cutters. The only thing it has going for it is the diameter is bigger than most bolt croppers can handle but if someone was creative enough they could defeat that easily enough. That's the problem anything light can almost certainly be taken out with basic hand tools & it's not that hard to hide some bolt croppers if the person wants to.

 

[e-rider]

£450 bike - you definitely need a d-lock!

All cable locks, and I mean ALL, can be cut in 5 seconds with bolt croppers. Many teenage scumbags carry boltcroppers in a backpack; I've seen them.

If you're using a cable, sooner or later you WILL lose the bike. Unfortunately that is reality. Hopefully my post will save you from this fate.

A good well priced d-lock is the Kryptonite Evolution (I think now called 4 series) On the web they can be bought for about £30. They come in different sizes so you might want to consider what you need. Generally, the smaller sizes are stronger, but less practical to use as they don't fit around much.

 

[vickster]

Thanks, I think

How do the series 4 locks compare to the series 2 - strength wise and weight wise?

 

[GrasB]

After a quick poke around wiggle. If I was to lock my boardman hybrid (£1000 worth of bike) outside I'd probably be looking at using these 2 locks:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Kryptonite_Evolution_Mini_14cm_Bike_D_Lock/5360021015/
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Abus_Steel_O_Chain_810_85cm_Chain_Bike_Lock/5300006181/
Though neither are sold secure gold the thief would have to get through 2 locks to ride my bike away which seems to be more of a deterrent than 1 harder lock.

I think I'd downgrade the Abus lock to something like this -
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Onguard_Mastiff_80cm_Chain_Bike_Lock/5360015429/
but I'd keep to a hardened chain rather than wire lock

 

[vickster]

Gawd, but it all weighs a ton...I am a feeble female

Which of these is better - one is longer than the other...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Kryptonite-Ev...sure_Cycling_BikeLocks_SR?hash=item5ad8ae68e3

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Kryptonite-Ev...sure_Cycling_BikeLocks_SR?hash=item4aa047f9b5

Or is the mini worth while being as strong and much lighter (cheaper from Amazon)?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Kryptonite-Ev...sure_Cycling_BikeLocks_SR?hash=item4a9ba71c66

Hmm, the feedback on the series 4 locks on Amazon is very mixed, while the mini fares well - will try to see if they have them in the LBS to assess

Is it worth sticking these on the bikes too and registering them?

https://www.immobilise.com/view.php?stage=product&category=1&product=31

 

[redjedi]

If you go for a chain lock (which is a very good option) you could get a frame bag to put it in like this. There is also a smaller version.

 

[Alan Whicker]

FWIW, I use a Kryptonite Series 2 and cable. I'm under no illusions that it's a deterrent rather than being theft proof, but I don't often leave my bike out on the street. I got it because it seems a reasonable compromise between weight and security. It came with a Sold Secure Bronze sticker, which might keep insurers happy but won't deter a thief. However, when Mrs Whicker bought her Series 2 recently, it came with a Gold Sticker so they might have been retested.

Just been in Devon for a week - where nobody seemed to bother locking their bikes at all .

By the way - those cheap black D locks sold everywhere, with red trim? I see them used a lot, on all sorts of expensive bikes. I've got one too - It came free on the cover of a motorcycle magazine - tells you a lot about the quality!

 

[vickster]

I am more confused than ever!

 

[e-rider]

Hardened chains can also be broken with bolt croppers - not as easily but still within a minute or 2.

Series 2 is a bit lighter and cheaper than series 4 but not as strong. With a bike worth £450 I'd go for a series 4 - yes it is fairly heavy but that's what you need to keep your bike safe. Try the weight of a Kryptonite M18 and then you'll think it's light anyway!

Amazon is definitely not cheap. Google these locks and you'll find good offers. Try Parker-international or All terrain cycles or Chainreactioncycles.

The mini locks (evolution mini) are strong but not practical to use in many situations. Also be aware of the mini LS (longshackle) which isn't much more useful. I'd go for the STD (standard) size. Consider a cheaper (and lighter) cable as a second lock for the wheels.

You do need a good d-lock as the main lock though - if you want to keep your bike for more than a few months that is.

Oh, and a note on sold secure - it's worthless! They don't even use the 2 favourite 'tools' of bike thieves in their tests. That's bolt croppers and stubby hydraulic jacks.

 

[vickster]

How does this compare to the Kryptonite locks?

http://www.awcycles.co.uk/category/...s_280/Sinus_46,_Bicycle_D-Lock/546/index.aspx

 

[e-rider]

looks fairly simialr I'd say.

BUT here is a series 4 (standard size) for £30 reduced from £50 - just select free P&P at the checkout! http://www.parker-international.co....ution-Series-4-Std-with-EZ-Mount-Bracket.html

bargain!

 

[e-rider]

I went for the M18 for £100 - weights a tonne but I have no trouble sleeping at night!

 

[vickster]

Where are you guys leaving your bikes that they are at such risk!? I leave mine for an hour or two on a populated high street with CCTV

The Krytonites get poor feedback for key and bracket and rust...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kryptonite-...1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1271346446&sr=8-2-fkmr0

 

[redjedi]

Where are you guys leaving your bikes that they are at such risk!? I leave mine for an hour or two on a populated high street with CCTV

The Krytonites get poor feedback for key and bracket and rust...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kryptonite-...1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1271346446&sr=8-2-fkmr0

Do you mean somewhere like this?

Busy high street does not mean safe.

 

[redjedi]

or have a look through this thread

Sorry if it sounds like we're being harsh, but if you're going to the trouble of locking up your bike, do it properly.

I no longer leave my bike locked up. It goes into our warehouse at work and locked in the shed at home, after I had my last one stolen in the space of about 10 mins. My own fault for using a cheap cable lock, but I thought it would be ok for 10 minutes.