Commuting - Best lock for a 1000$ bike?

I have a road bike worth that much. Although I bought for 700$, this girl was originally billed at 1K.
I have an ABUS "Extra level 7" coil cable lock. The lock costed 40$, because I really don't leave my bike alone for that long, I just might go to the john once in a while but I still am afraid of theft.
Bike theft seems to be the new "thing" now...My friend had a rusty 90's women's bike and still got stolen.
I had a very good bike with a 70$ U-lock. All kinds of "awards" and "certifications" were printed on that box...still got stolen.
BTW, that thing was HEAVY...
So what lock do you guys suggest? I don't leave my bike for more than 5 minutes (normally) and I don't want to add too much weight.

There's no best lock; whatever you buy can be cut in minutes with a $50 construction tool. Just buy a small U-lock and call it a day.

Best lock for a $1000 bike: your two eyes.

Good thread here.. (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=520597&highlight=locksmith)

A garage.

I've always been of the ilk that commuters should be beaters unless you have very secure locations on both ends (to me this means that I would leave it unlocked and feel safe). Even if you are going with a road bike, find a cheap or old steel one or something. Save the $1000 bike for the weekends.

A lock deters an opportunistic thief but it can't stop a determined one. All you can do is pray you can SLOW DOWN a determined thief enough to get back to your bike in time.

I live in NYC: the bike theft capital of the world, I opted for a small folding bike so that I can take it with me everywhere I go. For the times that I can't take my folding bike with me I purchased a Kryptonite Evolution Mini U-Lock + a Kryptonite Kryptoflex 4' "Armored" Cable.

I highly recommend the Kryptonite Evolution series as well as the stronger Kryptonite New York series. They are the best on the market but as I stated prior, all they do is slow a determined thief down! Even these locks, the best on the market, can be breached if given enough time and the right tools!

So no matter what lock you choose DON'T LEAVE YOUR BIKE LOCKED FOR LONGER THAN IT TAKES TO BREAK THE LOCK!

For an added layer of protection and to slow a thief down a little more, get a second lock of a different type.

A garage.

I've always been of the ilk that commuters should be beaters unless you have very secure locations on both ends (to me this means that I would leave it unlocked and feel safe). Even if you are going with a road bike, find a cheap or old steel one or something. Save the $1000 bike for the weekends.

Wrong! It is very common around here for people to have their bikes stolen straight out of their garage.

+1 on the Kryptonite Evolution Mini U-Lock. It is small & light. In addition, Kryptonite covers the base purchase price of your registered item, excluding accessories and tax. The guarantee is slightly different in NYC.

I pay about $20 a year for theft insurance on my homeowners policy ,as long as it has some sort of a lock on it .Its covered

Does the Mini U have the same problem with being pickable with a bic pen that the earlier evolution kryptonites have? video here - http://www.guzer.com/videos/kryptonite_lock.php

There's no best lock; whatever you buy can be cut in minutes with a $50 construction tool. Just buy a small U-lock and call it a day.

And which tool would that be? Either way, you can buy a lot of crack for $50

And which tool would that be? Either way, you can buy a lot of crack for $50

Cordless angle grinder, cordless drill, cordless jig saw, bottle jack.....
I could go on.

Does the Mini U have the same problem with being pickable with a bic pen that the earlier evolution kryptonites have? video here - http://www.guzer.com/videos/kryptonite_lock.php

No.
Better disk tumbler key system.

As linked above, see here for mucho lock info....

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=520597&highlight=locksmith

Wrong! It is very common around here for people to have their bikes stolen straight out of their garage.

I lock my bike even in the garage; it's open very often, and it doesn't take that much for someone to spot something valuable and easily portable.

However, if the garage is closed, I don't see how it would get stolen from more often than a house in general.

A garageWrong! It is very common around here for people to have their bikes stolen straight out of their garage.

True everywhere, I'm sure. I don't keep any bikes in my garage. They're in the basement.

There's no best lock; whatever you buy can be cut in minutes with a $50 construction tool. Just buy a small U-lock and call it a day.

Yes. That's the best advice you can get. If you only leave your bike a few minutes, don't worry. You are too uptight. Relax.

I wouldn't ride a 1K bike if I had to lock it. Buy a $100 beater for that.

Cliff-notes for those that didn't read the other article on the same topic.

Any bike can be stolen no matter how it is locked.

Make your bike harder to steal than other bikes.

Thieves generally carry one means of breaking locks.

Two lock types is a good way to dissuade a thief from choosing your bike.

Cliff-notes for those that didn't read the other article on the same topic.

Any bike can be stolen no matter how it is locked.

Make your bike harder to steal than other bikes.

Thieves generally carry one means of breaking locks.

Two lock types is a good way to dissuade a thief from choosing your bike.

That, plus park next to a more expensive bike that hasn't taken as many lock precautions.

that is a great thread, thanks


Good thread here.. (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=520597&highlight=locksmith)

I use a U-lock and sometimes I'll take the seatpost with me to make the bike a little less appealing to a thief. For a $1000 bike I'd probably use a U-lock and another cable lock to make sure the frame and both wheels are secured. I'd also take the seat with me if I know I'll be gone for long.

Oh, and always make sure the U-lock is completely closed on both sides. I've had a few instances where I've tried to lock the frame and wheel to a signpost and it would barely fit, but I thought I was sure that the lock was completely closed. But then when I came back to the bike I'd see that only one side of the lock had been engaged. So now I always make sure both sides click shut before I leave the bike.

Let's see do I ride a $1000 bike around and have to lock it and never feel it's going to be ok with the super duper lock I have or ride a beater and not worry.

I have a road bike worth that much. Although I bought for 700$, this girl was originally billed at 1K.
I have an ABUS "Extra level 7" coil cable lock. The lock costed 40$, because I really don't leave my bike alone for that long, I just might go to the john once in a while but I still am afraid of theft.
Bike theft seems to be the new "thing" now...My friend had a rusty 90's women's bike and still got stolen.
I had a very good bike with a 70$ U-lock. All kinds of "awards" and "certifications" were printed on that box...still got stolen.
BTW, that thing was HEAVY...
So what lock do you guys suggest? I don't leave my bike for more than 5 minutes (normally) and I don't want to add too much weight.

I've been riding a bicycle for over 50 years and never had one stolen or vandalized. My 'Globe Sport' is my 6th bike and the only one's I don't still have are the one's that I outgrew. If you can't bring your bike inside with you, then lock it where it's visible from the inside. Failing that, lock it where it's highly visible to traffic and pedestrians. I take a little time to make everything as awkward as possible, so that a thief would look at it and think "**** that!".

Right now, I use a 'New York' lock for the back wheel and frame and a cable for the front wheel and frame. Of course, both locks are connected to something solid. I have both my quick releases locked and the last thing I do is change the front and back gears and try not to forget to shift back after I unlock the bike.

Lastly, if I can't see the bike from where I am on the inside and I'm away for an extended period, I check it from time to time. "Opportunity makes the thief."

P. S. I know the response is more than you asked for, but I'm telling you what's worked for me, so far. :)

Wrong! It is very common around here for people to have their bikes stolen straight out of their garage.

Did they try closing the garage door?

I lock my commuter (which was about $1000) up with an onguard mini ulock. I have keyed skewers so I usually don't lock the wheels. If I do lock the wheels I use an inexpensive cable lock. They're a fairly low end wheelset and I'm not too worried about them.

I have secure parking at home and at work. So I only lock it up occasionally.

Beyond that I have renters insurance which claims they'll cover the bike if it's not at home. It'd suck to pay a $500 deductible but by the time they steal it and the crap I have on it...

And I live in the midwest. Bike theft isn't a major issue here.

U-lock with o-lock and cable locks.

Three types of locks.

But the best advice is to simply get it covered under your homeowners/renter's insurance.

I wouldn't commute on a bike like that and leave it outside. I'm build a cheap fixed gear for that purpose and I'm gonna use the Kryptonite Evolution. It's tough and isn't very heavy, especially if you wear a belt.