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Bike Locks

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King Boonen

King Boonen

Jul 25, 2012
12,967
1,966
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What are you all using?

I'm almost certain I will be buying this very soon for my commute:

http://www.cotic.co.uk/product/escapade

(if I can work their sizing out. 58cm for riders of 5' 10" and over seems very big. I'm 6 foot and would usually be looking at 56cm).

I'm thinking two Gold Secure D-locks or one D-Lock and one massive chain. I don't mind carrying weight and it will be locked to a fence outside my new building that has a security guard in the foyer (with a slightly restricted view of the bikes) so it should be pretty safe there as long as the lock can't be cut in seconds.

What do you guys think? Two D-locks will be lighter but I think the chain will probably be better.
 
Bustedknuckle

Bustedknuckle

Jul 23, 2009
5,412
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King Boonen said:
What are you all using?

I'm almost certain I will be buying this very soon for my commute:

http://www.cotic.co.uk/product/escapade

(if I can work their sizing out. 58cm for riders of 5' 10" and over seems very big. I'm 6 foot and would usually be looking at 56cm).

I'm thinking two Gold Secure D-locks or one D-Lock and one massive chain. I don't mind carrying weight and it will be locked to a fence outside my new building that has a security guard in the foyer (with a slightly restricted view of the bikes) so it should be pretty safe there as long as the lock can't be cut in seconds.

What do you guys think? Two D-locks will be lighter but I think the chain will probably be better.
Click to expand...

http://www.revzilla.com/product/kry...product&kwd=&gclid=CJ2WmNr0j78CFYhAMgodgEsAew
 
elapid

elapid

Mar 18, 2009
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I use a longer D-lock to lock my bike frame and rear wheel to bike stand/pole/etc, and a small D-lock to lock my front wheel to my bike frame.
 
H

Hawkwood

Feb 28, 2010
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King Boonen said:
I considered this, how good are the D-locks these days? The chain seems more likely to ward off thieves...
Click to expand...

I've got a good review of locks somewhere I'll try to find it. Abus came out very well in the tests, they seemed like real world tests as well, with the locks tested to destruction.
 
King Boonen

King Boonen

Jul 25, 2012
12,967
1,966
25,680
Hawkwood said:
I've got a good review of locks somewhere I'll try to find it. Abus came out very well in the tests, they seemed like real world tests as well, with the locks tested to destruction.
Click to expand...

Awesome thanks. I'm happy to drop £200+ on a couple of locks if I have to, but obviously would prefer not to if I don't have to. I'll be commuting with them (although I don't mind about weight too much) so while the chains look like they'll scare off potential thieves, if a couple of D-Locks will do the job that would work better.

I do like the look of the massive chain though...
 
elapid

elapid

Mar 18, 2009
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DonMI6

DonMI6

Jan 29, 2014
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I had a look at a Kryptonite D lock earlier in the year. They are serious pieces of gear but staggeringly heavy. They'd be my first choice to lock a bike up at home, but I'd hate to carry one in my backpack. I ended up going with a slightly lighter Kryptonite cable lock.
 
H

Hawkwood

Feb 28, 2010
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King Boonen said:
Awesome thanks. I'm happy to drop £200+ on a couple of locks if I have to, but obviously would prefer not to if I don't have to. I'll be commuting with them (although I don't mind about weight too much) so while the chains look like they'll scare off potential thieves, if a couple of D-Locks will do the job that would work better.

I do like the look of the massive chain though...
Click to expand...

I think the Abus lock that came out the best in the review was the U-Lock Granit X Plus 540, Abus ranks this as it's most secure cycle lock with a 15/15.
 
A

aphronesis

Jul 30, 2011
7,539
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When I lived in London I used the Kryptonite motorcycle D for the frame and rear wheel

https://www.kryptonitelock.com/Pages/ProductInformation.aspx?PNumber=994589

and an abus for the front wheel to the frame.

I never had problems with this and occasionally left the bike out in a few sketchy neighborhoods for longer than many local friends would feel entirely comfortable with.

The larger D is useful in that if only carrying one lock you can remove the front and lock it through the back with room to spare and maneuver around most any pole.

It also fits some motorcycle stands in the city that are slightly too thick for some D locks.

It's heavy, some 6-7 pounds, but no more really than the chain ensemble and much easier to deal with (I find) in terms of displacing the weight usefully.

I've also used the Kryptonite chains for years in New York, but should note--aside from the unwieldiness--that the locking cylinder simply fell out during one particularly wet season. The bike was hiding in plain sight all day as anyone could have yanked the lock and popped the cylinder.

The abus are good back-up short stay locks though.
 
Bustedknuckle

Bustedknuckle

Jul 23, 2009
5,412
19
17,510
King Boonen said:
Cheers. Should I add a fahgettaboudit D-Lock as well?
Click to expand...

More locks are the weak point. Less is better..have a way to take the front wheel off..wrap this mutha around all.

And I agree with hiero2...if ya gotta use a 7 pound chain to keep your rig from being stolen..maybe keeping it inside is more better.
 
King Boonen

King Boonen

Jul 25, 2012
12,967
1,966
25,680
Hiero and Busted,

I'm pretty sure I don't really need a massive chain, in fact I'm sure I don't. But it would be useful for locking it up in the car, if I was going somewhere dodgy or have to leave the bike for an extended period and, in all honesty, I don't see the point of not getting the best lock I can. Might as well, I can leave the chain at work most of the time or just use it as a workout :D



Thanks very much for all the responses, I think I'm going to go with a chain to be left in the office and a D-Lock to take with me should I have to go to meetings on another campus etc. I'll get the ABUS if I can find it or a similarly rated Kryptonite.
 
hiero2

hiero2

Jul 10, 2010
2,906
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Well, ok. Listen. Everything depends on where and when you are.

Right now, I'm in a town where I don't lock my bike. I don't lock my car. I don't lock my house. Mostly. But, in the past, I've had to defend my bike in LA, and other high-risk areas.

Chains, cables, u-locks - all have their pros-cons. Which means nothing is best. You have to make a judgement. The best thing is to be as best informed about the possible risk IN YOUR AREA. Some places, maybe like Cambridge not so far from me, and you may see a lot of tuned-in thieves. Or not. Depending on what equipment you have -

srry - gtg.


more later
 
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