Recommended bike lock?
#51
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I decided to give OTTOLOCK cafe lock a try because I wanted a light and secure lock I could bring with me on long bike trips. It is very small and lightweight and works great too. It's a simple 3 digit combo code that is easy to program and the mechanism works smoothly for locking/unlocking.
I wouldn't call any Ottolock "secure.". They're just about the easiest lock to cut without attracting attention: https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/revie...ottolock-cinch
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#54
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I like Kryptonite locks. They have lighter weight and heavier weight locks. The advantage of Kryptonite is they lock on both sides so if a thief is going to steal your bicycle they have to cut both sides on the U lock or it won't come off. Most of the cheaper U locks only lock on one side so you can cut the opposing side and just turn/pull the lock off.
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I like Kryptonite locks. They have lighter weight and heavier weight locks. The advantage of Kryptonite is they lock on both sides so if a thief is going to steal your bicycle they have to cut both sides on the U lock or it won't come off. Most of the cheaper U locks only lock on one side so you can cut the opposing side and just turn/pull the lock off.
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I have really liked my ABUS Bordo Granite, for 7 years now. I just measured it, 34"/ 86 cm from the head to the open tip. It goes around about a 6" pole and the seat tube. I bought it for my tour bike. I made a CF holder for it too, it's a heavy bugger. I think it's way handier than a U, that I have never bought.
My second tour I also started carrying a 30" chain and key lock for larger trees or just a second pole and my front wheel. It isn't much by itself, for very long out of sight.
Before these, for 15 years I had one of those armadillo coil covered 1/4" cables, 4 digit combo. Funny nobody ever tried cutting that.
My second tour I also started carrying a 30" chain and key lock for larger trees or just a second pole and my front wheel. It isn't much by itself, for very long out of sight.
Before these, for 15 years I had one of those armadillo coil covered 1/4" cables, 4 digit combo. Funny nobody ever tried cutting that.
Last edited by GamblerGORD53; 04-13-21 at 11:06 PM.
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You can consider Kryptonite Keeper chain bike locks. Based on my personal experience using the product, the Kryptonite Keeper looks formidable and offers many anti-theft features. The 7 mm four-sided chain links are made with 3T manganese steel, known for their high-impact strength and abrasion-resistance features. I like the heavy-duty chained covered by a thick black sleeve which protects the links from possible scratches.
The Keeper is a pretty low security chain and whenever I see one I don't think formidable. This is formidable: https://mobil.abus.com/usa/on-road/L...4KS-Black-Loop. However it weighs like 16lbs so it is not super portable but it will keep that bike secure provided you are locking to something secure. However realistically if I was doing a chain it would be the City Chain 1010 but realistically I would just do a Bordo folding lock and have something easier to carry and also quite secure.
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The truth is that the cheesiest lock that you can find is about 90% efficient because it forces the potential thief to bring some kind of tool with him.
As you proceed from 90% to 99% efficiency, you engage in a progressively more weightly and more expensive game of one-upmanship with the thief. That game, by the way, that you will always ultimately lose.
There is no 100% efficient bike lock. It's not common, but crooks have successfully broken into bank vaults.
When I lock my bike I use a heavy-ish cable and padlock. So far that's been adequate for where and how I ride.
As you proceed from 90% to 99% efficiency, you engage in a progressively more weightly and more expensive game of one-upmanship with the thief. That game, by the way, that you will always ultimately lose.
There is no 100% efficient bike lock. It's not common, but crooks have successfully broken into bank vaults.
When I lock my bike I use a heavy-ish cable and padlock. So far that's been adequate for where and how I ride.
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I think chain locks represent the most common way to secure a bike from theft. +1 for ABUS security square chain. Quality made and the cover seems very durable. The thickness, weight, strength, and size is a good compromise for a pretty secure bike lock combination.
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Naah that cheap via velo looks like an On Guard knockoff u lock and they took graphics from Kyrptonite on their website. LockPickingLawyer
as usual picked it in no time and someone named BootsOwen
cut it with bolt cutters in probably the same amount of time. Any u-lock and cable will allow you to do as mimirichman did (size dependent, of course) but a good u-lock will actually be hard to cut and get into. No lock is safe but a weak vulnerable lock is very unsafe. Cheap metal and cheap plastic equal almost no security and if I am going to schlep around a lock it better not just be for looks it better actually do something.
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Around here, if you leave your bike anywhere and it could be thought of as desirable from any angle, it wont be there when you get back.
Your only hope is a battleship lock like the New York, or similar. Something that you need a trailer to haul around. That'll give you a cool 15 minutes, after that, they took the whole rack, gate, fence or pole and will separate the bike from it later.
Most of the tweakers sit around the edges of the store lots with their grinder and cutters in their backpack. They can sell any bike mid-high level and up for $50 to the fence and the bike will end up in a different state at a swap meet or on CL, FB, whatever.
It elfin pisses me off.
They will even follow you home and case your house.
Bottom feeder business.
I don't waste my time on locks while Im riding because the bike is always within physical reach of me if I am not on it. I will only go into a store if there are two of us and one will straddle the bikes while the other goes in.
At home they are double locked in a secured area within a secured area on private property and 100fett from the road gate.
And I still worry.
My son is tired of it and has an old beater for store trips, No-one wants it, so its safe. A baby lock is good enough.
Therein lies the true security key...
Your only hope is a battleship lock like the New York, or similar. Something that you need a trailer to haul around. That'll give you a cool 15 minutes, after that, they took the whole rack, gate, fence or pole and will separate the bike from it later.
Most of the tweakers sit around the edges of the store lots with their grinder and cutters in their backpack. They can sell any bike mid-high level and up for $50 to the fence and the bike will end up in a different state at a swap meet or on CL, FB, whatever.
It elfin pisses me off.
They will even follow you home and case your house.
Bottom feeder business.
I don't waste my time on locks while Im riding because the bike is always within physical reach of me if I am not on it. I will only go into a store if there are two of us and one will straddle the bikes while the other goes in.
At home they are double locked in a secured area within a secured area on private property and 100fett from the road gate.
And I still worry.
My son is tired of it and has an old beater for store trips, No-one wants it, so its safe. A baby lock is good enough.
Therein lies the true security key...
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