Any bike lock recommendations?

[Pedalo]

Now I have myself a set of wheels I feel I should purchase a new lock. Most of the time my bike is kept at home or locked up at work and I'm not expecting any issues with theft there. I am now expecting to using my bike for the occasoinal trip to the shops or perhaps sports centre where it might be left for a couple of hours and I'm looking for something to deter the opportunist theives.

I fully understand that the best locks tend to be the heaviest and anything else is a compromise but can anyone recommend a good lock in the 1-1.5kg range?

 

[eddieo]

I think they need to be 3 - 5kg to give anything like piece of mind.

my ABUS Granit X-Plus is 3.5 kg I think? (£50 -60?)

and my Protector 13mm Chain, Squire SS50CS Lock is 4.5kg?probably more.... But it is a real beast and gives some peace of mind.....(£68)

we use kryptonite cables as well through the wheels and lock (£10 on amazon)

 

[Mussels]

Lock choice depends on what it's for, does it live outside most of the time and will the lock need to travel? Is it in a high crime area?
Lock rating companies like Thatcham and Sold Secure are not a reliable source of info and their advice shouldn't be your only reference.

 

[Mike63]

I have a Kryptonite New York 3000, cost £50...rec. price £79.
weighs in at amost 2 kilos but I rarely carry it.
I use a cheaper, lighter, U lock, together with a decent cable lock but after reading this i'm gonna' start useing the Kryptonite.

....Mike

 

[Mike63]

"my ABUS Granit X-Plus is 3.5 kg I think? "

....you might have that a bit wrong Eddie...maybe 1.5 kg.....LOL

....Mike

 

[jerrysimon]

I was looking at locks the other day and came across this :

YouTube - Kryptonite Lock Mayhem

Considering the claims of some manufactures this is a real eye opener.

Regards

Jerry

 

[themutiny]

I use one of these on my Cannondale (which translates in thiefspeak to 'please nick me') and so far it seems a pretty good deterrent.

Not sure about the weight, but probably around 2kgs

Magnum Plus Mini Shackle & Extender Cable Bike Lock from Halfords Price £44.99

 

[daniel.weck]

"my ABUS Granit X-Plus is 3.5 kg I think? "

....you might have that a bit wrong Eddie...maybe 1.5 kg.....LOL

....Mike

I use a Abus Granit 54 X-Plus D-Lock, 300mm with TexKF mounting bracket. Highly-rated lock (difficult to break), with great design features (discrete looks, smooth surface to avoid frame scratching, fantastic mounting bracket, etc.)

More comments here:

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/4577-new-e-bikes-buying-decision-help-needed-3.html?highlight=granit#post58759

Cheers, Dan

 

[Mussels]

I was looking at locks the other day and came across this :

YouTube - Kryptonite Lock Mayhem

Considering the claims of some manufactures this is a real eye opener.

Regards

Jerry

Mostly those locks are no longer used but they did get the highest ratings and it's a good example of how ratings cannot be believed.

 

[AndyOfTheSouth]

Hi Pedalo

It is hard to argue against maximum security, since without it, there is obviously a risk. However, I'd be inclined to weigh up the risk against the weight.

If I'm leaving my bike in a low crime area, during the day, where there are plenty of people around, I'd judge the likelihood of attack by van and power tools to be pretty unlikely. I'd hate to carry around heavy locks under these circumstances, so I use a couple of different types of light ones.

If I were leaving a bike somewhere riskier at night, that would be another story...

Andy

 

[Barnowl]

I agree with Andy. Risk against weight. Best places to get your bike nicked is London, Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester. Any big City will do.

I have a reasonable lock for nipping down the shops etc - I use a Kryptonite Kryptoflex combination cable lock with bracket (12 mm x 180 cm) cost me £24.99 from Cytronex but can be found cheaper now (£18/£19 I think).
For work, in an underground carpark full of much better things to nick and just round the corner from the well attended smoking area, I use a relatively cheap bikehut U Lock which I leave in Situ - to save carrying it around.

I think my bikes relatively safe for the odd hour elsewhere but depends where you are. The golden rule though has to be unless it's at home never leave it unlocked.

 

[Alex728]

I agree with Andy. Risk against weight. Best places to get your bike nicked is London, Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester. Any big City will do.

People in Suffolk lock up £1000+ bikes with cable locks that would last 3 minutes in any of the above cities. Being originally from London/SE England it still shocks me to see this practice.

Some less valuable bikes were left unlocked altogether until 2006 or so when gangs from London made the journey specifically to steal bikes from less paranoid areas, although the local constabulary actually managed to nick the gang involved fairly quickly.

People from London travelling to EA are scrutinised anyway on all transport routes lest they be carrying drugs or weapons or involved in other crimes and organised bike theft gangs (particularly those who go for the higher end of bikes) tend also to be into this sort of stuff.

Unpowered mountain bikes and components are both currency and getaway vehicles for some nefarious folks and thus should always be guarded anywhere (even in the villages they often go missing).

 

[Django]

Yes, weigh up the risk and go from there.

I have used an Axa Defender on my Torq and I love it. There is an optional cable to secure it to a railing or similar and it has served me well. If I do intend to leave my bike somewhere really risky or for a long time, I secure it with my motorcycle lock.

Then again, I rarely follow the same routine. Leaving it outside a sports centre at the same time and on a regular basis is an added risk factor.