General Cycling Discussion - I cut a lock last night

My new abandoned bicycle had a lock and cable through the front wheel, so I borrowed a set of 18" bolt cutters to cut the lock. I was shocked at just how easy it was to cut the lock. I was imagining having to wrestle the lock a bit... But no, I snipped it in about 1 second, just like cutting through butter.

If I were a bike thief with a pair of bolt cutters, I could cut through a lock and be on the bike and away before anybody ever noticed. Something to think about for anybody using or choosing a lock.

The last bike thief we arrested had a set of 12" bolt cutters in his backpack. He specialized in cable/chain locks, and snipped 'em so quick and easy the guy with the key would have taken longer.

We snagged a pair of young thieves some years back with a clever idea; they had taken a pair of big bolt cutters (24" or so) and hacksawed off the handles, leaving only short stubs. One kid carried this "head" in his back pocket, while the other had two pieces of pipe which would fit over the stubs. Thing could be assembled in seconds, and gave them almost the power of a full-sized cutter in a package that was easily concealed.

The older kid was only 14.

im just curious: what size was the lock that you cut?

What process did you use to determine if the bike was abandoned?

The bike was in the bike rack in my building. Building management posted notices that all bikes had to be claimed by a certain date. Bikes that weren't claimed were confiscated. This was a few months ago. I had my eye on this bike because it seemed abandoned-- nobody was claiming it. I was going to ask for it, but it was confiscated and disappeared. Then, a week or so ago, it was in the basement. I recognized it immediately. I asked the manager about it, and she told me that she had placed it there, and asked me if i want it. So now it's mine.

The lock was similar to a master lock, with a shackle that wasn't quite as beefy as their beefiest shackles. Still, I cut through it like it was made of spaghetti. You'd be shocked how easy it is.

Bolt cutters are made for this kind of job. The locks are hardened steel, but the bolt cutters are harderened steel.

do you think bolt cutters could dominate one of those Krytonite NY chains or an OnGuard "Beast"
chain (or simlar pythons)?

Yes, Tom M and I are curious to how so many people determine a bike has been abandoned. I remember hearing those words before.

U locks are just as easy if you know how.

Yes, Tom M and I are curious to how so many people determine a bike has been abandoned. I remember hearing those words before.

U locks are just as easy if you know how.I explained how the management of my building determined this bike was abandoned. There's really no question, everybody in the building received notice for a couple of weeks or more. All claimed bikes were left in place. All unclaimed bikes were removed by building management.

And this bike was given to me months after all unclaimed bikes were removed.

do you think bolt cutters could dominate one of those Krytonite NY chains or an OnGuard "Beast"
chain (or simlar pythons)?No.

I apologize. I didn't see the explanation. There's been some other posts about "abandoned" bikes that had been "adopted".
Bolt cutters and bikes don't mix very well.

No they don't. And I felt very weird walking around with a pair of bolt cutter, let me tell you. I think it's important to be ethical about "abandoned bikes."

If you still have the cable, here's another eye-opener. Lay the cable across a rock that has a bit of a corner or edge to it. Grab another rock and pound on the cable. Watch that cable pulverize and break right before your eyes.

Now take the broken cable and attack it fiercely with a 7" broadhead diagonal cutter, and see how fast you can cut it with this pocket-sized cutter. :)

http://www.channellock.com/acb/stores/1/images/337.jpg

I guess I'm preaching to the choir here, but it shows what to expect from low-budget locks and exposed padlock shackles.

I think the u-locks suffer from "lever" attacks where they use your bike to break the lock more than being cut. There do have pocket size torches that would cut thru just about anything pretty quickly tho.

I as a kid always messed with things I shouldnt and made thermate, that stuff burns so hot that it will go thru a car engine block and then thru the cement below it! (I know because thats why I made it ^^) So the thing to remember is that no lock is theft proof just a theft deturant.

Thats why the location its locked up with may be in my opinion more important than what its locked up with.

U-Lock in back alley vs cable lock infront of a store

I think the u-locks suffer from "lever" attacks where they use your bike to break the lock more than being cut. There do have pocket size torches that would cut thru just about anything pretty quickly tho.

I as a kid always messed with things I shouldnt and made thermate, that stuff burns so hot that it will go thru a car engine block and then thru the cement below it! (I know because thats why I made it ^^) So the thing to remember is that no lock is theft proof just a theft deturant.

Thats why the location its locked up with may be in my opinion more important than what its locked up with.

U-Lock in back alley vs cable lock infront of a store

heck yeah man...Fe2O3+Al; although i forgot the proportions. i know for a fact that stuff will melt American coinage like butter; i bet it could completely melt not only a chain but the lock as well :D

do you think bolt cutters could dominate one of those Krytonite NY chains or an OnGuard "Beast"
chain (or simlar pythons)?

Have a kryptonite D Lock and Kryptonite cable- They can be cut- The D-lock takes about 2 minutes with an electric grinder and the cable about 1 minute- All the bolt croppers did in 3 minutes was mangle the D lock and cut the outer casing of the cable. Saw the demonstration at a Bike show and I tried with the bolt cutters. Don't know about the new Chains though.

No lock is safe though- Only a deterent but a Thief wants a quick steal- 1 minute and he can't break it and he will be off- sans bike.

And if its an abandoned stolen bike?

And if its an abandoned stolen bike?Yeah, that thought occurred to me after i started this thread.

But I don't know what to do about that. I can scan stolen bike listings I guess, to see if it's on there. Other than that, I don't really know what else to do.

You never said what kind of bike it was :)

Trek 830 Antelope, full 531 frame, missing the seatpost and saddle, but otherwise in very nice condition. :)

And I did just scroll through the stolen bike listings for Portland, and it's not in there.

If you are worried about security, just put a "gold rated" soldsecure tested lock around your rear wheel and a beefy steel post, and a "silver rated" soldsecure tested lock around your front wheel. Your bike won't be going anywhere.

www.soldsecure.com/Leisure.htm

There is a nice old, abandoned Motobecane that has been sitting in the parking lot, in the rain, untouched for over a month since school let out... Its chain is starting to get rusty. Makes me sad.

If I were a bike thief

Sounds like you are.

Sounds like you are.
Come on, be fair. He explained how he determined that the bike was abandoned and it sounded pretty legit. If he were a bike theif, it would be pretty stupid to steal a bike from someone in the same building he lives in.

Come on, be fair. He explained how he determined that the bike was abandoned and it sounded pretty legit. If he were a bike theif, it would be pretty stupid to steal a bike from someone in the same building he lives in.

I would consider a bike theif stupid enough to do that.

Not saying he's a bike thief though, just think people who are run a high chance of stupidity.

Sounds like you are.In what way?

I actually saw some 'nice' road bikes with an accessory cable locking them up. I thought how horribly easy it would be to steal them. They didnt even have the wheels locked. I was shocked that someone who had a $1000+ bike didnt know how to secure it properly.

Personally I use a Masterlock U-lock. But my bike is always in my sight. I just use it for quick jaunts inside for a coffee or what not. I just couldnt justify spending 70 bucks on a Krypto.

I've only locked my roadie once, while I went into a 7-11 for about 60 seconds. I couldn't stand it and have never done it since. If I'm going somewhere I have to leave my bike I take one of my beaters.

Just so people know what to avoid, the lock and cable that I cut were just like the ones pictured here.

At work I keep a pair of linemans pliers, they will go thru most cables in less then ten seconds.
At home I have a DeWalt angle grinder. I bring it to work along with a cutting disk(they are very thin) when I need to remove a U lock. I have yet to have one take more than a minute and most take less than thirty seconds. It is a noisy way to remove a lock.

Its also not just cheap locks that get bikes stolen, its also How you lock your bike, and what you lock it to.

A trained theif knows what idiot to look for i.e. Trees, street signes, bike racks that arnt bolted to the ground. (I've seen whole bike rack's stolen and loaded into a truck) Trash cans downtown, Copper pipes etc. etc.

My buddy just had his Fisher jacked from work, and he used over 3 locks to lock it up. How did they do this? The whole rack is MIA.

Give me a blow torch, honda car jack, and small bolt cutter, and hacksaw.. I can steal any bike locked to anything all in no time, and in area's with tons of people. Hell, mabye I wouldnt want the frame, but those are some nice forks, and XTR set up... I think I just want those.


Just kiddin'... or am I?

The UK magazine "Cycling Plus" publishes detailed test results of bike locks once or twice each year. Their results are consistent with the test results on the web at Soldsecure.com.

The tests show that any cable lock, of any weight, any thickness, and any price, can be opened in seconds by a skilled crook. And, cheap U-locks from Master, and other companies (the u-locks sold at Wal-Mart) can also be opened in just seconds.

In contast, the best U-locks from OnGuard and Kryptonite simply can not be opened with prying tools, leverage tools, or manual cutting tools. But, even the best locks can be cut with power cutting tools that have fresh cutting disks in ten minutes or so.

Luckily, in my city, the use of power cutting tools against bike locks is unheard of...as is a crook willing to work hard for ten minutes. If a crook has a choice between a bike locked with a Kryptonite New York lock, and the bike next to it, locked with a cable lock, or a "Master" lock, he is going for the easy target every time. -alanbikehouston

I spent alot of time and money to protect my bikes from theft. I bought the best lock that I could afford and was available at the time-a Master U-lock actually made in the USA. I bought a old Schwinn World road bike to use as a "beater" and I thought should be theft-proof being so old and the locks (I also used it with a cable lock to wrap it around wheels, accessories, etc.) making it even more unattractive. How wrong I was! Someone had alot of gall or desperate enough to try to steal it by smashing the U-lock itself with a rock or some other smashing type tool. The lock held, thank God, but I never locked it up again. Now I use folding bikes that stay with me at all times, usually hidden in a bag. So far, so good.


I actually saw some 'nice' road bikes with an accessory cable locking them up. I thought how horribly easy it would be to steal them. They didnt even have the wheels locked. I was shocked that someone who had a $1000+ bike didnt know how to secure it properly.

Personally I use a Masterlock U-lock. But my bike is always in my sight. I just use it for quick jaunts inside for a coffee or what not. I just couldnt justify spending 70 bucks on a Krypto. -Neist

Watching a bike might not be good enough anymore. I think that bikes should be hidden and locked when used-like my new bikes are.

Just so people know what to avoid, the lock and cable that I cut were just like the ones pictured here.
Thanks for the pictures, it is useful to visually see the bad types of cables and locks being discussed. However, I do not recollect seing any pictures of the recommended (good) types of security devices for bikes.

One vendor of locks that sounded promising was < http://www.soldsecure.com/Leisure.htm >, but even their website does not show pictures of their products. It would really help us all, if messages about the good security devices include pictures ... or website containing pictures ... of the devices, so we can get a better visualization of the products. Thanks.

Thanks for the pictures, it is useful to visually see the bad types of cables and locks being discussed. However, I do not recollect seing any pictures of the recommended (good) types of security devices for bikes.

One vendor of locks that sounded promising was < http://www.soldsecure.com/Leisure.htm >, but even their website does not show pictures of their products. It would really help us all, if messages about the good security devices include pictures ... or website containing pictures ... of the devices, so we can get a better visualization of the products. Thanks.

"Soldsecure" does NOT sell locks. Soldsecure is a lock testing organization in the United Kingdom. It employs professional locksmiths to test and rate locks and security devices. Their ratings are used by insurance companies in the UK to set rates and determine eligibility for insurance coverage. In the UK, anti-theft insurance for bicycles is easily available at reasonable prices.

Most of the "gold" and "silver" rated bicycle locks tested by Soldsecure are available in the USA and Canada under the Kryptonite and OnGuard brands. (Each of the "Magnum" locks sold in the UK and rated "gold" or "silver" has a "brother" sold in the USA under the OnGuard name).

Every "top" bike shop I've visited in Houston carries either Kryptonite or OnGuard locks or both. Their locks are easy to find.

Give me a blow torch, honda car jack, and small bolt cutter, and hacksaw.. I can steal any bike locked to anything all in no time, and in area's with tons of people. Hell, mabye I wouldnt want the frame, but those are some nice forks, and XTR set up... I think I just want those. Just kiddin'... or am I?

I think you know of what you speak. :eek:

Troll

Check out the following link from the ART foundation. They are a lock tester like Sold Secure. The site is in Dutch, but is very easy to figure out. The more stars the better, with four being the highest is how they are rated. Check the box that says "Foto's tonen" for pictures.

http://www.stichtingart.nl/sloten_resultaat.asp

Just removed a kryptonite u-lock with my anglegrinder/cutoff wheel, under 40 seconds. (The customer lost the key)

Just hide one of these (http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/04/diy_cell_phone_tracking.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890) under the seat. Then, you can call the popo and look for it within a block radius or so.

Just removed a kryptonite u-lock with my anglegrinder/cutoff wheel, under 40 seconds. (The customer lost the key)

Over the past year or so, Rev. Chuck has posted two or three times, claiming that he opened a Kryptonite u-lock in "under 40 seconds".

Perhaps Rev. Chuck is referring to one of the $15 Kryptonite locks sold at discount stores, but he is certainly not referring to a New York lock, or a Fahgettaboudit lock. The editors at Cycling Plus used power tools to try to open a New Yokr lock. Started with a new cutting blade. After awhile, that cutting blade was worn out, and they put on a new cutting blade. After more than ten very noisy minutes, they finally got a New York Lock open.

The last documented, credible report of a crook out on a public street corner successfully using power tools to attack a "gold" level u-lock? The next such case will also be the first such case.

Get a pair of cable cutters like are marketed by any number of bicycle tool companies. Not much bigger than a standard pair of slip joint pliers. They'll go through a standard bike locking cable like it's cool. They cut cable much better, and cleaner, than bolt cutters, and are smaller and lighter.

And you can get the same thing from any decent hardware store.

Watching a bike might not be good enough anymore. I think that bikes should be hidden and locked when used-like my new bikes are.

The downside of hiding a bike is that if found, a thief has all the time in the world to try to steal it without worrying about passers-by. If by "hidden" you mean in a secured area, then that works.

Yeah, that thought occurred to me after i started this thread.

But I don't know what to do about that. I can scan stolen bike listings I guess, to see if it's on there. Other than that, I don't really know what else to do.

Madison has a mandatory bike registration which is good for 4 years. They will have listings of serial numbers, does your city have that? Try to Google it.

Did another Kryptonite U-lock today, customer locked it to her stair railing. 27 seconds using my tried and true angle grinder with chop blade.

A good angle grinder is da' bomb. Mine's a Makita. With the right wheel, I haven't found anything metal it won't cut, grind or sharpen.:)

The down sides are I need somewhere to plug it in and it makes a lot of noise and sparks.

Did another Kryptonite U-lock today, customer locked it to her stair railing. 27 seconds using my tried and true angle grinder with chop blade.
You must have one of those good ones like I have. I have an older Craftsman model that make any car a convertible in less then 10 minutes, and will cut open any bike lock in less then a minute with the right carbide blade. You got to remember a magazine is financed with advertisements, and it is best not to upset those advertisers. Bicycling lost Rock Shok over a bad review in 2001. I got banned from my local newspaper's web discussion boards for railing against a big advertiser's crappy service. I'm sure Kryptonite will email Joe Gardner over Chuck's revelations, even if they are true.

I'm sure Kryptonite will email Joe Gardner over Chuck's revelations, even if they are true.



I seriously doubt Krypto is at all concerned about people finding out that their std u-locks are vulnerable to angle-grinders. They aren't in a fantasy land, all locks are vulnerable to angle-grinders. Krypto offers the best protection available from opportunity thieves & regularly equipped bike thieves.

I feel the need to post it because it has been posted(In this thread and others) that the editors of a magazine took ten minutes to cut thru a kryptonite lock(NewYork) with an an angle grinder.
My guess is the editors of the magazine did not know what the hell they were doing, as they went to school to become writers. I went to school to becomea heavy equipment mechanic and weldor.
I would bet they used a cheap low rpm cordless with the grinding wheel on it. I use a nice high rpm corded with a chop blade on it. There are seveal cordless angle grinders out there that are as strong as corded, the times for them would be similar.(Or you could have a genrator and an extension cord in the truck you are loading the bikes you just stole on to) As for the noise, nobody pays attention to a racket, any body ever run to see why an alarm is going off?
Posting the times is not a slam on Kryptonite or any other lock company, just pointing out it can be done. So be sure to lock you bike up in a public place, run it thru both wheels and the frame. Try not to lock it up in the same spot day after day, get the burliest lock you can afford.
I would be more than happy to go after a NewYork or Fahgeddaboutit, if any body has one that they lost the key to send it to me and I will time how long it take to defeat it.

That same article stated that the results achieved by the writers? or those they contracted were consistent with the results offered by SoldSecure which likely did not employ wispy bookworms with inferior tools to achieve their results.

What I think is interesting is that that the lock in the OP did its job so admirably for several months.

Some lock is better than no lock.