New U-Lock with angle-grinder defense
 

Interesting!

https://bikerumor.com/2019/08/08/alt...inder-defense/

The use of a softer metal and the non-uniform pattern inside the outer core is an intriguing defense.

13 POUNDS!!! LOL. Interesting if you leave it in one place, but I don't see myself carrying this on my bike!

Makes sense. I always thought this kind of composite was feasible, with both a grinding-resistant component and a shear-resistant component.

Yes, this concept makes a lot of sense. The actual lock is necessarily bulky though, which might inhibit its application on the variety of things to which one would lock a bike.

I don't doubt that thieves would eventually figure out how to most efficiently disable this lock, but if it takes an additional minute or so they may not bother and move on to easier pickings.

I considered an aluminium outer, with a steel core, as the alloy would gum-up the cutting wheel. But it'd still get through it.

My latest U lock is 19mm thick. That's thicker than a Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboutit.. It requires two cuts and is harder to pick for having dummy tumblers.

Yeah it's heavy, but barely heavier than my series-2 Kryptonite as it's shorter. And, you know, e-bike.. so it doesn't matter.

And $300 retail...And also, needless to say, Kickstarter. Odds are your money will be gone and you'll never get it anyway

Wonder if the LockPickingLawyer would be able to open it...

What brand/model of U-lock do you have? :eek:

That looks completely useless. You would be lucky to fit it through the frame and a rack. 13 pounds and you'll need locks for the wheels.

It stops "angle grinders up to five inches." So, beyond that is still iffy?

Interesting.

If that outer rubber casing is all that is holding the alloy halves of the U together, it looks like it ought to be easy to use the grinder to make an outside diameter cut of that U to peel the rubber casing off. Then remove the alloy halves, which would leave the steel core is exposed.

I'd guess they maker might use steel epoxy to hold the halves together? If not, they should use it liberally in the voids of that alloy shell.

Any criminal seeing this video is probably thinking the same thing.

Remember, bike weight plus lock that works adds up to a constant; that constant depending on the city. (Also locale, time of day, etc. And second to the rule that a bike only needs to be less attractive or better locked than the bike next to it.) Daytime in decent areas in Portland, 28 pounds works pretty well. I have two 26 pound bikes with 2 pound U-locks. Now, if you wanted to lock a 15 pound wunderbike next to my city bike, you might well need that 13 pound lock.

Ben

When you cut the outer layer, that’s when the spiders inside are released

One is binding, two is loose, click out of three…
wouldn't take him long :)

plus, if you're out and about stealing a bike with an angle grinder, might just cut the pole that the lock/bike are attached to..

Sorry, but all you have to do is see this image and it looks like an April Fools joke: https://c1.iggcdn.com/indiegogo-medi...mfcly14wn5f24e

Might as well ride around with a floor safe strapped to your back.

At that weight and price it'd make better sense to just keep buying decent used bikes for under $200, any good U-lock and replace it as needed.

If I lived in an area where bike theft was that much a problem I wouldn't get too attached to a commuter bike.

It's not just the weight, the size is absurd. Carrying it around will be no fun, and there's no way it's going through a wheel and frame when locking it to anything substantial.

Good point. The lock alone would barely fit around most sign poles I lock my bike to when I commute/run errands.

If you look at the picture I linked above, you can see it's approximately the size of a basketball. Where would you stow it while riding?

You mean it doesn't come with a seat tube bracket to hold it? What a rip off!

Lol, this is beyond parody. Besides, as already mentioned, anything small enough for this thing to fit around could easily be cut instead, by the angle grinder, rendering this thing completely useless. This is something that never should have gone beyond the initial design stage. But there are always way too many suckers....

I think the real purpose of the soft coating is so you won't fracture your knees while riding.

In fairness, they clearly state that the lock is intended to be left where you lock your bike. Still...what a monster. :roflmao2:

I am so glad I do not live in a city and have to contend with this sort of thing.


The purpose of the outer layer is to keep the grinder wheel from being able to reach the steel part. A larger diameter grinder will have more reach to the wheel that would allow the wheel to reach the steel core and defeat the lock. Grinders larger than 5" are also pretty bulky things so a thief is more likely to move on to another bike.

Take a look at their video, it locks around what look like standard bike racks. The lock is on an entire different scale from standard bike locks...

My question is, what do you do if you ever lose the key?