BIKE LOCKS
Thread started by
tomato at 10.1.08 - 12:25 pm
i own a large ulock but i hear they can be hammered and easily broken.
with all the bike thefts happening, i was wondering if any of you had recommendations.
i was told that the kryptonite chain locks were the best, but i am finding youtube videos on how to pick them easily. they have several different kinds so maybe some actually work?
i have a new bike and if i ever lock it outside, i don't want to risk losing it.
reply
Older krypto locks had a round key hole, which can be picked with a pin. These should not be used EVER, and I think you can even send them into to kryptonite and get a brand new lock that works...
The new krypto locks with a flat key, and other similar brands, are OK.
The larger U-locks can be broken with a car jack. The thinner cheaper locks can be even broken with a prybar. However, the car jack takes some time and if you lock it in a way that they can't fit the jack in there then it's probably OK (like, lock both wheels and the frame and a through a thick pipe). I don't think the LA thiefs are attacking u-locks (yet)
The small u-locks, and the locks that come with the chain, can't be broken that way since the jack doesn't fit in there. The cheaper chain locks are probably thin enough to be cut with a bolt cutter though. The "New York Chain" that weighs like 8 pounds is almost indestructible, but it's heavy.
Any u-lock can eventually be broken with a cutting wheel, but it's loud and takes a long time and the thicker ones you'd probably wear through a shitload of wheels.
The cable locks can be cut in a matter of seconds. Good if you can see your bike, otherwise don't trust it.
To get a good lock, buy a good brand (Krypto, OnGuard, Master), and basically look how thick everything is.
Also think about what you are locking too. Like if you lock up to a signpost, make sure there isn't a dinky little bolt holding the sign post together. Someone could just take the sign off. Or if you lock two bikes together and don't lock them to anything, anyone could just throw them in a truck, take em home, and spend as long as they want sawing the lock off. And if you lock to a bike rack, make sure the thing is actually bolted down; many of them aren't.
Finally, if you lock your bike in the same public place every day, be super duper extra careful since it gives the thief a long time to plan to steal it. Keep it inside or something if at all possible. Especially at home.
I'm pretty sure that everyone that has their bike stolen lately either was using a cable lock, locked their bike to another bike (and had both bikes stolen), or didn't lock their bike at all.
I don't think LA has hardcore bike thief gangs yet, I think it's all kids cutting cable locks right now but better safe than sorry. Other cities have it REALLY bad and getting a bike stolen is more a matter of when than if.
stevestevesteve10.1.08 - 12:53 pm
reply
I HAVE FOUND THAT, SOMETIMES, WHILE LOOKING AT A LOCK, VERY HARD AND MEAN, THAT IT WILL JUST UNLOCK, WITH OUT ME TOUCHING IT.
eddieboyinla10.1.08 - 12:59 pm
reply
you need to get your eye fixed, then you'll stop seeing shit that's not there
spiraldemon10.1.08 - 1:00 pm
reply
The key to preventing your bike from being stolen is not having an unbreakable lock because anyone with the right tool and enough time can break anything. It's all about strategy.. making yours the biggest pain in the ass to steal. A bike thief will always go for the one that is quickest and easiest to get.
Your best bet is to either lock your bike where it is highly visible to people, or if your locking to a rack...try to lock in the middle of a bunch of bikes, thieves will most likely go to that one on the end that is easy to get to.
I use this chain>>>
and a ulock. A bike thief simply won't waste the time of trying to get through 2 locks when there's 10 other bikes on the rack with one little u lock, you know?
Kryptonite has the NY fahgeddaboutit. It's the only lock that a company insures in NY. All others will insure in every state but that one.
Another good strategy is disguise. If your bike is a big brand name, cover it. Black out brand names on your components, etc.
onelessfixie10.1.08 - 1:05 pm
reply
are you guys locking shit outside over night?
KiMS110.1.08 - 1:09 pm
reply
i keep my bike inside overnight but there are times where i'd like to go places where i'd have to lock it outside. thanks for all your help everyone!
hopefully everyone reads this and keeps their bikes safe.
tomato10.1.08 - 1:17 pm
reply
Get a good new U-lock (Kryptonite will send you a new lock if you send in your old one and $18, so you don't have to worry about someone opening it with a pen as per the youtube videos), and a steel cable.
If you use a cable lock / generic padlock / anything else you can easily get through with a set of bolt cutters to lock up your bike, don't be surprised when it goes missing.
Use the U-lock to lock the back tire / frame to a fixed object, and use the cable to secure the front wheel / seat / helmet / etc. and connect the cable to the U-lock.
This will lock your bike securely, and there isn't enough room to fit a jack in. Sure, somebody might be able to get through with a sawzall, but as long as you're not leaving your bike out overnight, you should be fine.
It's a drag carrying 10lbs or so worth of locks with you, but it's a lot cheaper and easier than having to find a replacement bike.
(The mini u-locks aren't that much help, as half the people using them have bikes where the wheelsets are worth more than the bike, and 30 seconds with a 15mm wrench is enough to make that wheelset vanish.)
JB10.1.08 - 1:22 pm
reply
ok so first recommendation was the fahgettaboudit chain and disc lock
FAHGETTABOUDIT CHAIN
and then they have a ulock
FAHGETTABOUDIT U-LOCK
hmmmm which one should i get? i hear even the kryptonite ulock can be hammered open. decisions decisions!
tomato10.1.08 - 1:28 pm
reply
I've been doing a lot of research on this lately.
Anything with a cable can be cut.
If you're going krytonite go with the Evolution or NYFU series. The NYFU huge chains are damn effective too.
Those funky handcuffs can be easily broken.
Invest in lockable skewers, clamps & headsets. I found one yesterday that actually locked your brakes down too.
Price point for a whole damn set is $80+
My current question is with the lockable skewers...
they don't quite work as well with a fixed gear from what I'm reading. I'd actually like to hear from someone who actually has locking skewers on their fixed gear rear hub.
Any problems with it
1) fitting your horizontal dropouts?
2) chain tension? How often do you have to readjust your wheel to compensate?
revolutionary10.1.08 - 1:32 pm
reply
I was justin NYC and looking to NY Proof my bike. Along with the Pinhead bolt / key system I al got a Giant CHAIN lock. There heavy but worth it. At least EVERYOBDY in NYC uses where they stteal way more bikes than here. So if it's good for NY then it should be good for LA>
PinHeadcomponents.com
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/partsaccessories/accessories/221/26673/
Good luck
coolassmike10.1.08 - 1:36 pm
reply
Those funky handcuffs can be easily broken.
I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU DEFEAT MY LOCK, TUFF GUY.
eddieboyinla10.1.08 - 1:36 pm
reply
@coolassmike...
those locking skewers look exactly the same os the Ongaurd ones that I have. One thing though for some reason the seatpost clamp that came with it didn't work on my frame. I've been thinking of getting another set for my Singlespeed and was wondering the same as revolutionary if this will work the same way. I'm sure it'll work. I might as well as pull it from my road bike and test it out later tonight/tomorrow.
As far as the seat post locking clamp not working... I'm going to use the bike chain method and wrap it around the rails and bike frame.
I use the the mini Ongaurd u lock and its cool but it seems to wiggle a lot in the lock position. like it has a lot of play. Anybody else have that issue w/ these Ongaurd bulldog mini u locks?
Al
digablesoul10.1.08 - 1:49 pm
reply
-->
Ridazz Roulette!
