Bike lock secure?

[marv711]

I found the New York Fahgettaboudit® U-lock and the site says it it very very hard to cut through but what about picking, etc http://www.kryptonitelock.com/Products/ ... 0&pid=1095
I DON'T WANT TO DISCUSS OPENING IT (it probably qualifies as advanced). I want to know if the lock has a weakness or trick or if it build as well as they claim. I had a bike last year and it was stolen within three weeks of buying it.

[blake1803]

It's actually been a while since I've seen one of the newer Kryptonite locks but if I recall correctly it has an Abloy-style disc lock, which is very secure.

I did a Google image search to try and find a picture of the key:

http://www.pricepoint.com/images/styleI ... KRYFG6.jpg

Kind of hard to see, but it does look like it.

If you do buy that lock, be sure to take advantage of the anti-theft guarantee that Kryptonite offers with it

[JackNco]

Its a disc type lock. they have removed it from the site now but the evolution series was listed as having 4 discs.

Now if they are using the same lock in these its probably gonna keep any kids out. and I cant go far in to it in the open forums but it wouldn't stop anyone that did there research for long IMHO, well it might but i still wouldn't lock an expensive bike up with them. I was trying to get my hands on one to take apart to see what else was in there to slow u down.

If anyone has one i would love to see a a picture of the discs.

All the best

John

[Raccoon]

It's still better than a kryptonite tubular lock. I'm not very familiar with what makes one disc lock better than another, but it's going to be a decent lock for a bike.

Some people still secure their $200,000 ~ $400,000 home with $8 drugstore pin-tumbler locks.

[JackNco]

It's still better than a kryptonite tubular lock. I'm not very familiar with what makes one disc lock better than another, but it's going to be a decent lock for a bike.

Some people still secure their $200,000 ~ $400,000 home with $8 drugstore pin-tumbler locks.

And thats my point exactly. If its a cheap bike it going to be silly spending $100+ on a lock. if its a really expensive mountain bike i would use a chain and a granite or something along those lines.

[raimundo]

yesterdays nyt had four bike locks at prices from 30dollars to 90 dollars reviewed. the high end locks also have a guarantee of so many dollars in replacement costs. But to get them to replace the bike, I think you have to have the broken lock for some sort of proof of lock failure.

Dont depend on a cable, cables are easily cut. if you get a U lock also called a D lock, with a cable as a second part, thats good. you can attach to large trees with a cable.

That small U lock that you show in the link, can attach the frame of the bike to a signpost or bike rack, or if you cant find either, you can lock the front wheel to the frame, but this means you get to keep the frame, it will not stop the type of thieves who steal the seats and wheels.

I don't agree with the idea of a quick disconnect for the seat, that helps the thieves, instead, you can drill and run in a selftapping screw that should keep the seat post in your prefered position and make it very hard to steal, especially if they don't even see the screw thats holding it in.

There are a lot of different types of U lock, not all have the boron steel shackle, some can be broken with a type of car jack, I have heard of this method, not seen it, its supposed to be dangerous as the steel will shatter and fly when it fractures. The smaller U locks do not let jacks in, but if you learn to use the larger U lock, it is more ver
satile in finding something to attach to, put the wheel and the frame in the lock and also a stationary strong object, such as a steel post.

I have seen bikes locked to the same place for months, and they seem to become slowly stripped of parts. I figure that the person who locked the bike there has lost the key and cannot get the bike off.
all these types of locks can be cut easily with a cutting torch or a cutoff wheel on a rotary tool. With a carbide grit hacksaw, it can take an hour.

I recommend the larger U lock, for locking the wheel,frame and a stationary object.

[blake1803]

rai: if you do a quick search on youtube you'll find a pretty ridiculous video of someone who lost his key opening a U-lock with a car jack. I'd post the link but I dont know if that falls under non-postable destructive entry etc.

it takes the kid a good 3 minutes and the thing is a big spectacle, which I think is the main point -- no one could ever steal a bike so conspicuously. you're right, it's bike parts getting stripped that are more of an immediate concern.

www.bikeforums.net will be the best resource for finding the latest and most practical information on bike security, both in terms of locks but also conventional wisdom on where to lock your bike, etc. there are lots of messengers etc on there whose livelihood depends on their bike not being stolen.

[Shrub]

No bypass discussion and no destruction discussion,

The jack method is definatley not for open discussion,

[unbreakable]

Anti-Theft Protection: What's this?
US & CAN Bicycle - $4500; UK Bicycle - ?2500; Germany Bicycle - €2000

Knowing that almost any lock can be beaten, although the disc locks can be beaten they need specialized tools, which are a lot harder to make or buy than standard picks.

As far as the locking system goes, unless there is any easy know bypass, I think it's great. Other than that, all you have to worry about is the resistance to physical attack, there are some common ones which I would be worried about, but which I don't think I should mention on the open forums.

Personally, I'd use it, between the lock and insurance (which I'd want a bit more info on), I'd say it's a good lock.

Hope this helps

[unbreakable]

Also, this has some good info --> Choosing a Lock

[Jaakko]

Also, this has some good info --> Choosing a Lock

Good U locks are nearly impossible to pick. "It is very hard for us to pick our own locks," says Kryptonite company representitive Neil MacDaid. Kryptonite has difficulty replacing lost keys to their U locks, and there are no master keys.

Maybe it has to do with you making locks, not picking them...

[parapilot]

Regards the picking, thiefs dont tend to be clever enough to pick locks, so go for something that 1, looks chunky to put them off, and 2 resists bolt cutters etc, which is how they will get your bike, not with a disc pick! so think cutter resistance more than lock on this one.

[unbreakable]

Also, this has some good info --> Choosing a Lock

Good U locks are nearly impossible to pick. "It is very hard for us to pick our own locks," says Kryptonite company representitive Neil MacDaid. Kryptonite has difficulty replacing lost keys to their U locks, and there are no master keys.

Maybe it has to do with you making locks, not picking them...

Yeah, good catch

I try to always take those things with a grain of salt, that one has some good info for the beginner, its seemed to cover a lot, and I think its worth reading. But, as Jaakko pointed out, its not all right, if anyone catches anything else please let us know.

[blake1803]

Shrub, I assumed so. At least I didn't post a link and then say "a mod will decide whether or not to remove this" -- I know that's your FAVORITE thing to hear someone say

parapilot and ubreakable are both offering great advice.

I'll see if I can dig up some threads about this stuff on bikeforums.net later in the day -- I remember there being one long discussion that was very good following the Kryptonite tubular lock fiasco. There really is a wealth of information on that website.

[Shrub]

Shrub, I assumed so. At least I didn't post a link and then say "a mod will decide whether or not to remove this" -- I know that's your FAVORITE thing to hear someone say

That forum has been mentioned before, maybe by you i dont know but it was a while ago,
I think maybe we had other members from there come on,

Eitherway i had a look around it then briefly and it was, from memory, as you say quite good on the reccomendations of locks etc,

But then i got banned for posting up advanced material and hopeing a mod would sort it out if it was wrong