General Cycling Discussion - Cuff Lock Quality?

This is what I use.
http://www.masterlockbike.com/images/product/bicycle/bike_cuffs/streetcuff.jpg
http://www.masterlockbike.com/masterlock.asp?section=bicycle&page=bike_cuffs&drill=streetcuff
http://www.masterlockbike.com/images/product/bicycle/bike_cuffs/streetcuff_2.jpg
Word of advice: skip the frame mount it kills BOTH water bottle mounts in a diamond frame.

Raiyn -

I copied this post of yours from another thread. I was considering purchasing a cuff lock for use as I run errands around town/go to the gym. I plan on using a ULock at home. I was wondering if you could tell me more about your experience with this design of lock. It looks fantastic from a size perspective/ability to attach to bike ... but how tough is the chain? Is my assumption correct that this lock is more resistant to cutting than a cable lock or an armoured version of a cable lock? What about the key on the cuff lock? From the pictures I've seen, the cuff lock uses a tubular key style. As such, do you think the cuff lock is suseptible to a bic pen in the same way as the old kryptonite design?

Thanks for your help!

Raiyn -

I copied this post of yours from another thread. I was considering purchasing a cuff lock for use as I run errands around town/go to the gym. I plan on using a ULock at home. I was wondering if you could tell me more about your experience with this design of lock. It looks fantastic from a size perspective/ability to attach to bike ... but how tough is the chain? Is my assumption correct that this lock is more resistant to cutting than a cable lock or an armoured version of a cable lock? What about the key on the cuff lock? From the pictures I've seen, the cuff lock uses a tubular key style. As such, do you think the cuff lock is suseptible to a bic pen in the same way as the old kryptonite design?

Thanks for your help!
That's a really OLD post. (I've since deleted it so as to avoid further confusion) The Street Cuff is GARBAGE. Fortunately I learned this without getting my bike stolen. I will NEVER again reccomend a Master Lock product
Read this for more info.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=67066

With a bic pen, your bike is mine.

With a bic pen, your bike is mine.
Care to argue with Mr. Glock about who's bike it is?

Isn't Gaston a bit too old for all that?

My girl friend says she loves the master cuff's, the inside is rubberized, so it's much easier on her wrists.. wait I'm sorry, what was the question?

Slvoid, this thread is now worthless without pics! :D

My girl friend says she loves the master cuff's, the inside is rubberized, so it's much easier on her wrists.. wait I'm sorry, what was the question?
That's honestly about all they're good for now

The guy who owns the bike shop where we buy all the stuff for the department told me he could hardly give 'em away....

They do look like a promising item for BDSM fun, though.

I just compared the keys on my cuffs with those on my Krypto 2000 and the cuff keys are bigger. I doubt I bic pen would work but I'm not going to try. Did Master locks change the design because unless the plastic stretches or something it is not going to work. Now a pen of the right size...

I just bought these cuffs because I read my Krypto 2000 Evolution can be opened with a bic pen. Looking at the links in this thread and elsewhere on the internet I've yet to find a video of the cuffs being openned with a bic pen. All the threads imply that all cylindrical locks have this problem which is obviously an over-generalization.

According to Master Locks, the cuffs use a more advanced cylindrical lock that is not susceptable to this problem, and they are still giving out $4000 in anti-theft insurance as of today. Their cheaper locks did use a defective mechanism and they are recalling them.

So how many people here have had their cuffs picked by bike thieves?

So what is the deal? Did they change the design? Why did my Bike store stop selling the defective Krypto models but still sell the cuffs?

I just bought these cuffs because I read my Krypto 2000 Evolution can be opened with a bic pen. Looking at the links in this thread and elsewhere on the internet I've yet to find a video of the cuffs being openned with a bic pen. All the threads imply that all cylindrical locks have this problem which is obviously an over-generalization.


By the way ... you know you can exchange your round key Kryptonite for free through Kryptonite's website. They will send you a UPS label. You send the original lock in. A week later you get a brand new straight key version. I've already swapped both of mine.

Well, the bic pen thing didn't work on mine. However, the lock mechanism stopped unlocking about 4 months after I bought it and it sits on my workbench at home now.

Check out this link. (https://webspace.utexas.edu/saitogm/MasterLockStreetCuffs/index.htm) If you are too lazy this picture says it all.

https://webspace.utexas.edu/saitogm/MasterLockStreetCuffs/DSCF0220.JPG

Well, the bic pen thing didn't work on mine. However, the lock mechanism stopped unlocking about 4 months after I bought it and it sits on my workbench at home now.

If you still have at least one key you can exchange the lock for a working straight key version for free (no shipping costs either) through Kryptonite's website.

I just compared the keys on my cuffs with those on my Krypto 2000 and the cuff keys are bigger. I doubt I bic pen would work but I'm not going to try. Did Master locks change the design because unless the plastic stretches or something it is not going to work. Now a pen of the right size...

Yeah ... I'm still anxious about trying them ... so the theives have to find another brand of pen with the correct diameter. Shouldn't be too tough to find

So how many people here have had their cuffs picked by bike thieves?

So what is the deal? Did they change the design? Why did my Bike store stop selling the defective Krypto models but still sell the cuffs?

I'm only speculating here. But the fact the LBS still has the cuff locks might have something to do with two things.

1 - The Kryptonite/Bic pen thing has been pretty well publicized. As such, the LBS dropped their cylinder key products as fast as Arthur Andersen's audit clients did before AA had even been officially charged of their crimes (for the sake of appearances - and their own business needs).
2 - As Raiyn recounted in his post (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=1556688#post1556688) above. Master Lock has not been nearly as cooperative and helpful with customers as Kryptonite has been in addressing their mistake. Seems from what Raiyn has shared, Master Lock is more going with the "close ones eyes/stick ones fingers in their ears" approach

I didn't think Masterlock was replacing their locks, are they?

I didn't think Masterlock was replacing their locks, are they?

My bad Paul, I misunderstood you, I thought the busted lock on your workbench was a ULock ... not cuff locks as they actually are.

How come the busted locks are on the workbench and not in the living room or the bedroom. At least there they'd be a conversation starter as opposed to mearly a paper weight. :p

My bad Paul, I misunderstood you, I thought the busted lock on your workbench was a ULock ... not cuff lucks as they actually are.

How come the busted locks are on the workbench and not in the living room or the bedroom. At least there they'd be a conversation starter as opposed to mearly a paper weight. :p

Was thinking of maybe seeing if a little lubrication would get the lock mechanism going again. Although the cuffs may not be the best solution for a normal framed bicycle they provide a good hold on a "Stick" Style recumbant frame. Mine only had two links so it should be more resistant to twisting breaks than the one pictured. Anyway, it had an interesting circular lock mechanism too that was different from the kryptonite one in that you turned the key once then backed it off and the center of the lock had to pop out before the lock would open, don't know how that would work with a bic, I couldn't find a pen that would fit it so that was good enough for me (if someone really wants my bike they will figure out a way to get it eventually I figure, just don't want some stupid kid walking by and trying it). I use a cable lock with a storage lock as well so it would not be a simple task to get it. Anyway, thus far I have been too lazy to go out and play with the lock and in the meantime I have an onguard chain locked on in a place that would require them to have a correct sized allen sized wrench to get that off (it used to connect to the other end of the cuffs as I have a really wierd bike rack at work) and then they would still have to deal with the cable. In any case the best security is it is parked in a low risk area and is not left overnight.

You can see the results of extensive lock tests at soldsecure.com. The best bike locks are those with "gold" ratings. Master locks are very consistent...they consistently fail to perform to earn "gold" ratings. A "big" name, promoting second-rate locks.

Among the brands that are easy to find in the USA, only Kryptonite and OnGuard have earned gold ratings. The locks sold under the "OnGuard" name in the USA have "twins" listed under the Magnum name in soldsecure's UK testing program.

Most of the locks "featured" in this month's issue of America's largest mountain bike magazine are just pure junk...the crime is that bike stores sell them.

www.soldsecure.com/Leisure.htm

I doubt I bic pen would work but I'm not going to try. Did Master locks change the design because unless the plastic stretches or something it is not going to work. Now a pen of the right size...The BiC pen DOES work. Master Lock has NOT changed the design
Looking at the links in this thread and elsewhere on the Internet I've yet to find a video of the cuffs being opened with a bic pen. All the threads imply that all cylindrical locks have this problem which is obviously an over-generalization. Sounds like damage control from a PR person over at Master Crock. Rest assured they CAN be opened with a standard BiC pen

According to Master Locks, the cuffs use a more advanced cylindrical lock that is not susceptible to this problem, and they are still giving out $4000 in anti-theft insurance as of today. More applesauce. That "advanced design" is just as vulnerable to attack as any of the other cylindrical locks. The only reason they're willing to offer the warranty (it's NOT "insurance") is because the number of hoops you have to jump through to get anything back from them makes it nearly impossible to recoup ANYTHING from them

So how many people here have had their cuffs picked by bike thieves?
Does it count if I picked them myself? I switched locks toot sweet.


So what is the deal? Did they change the design? Nope
Why did my Bike store stop selling the defective Krypto models but still sell the cuffs?Because Master Crock denies there's a problem. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=67066 Kryptonite issued a free exchange recall almost IMMEDIATELY for consumers and most LBS's yanked the defective product from their shelves and sent it back to the distributors