security chain locks

[eddieo]

BBC London news had a report lunch time re bike theft in the capital. It is going up and up, and you can expect to get your bike stolen every 18 months.

Was thinking of getting a chain lock anyway to go with my ABUS (silver) D lock and cable, as I had read previously that 2 locks are better. This program confirmed the obvious really, that 2 different style locks are better as the thief will require different tools for each....

So.......recommendations please for a good chain style (probably best gold rated) lock that is hopefully not to heavy

EDIT: This is interesting regards rating locks TINYLINK.com

 

[Mike63]

I have a "Kryptonite"..New York...comes in at 11 out of 12 .

cost £50 and weighs a ton...I would think it's too heavy to chop.

If I were a thief confronted with this I would move on to an easier target.

....Mike

 

[fcurran]

We had a 1 day old sample bike stolen from outside of our office on Friday. It was one of 3 all chained up together but was the only one locked up through the rack which they simply removed usinga set of allen keys. It was a black mountain bike style 26" wheel with a 24v 10amp lithium battery. The only markings we can remember on it was 3 letters. It doesn't require a key to operate, simply an on/off button on the handlebars.

5 Pints for any info leading to the return of the bike!

Regards

FrankC
Powabyke Ltd
fcurran@powabyke.com

 

[Bigbee]

I have a black electric mountain bike for sale.I bought it off a friends friend over the Weekend.I cant remember the make,some thing with three letters I think.All it needs to be 100% is a new rear rack.Looks brand new to me.Offers?

 

[fcurran]

I have a black electric mountain bike for sale.I bought it off a friends friend over the Weekend.I cant remember the make,some thing with three letters I think.All it needs to be 100% is a new rear rack.Looks brand new to me.Offers?

5 pints?!

 

[Mussels]

I have a "Kryptonite"..New York...comes in at 11 out of 12 .

cost £50 and weighs a ton...I would think it's too heavy to chop.

If I were a thief confronted with this I would move on to an easier target.

....Mike

Remember the lock could be the weak link. Anything under 16mm can be cropped in a couple of seconds, IIRC all the New Yorker range is 16mm or over.
I have the New Yorker D lock and it's 18mm thick.

 

[Bigbee]

5 pints?!

Lets see if I get a better offer from Powacycle................................

 

[CeeGee]

Lets see if I get a better offer from Powacycle................................

Rumour has it that Frank has a "used" rack that will probably fit your nice new bike - offer him a couple of pints and I'm sure you'll get a deal. An extra pint and he may fit it for you if you take the bike to him.

Colin

 

[Bigbee]

Rumour has it that Frank has a "used" rack

He probably may have but Im not that way inclined

 

[Sir_Bob]

My old mountain bike was stolen from outside wilkos. it really annoyed me as i had missed the last bus home. i locked it properly through the frame but they must have broken it as there was no lock left afterwards. now though i am happy they did, as it made me buy my new ebike!

thx

Bob

 

[fcurran]

Bikebiz has picked up on the same article. Sharp rise in London bike theft | Bicycle business | News by BikeBiz

 

[Alex728]

did you have any luck finding the prototype? anyone told the cops? (presumably it will be abandoned somewhere when the battery runs out, and is distinctive even in terms of e-bikes).

TBH I find it hard to make light of something like this - hard working people from a decent British business have been robbed, probably by some muppet who doesn't even appreciate the innovation and technology involved in what he has stolen - plus if this machine had become a Powabyke model it would be another good one to expand their market reach...

 

[fcurran]

Nothing yet Im afraid, the Police were made aware within 20 minutes of it happening but have not found it yet. TBH there are probably so many bicycle thefts that unless it is abandoned then it is probably gone. Thanks for your kind comments though!

Fingers crossed,

FrankC

 

[Mussels]

EDIT: This is interesting regards rating locks TINYLINK.com

I just saw that bit and as it's a bit out of date I can fill in some gaps on Sold Secure.
IIRC The directors of Sold Secure are also directors of the Master Locksmiths Association (the details are slightly fuzzy but it's generally right), directors of the Master Locksmiths Association own lock making companies. So the people responsible for rating locks also make and sell them, anyone spot the problem here?
Sold Secure were reported to trading Standards as their 5 minute attack test used poor tools and they could be broken with manual croppers in seconds, Trading Standards sided with sold secure as the specific wording was along the lines of "Withstanding an attack of up to 5 minutes". They weren't technically lying because their pledge was useless. I don't know how they currently word it as I can't find anything on their website about what the security ratings mean.

Bikebiz has picked up on the same article. Sharp rise in London bike theft | Bicycle business | News by BikeBiz

It always worries me how the Police promote private companies promising scanning equipment, a while back I read that many bikes aren't returned because they aren't scanned. That was with one of the big companies like SmartWater so I can't see a small company like the one this article promotes getting it's scanners out to many places. I wish the Police would offer a serial number database themselves that was free and got checked.

 

[Alex728]

I wish the Police would offer a serial number database themselves that was free and got checked.

other than the costs, in todays dysfunctional nation (even if the scheme was totallty voluntary) where the state and the people no longer trust each other, the tinfoil helmet brigade would think it is a scheme to register and track cyclists...

 

[Mussels]

other than the costs, in todays dysfunctional nation (even if the scheme was totallty voluntary) where the state and the people no longer trust each other, the tinfoil helmet brigade would think it is a scheme to register and track cyclists...

I don't mind, CCTV can't read the S/N.

 

[eddieo]

These 3 come out well with the first being good value. To have a chance of avoiding hand held croppers they need to be 16mm apparently


Pragmasis Protector Chains (well reviewed by bike radar and good price)

Kryptonite New York Chain with Series 4 Disc Lock

Abus City Chain 1060/110 Sold Secure Gold 2009

.

So use one of these and a good D lock and cable, park where they cant get a van next to your bike and use power tools/hydraulics and a generator and you have half a chance....... and above all get insured!

 

[Sir_Bob]

I heard that kryptonite locks can be opened with a bic pen how can they be secure????

 

[Mussels]

I heard that kryptonite locks can be opened with a bic pen how can they be secure????

That used to be the case with most brands as the cheap round key locks were poular. IIRC Oxford were the worst company and carred on using those locks for months after the fault was common knowledge.