Videos: picking tubular bike locks with a bic pen

[Chucklz]

I bet an inverted 6 pin tubular will not yield so easily to a pen. I'm sure you could still use a pen as a tension tool, but there would be other work involved.

[WhiteHat]

I went to a Master 7-pin tubular cycle lock I have in my garage. The key has cut depths of 4, 2, 2, 3, 1, 1, 3 (32ths inch). The lock has MiZ on the barrel and the key number is 2113.

I couldn't find a tubular cycle lock on master's website - do you know if they still sell it? I should think that the bike community forums would like to know about it if they dump the kryptonite locks for a master lock with the same vulnerability.

[apollyon]

just FYI, the cardboard trick works on the pop machine in the lobby at my work.(yes i am legally able to have access to it).

[MrB]

WhiteHat: The lock is very similar to this one: http://www.masterlockbike.com/masterlock.asp?section=bicycle&page=bike_cable&drill=quantum20, except that what I have is probably an older model and maybe less secure. I bought it ages ago in England and no longer have the packaging so I can't check the model number.

Nevertheless, I suspect the cycling community won't be going anywhere near tubular locks of whatever make or description after this. All the talk is of making sure to get "flat key" locks.

For good security, the common advice seems to be to get a length of strong, case-hardened chain, cover it with something soft like a length of inner tube, and secure it with a quality padlock. (And/or secure the bike with two different locks at once.)

[WhiteHat]

just FYI, the cardboard trick works on the pop machine in the lobby at my work.(yes i am legally able to have access to it).

any chance you could tell us the exact make/brand of that lock? or post a picture of it?

[32768]

I was able to get the bic pen trick to work on my kryptolok. It took a minute or so of wiggling but it worked. I was also able to relock it with the pen so I didn't have to pile the nub off the key to get it closed. My bike's now locked with one of their cables and a master no. 5 for <cough> extra security. i'd use my abus disc lock but it cost more than the bike and i'd hate to lose it.

[apollyon]

any chance you could tell us the exact make/brand of that lock? or post a picture of it?

absolutely, however, the earliest it would be is tuesday, the next time i go into work. no pics tho, i don't have a digital camera.

[ymboc]

I'd be surprised to find that the majority of tubular locks are open to this attack, infact I'd be quite worried.

I'm quite worried... I own a few ulocks. Two of them tubular ccm's, a pin-tumbler ccm, and a hefty (looking) lock I got from MEC. The tubular's are all of different diameter, the MEC one being the biggest - the Bic pen just stretches/compresses to fit.

With the exception of the pin-tumbler, the Bic trick works on all of them. Ironically I stopped using the pin-tumbler one a couple years ago because I only had 1 key left (lost the backup) and switched to my MEC lock which I considered more secure (and came with 2 backup keys)...

go figure.

[TOWCH]

Anyone have any tips on getting the pen to fit? I've been softening it with a lighter but it's sketchy. Just brute force?

[WhiteHat]

I think I read somewhere that someone cut small slits in the pen to allow it to expand slightly.

[cormu]

The very question I have.

Can you list some of the tubular locks you can't pick? Manufacturer, application, size, cost, etc.

Do some tubular locks have deeper, better warded keyways? Do they have anti-pick features that these easily-opened cycle locks don't have?

i can pick all of them .. i only trust Abloy locks .

Title: Tubular locks, by Cormu (6 min)
Location: http://www.cjp.fi/lp101tubulars.avi
Description: Shows how to use different tubular lockpicks on different locks.
Credit: Cormu from LP101

[thertel]

Is that video really how all tubular locks are picked? Cus if thats the case I can'y believe no one saw the bic pen pick coming. I'm ordering a tubular pick now. OMFG LP101 ROXORZ THE BIG111! (sorry been working on a version of the shockwave of posting for this forum...)

Thomas

[cormu]

Is that video really how all tubular locks are picked? Cus if thats the case I can'y believe no one saw the bic pen pick coming. I'm ordering a tubular pick now. OMFG LP101 ROXORZ THE BIG111! (sorry been working on a version of the shockwave of posting for this forum...)

Thomas

Yes kinda, but they all are differnt the aceII is a little more challenging due to the different sping tensions but it all depends on how the pins are cut it is also possable to single pick them but this is all old news. the search button will tell u all and probablly more info on tubulkar that u want to know.

I am very happy that krptonite has decided to repace those locks for there customers you can sure that you will see more disc operated locks from them in the future Abloy still wins my vote but they are also vunerable to manipulation. but requires specilized tools.

I am happy to see people are waking up on the uslessness of tubulars for high security and even more now when it has become more widly knowen on how to defeat them

[thertel]

It wasnt that I didn't search its just that I had never had any interest in tubular locks and was amazed at how the pick worked...and rather amazed.


Thomas

[apollyon]

any chance you could tell us the exact make/brand of that lock? or post a picture of it?

turns out it's an ACE II 7 pin. i tried it again tonite just to makre sure it wasn't blind luck the first time, yup. the most time consuming aspect was getting the cardboard to roll right. also, turns out my girlfriend is shopping for a digital camera so chances are good i'll be able to take some pics be the end of the month. i'll post them if interest in this thread keeps up.