Lock Picking Lawyer's personal bike lock
#1
Palmer
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,627
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1671 Post(s)
Liked 1,826 Times
in
1,062 Posts
Lock Picking Lawyer's personal bike lock
I was mildly surprised by the number of LPL fans on the other thread. Anyway, he announced what his own, personal choice was for a bicycle lock:
It's not a bad choice, not at all, and the reasons he gives are sound, but 1) with 10mm links, it's susceptible to cropping by big bolt cutters (a near infinitely more common bike theft method than lock picking) and 2) this lock weighs over six and a half pounds. A similarly retail-priced OnGuard Brute u-lock would provide higher security and weigh less. You pay your money; you make your choice.
These locks retail for ~$75, and he says his bicycle didn't cost any more than that (!). Note: It would probably cost you a couple of thousand to replicate the custom designed and fabricated disc detainer lock pick he uses to hack it.
It's not a bad choice, not at all, and the reasons he gives are sound, but 1) with 10mm links, it's susceptible to cropping by big bolt cutters (a near infinitely more common bike theft method than lock picking) and 2) this lock weighs over six and a half pounds. A similarly retail-priced OnGuard Brute u-lock would provide higher security and weigh less. You pay your money; you make your choice.
These locks retail for ~$75, and he says his bicycle didn't cost any more than that (!). Note: It would probably cost you a couple of thousand to replicate the custom designed and fabricated disc detainer lock pick he uses to hack it.
Last edited by tcs; 04-13-19 at 12:25 PM.
#2
Senior Member
I know that 10mm Pewag security chain is impervious to even the largest bolt cutters, I don't know how well the Kryptonite chain compares to Pewag chain though.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,893
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1062 Post(s)
Liked 665 Times
in
421 Posts
He hasn't picked the lock that I use. Not saying which type. The closest anybody has gotten, according to my google searches, is to pick a similar lock while saying that mine is more difficult. Then again, it's also sold as a low security lock, and a small bolt cutter would go right through my chain, so there are tradeoffs everywhere.
#4
Senior Member
He hasn't picked the lock that I use. Not saying which type. The closest anybody has gotten, according to my google searches, is to pick a similar lock while saying that mine is more difficult. Then again, it's also sold as a low security lock, and a small bolt cutter would go right through my chain, so there are tradeoffs everywhere.
Suffice to say, just because he can pick something, doesn't mean anyone can.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,443
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 626 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 401 Times
in
277 Posts
I have never had a bicycle stolen from me. Some luck, some paranoia. An idiot tried to steel a mtb from me once while I was occupied shopping in a walmart. He had poor timing. I came out of the store in time to see him wheeling it toward his pickup. I rammed him with the Super walmart shopping cart several times against his pickup. I also twisted him to the ground via his hair and jaw. I put my groceries in my panniers with my bicycle leaned against his pickup. I waited for the police and ems, he had warrants and I have impulse control issues. My bicycle is 5' from me in my bedroom as I type this.
#7
Palmer
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,627
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1671 Post(s)
Liked 1,826 Times
in
1,062 Posts
Of course, manual bolt cutters and disc brakes are sooooo Obama Administration era. The hot set up in 2019 is hydraulics.
Last edited by tcs; 04-13-19 at 03:27 PM.
#8
Palmer
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,627
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1671 Post(s)
Liked 1,826 Times
in
1,062 Posts
If you ever suffer the horror and anguish of bike theft, hopefully the thief will cut the last link of your chain and not the shackle of your, hmm, Assa Abloy 330?
Last edited by tcs; 04-13-19 at 12:41 PM.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,893
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1062 Post(s)
Liked 665 Times
in
421 Posts
In this case, the trade-offs being extremely rare lock picking bike thefts versus everyday bolt cutter attacks.
If you ever suffer the horror and anguish of bike theft, hopefully the thief will cut the last link of your chain and not the shackle of your, hmm, Assa Abloy 330?
If you ever suffer the horror and anguish of bike theft, hopefully the thief will cut the last link of your chain and not the shackle of your, hmm, Assa Abloy 330?
Judging from the locks that people use, bike theft is not a huge problem in my locale. Many people use cheap cable locks.
#10
Senior Member
In the first 7 seconds of this video you'll see a Pewag 10mm that had been cracked by bolt cutters:
https://youtu.be/viR5G4fVjP4
https://youtu.be/viR5G4fVjP4
I've put a hairline crack in a 12mm pewag security chain with 49" Krenn bolt cutters. It utterly destroyed the cutting blades in the process. I'd have needed two sets of blades at least to break one chain. The hydraulic cutters suffer the same problem as the manual ones, i.e. the cutting blades shatter or dull before the chain is completely cut.
Last edited by General Geoff; 04-13-19 at 04:50 PM.
#11
Palmer
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,627
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1671 Post(s)
Liked 1,826 Times
in
1,062 Posts
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18380 Post(s)
Liked 4,512 Times
in
3,354 Posts
Interesting comment that the flexible chain tends to eat cutting discs.
You can buy those disc lock picks on E-Bay for cheap, although his video about picking the Kryptonite NY indicated that he had issues with depth, I think, which may have led to making the custom pick.
Apparently the Lock Picking Lawyer has struck out trying to pick the Bowley Lock.
https://www.bowleylockcompany.com/
Odd the LPL didn't choose the Bowley + a robust chain.
You can buy those disc lock picks on E-Bay for cheap, although his video about picking the Kryptonite NY indicated that he had issues with depth, I think, which may have led to making the custom pick.
Apparently the Lock Picking Lawyer has struck out trying to pick the Bowley Lock.
https://www.bowleylockcompany.com/
Odd the LPL didn't choose the Bowley + a robust chain.
#13
Palmer
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,627
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1671 Post(s)
Liked 1,826 Times
in
1,062 Posts
Odd the LPL didn't choose the Bowley + a robust chain.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,893
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1062 Post(s)
Liked 665 Times
in
421 Posts
In my view, all of this lock picking stuff is still just security theater.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 2,601
Bikes: 06 Lemond Reno, 98 GT Timberline mtn.bike
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 427 Post(s)
Liked 700 Times
in
436 Posts
I'm a firm believer in the saying that "locks are to keep honest people honest". I had a large Master lock cut off of a shed with a pair of bolt cutters. The would-be thieves dropped the bolt cutters and ran when my neighbors dog barked, she looked over, then screamed when she realized they were trying to break into my shed. They ran and dropped the bolt cutter. They got nothing-I got a pair of very heavy-duty bolt cutters-never used 'em, but I kept 'em, nothing like free tools (well-the cost of a new lock for the shed).
#16
Palmer
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,627
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1671 Post(s)
Liked 1,826 Times
in
1,062 Posts
Yep, not cost effective to steal the LPL's $75 bike, but steal a Madone or Dogma F10 at the cost of one or two sets of replaceable bolt cutter jaws? Even at fencing value that economic exchange would be well into the black for the thief.
The hydraulic cutters have the advantages that, unlike 49" manual cutters, you can put them under a hoodie and you don't have to weigh 24 stone to create the necessary force.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18380 Post(s)
Liked 4,512 Times
in
3,354 Posts
Many locks require 2 cuts to get them open.
#18
Senior Member
Yep, not cost effective to steal the LPL's $75 bike, but steal a Madone or Dogma F10 at the cost of one or two sets of replaceable bolt cutter jaws? Even at fencing value that economic exchange would be well into the black for the thief.
The hydraulic cutters have the advantages that, unlike 49" manual cutters, you can put them under a hoodie and you don't have to weigh 24 stone to create the necessary force.
The hydraulic cutters have the advantages that, unlike 49" manual cutters, you can put them under a hoodie and you don't have to weigh 24 stone to create the necessary force.
#19
Palmer
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,627
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1671 Post(s)
Liked 1,826 Times
in
1,062 Posts
IMO a cordless angle grinder is more of a guarantee against all types of locks and chains anyway, for the same or less money compared to a hydraulic cutter.
Last edited by tcs; 04-14-19 at 12:54 PM.
#20
Senior Member
M.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mich
Posts: 7,397
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 2,981 Times
in
1,921 Posts
Liquid nitrogen & a metal hand punch might crack the security device.
__________________
-Oh Hey!
-Oh Hey!
#23
Senior Member
It would be significantly harder to accomplish that in the field, without the lock being clamped into a bench vise. You'd basically have to wedge the lock against an immobile object to counteract the torque being applied by the socket wrench. Probably take 4 or 5 minutes, which is about as long as you can ask any lock to withstand a targeted attack with proper tools.
#24
Senior Member
I was looking at Abus Bordo Granit XPlus 6500 and how he cracked this lock so easily. This thing cost $180
<snipped out video>
<snipped out video>
M.
#25
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
I bought a Brute and a Brute mini, and found that I will make any excuse I can not to carry them. Ended up buying a less secure but much lighter lock because I figure one I'll actually use is more secure than the one I left at home.