General Cycling Discussion - On Guard Locks examined on Consumerist.com

Now this made for some interesting reading

http://consumerist.com/5310313/free-bike-protection-is-neither-free-nor-protects-all-bikes


http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/consumerist/2009/07/On_Guard_Bike_Lock.JPG

Well that was uninformative. It was just someone reviewing the wording of the insurance agreement. Not an actual review of going through the reimbursement process, or of the security of the lock itself.

I found it extremely informative. It tells me that OnGuard will use any and every trick around to avoid reimbursing me if I buy their lock and my bike is stolen.

How good can they be?

They're sold at Xmart.

I found it extremely informative. It tells me that OnGuard will use any and every trick around to avoid reimbursing me if I buy their lock and my bike is stolen.

Like they are any different than Kryptonite or any other lock company?

How good can they be?

They're sold at Xmart.


Besides adding mucho $$ to the final price, what else does an LBS imprimatur do for products like locks, helmets, and clothing that are also sold at Xmarts?

EVERY company is going to try their best to not reimburse you. They're not going to make money selling $40 locks and reimbursing XXXX amount of money. Also, bike reimbursement is very easy to fraud.

On that note... I buy a lock that will deter my bike from being stolen in the rare instance I do have to lock it up for a small amount of time, not reimburse me if it is stolen. Also, I wouldn't lock my bike out long enough for something like that to happen... with any lock.

I found it extremely informative. It tells me that OnGuard will use any and every trick around to avoid reimbursing me if I buy their lock and my bike is stolen.To be fair, Kryptonite is known for that as well.

If you don't follow every rule to the letter, you will not be reimbursed. And the following of many of the rules are beyond your control.

Ultimately, they don't want to pay, but want you to think that this adds some value to their lock so that you'll pick it over the other guys. It doesn't. If you want insurance, buy real insurance -- this isn't it.

I'll bet On-Guard and Kryptonite only pay out a handful of claims a year.

Also, I wouldn't lock my bike out long enough for something like that to happen... with any lock.If you've got room to get a jack in, it'll open a U-lock in under 5 minutes. An angle grinder can cut through the very best U-locks in under 10 minutes. A good cable cutter will open a chain lock in under a minute.

Unless you never lock your bike up for more than ten minutes, I call shenanigans.

If you've got room to get a jack in, it'll open a U-lock in under 5 minutes. An angle grinder can cut through the very best U-locks in under 10 minutes. A good cable cutter will open a chain lock in under a minute.

Unless you never lock your bike up for less than ten minutes, I call shenanigans.

And you are EXACTLY correct. I don't lock up my bike anywhere for more than 5 minutes. EVER.

If I have to commute somewhere (work, gym, grocery store, etc.) I bring my bike inside after asking permission from the folks. I then lock it up in a corner where they can keep an eye on it. I'm lucky that most places haven't turned down my request.

I'm not made of money and my bike is my means of transportation to and from work. I wouldn't risk losing it. However, I suppose location factors in a lot as well. I live in a downtown area with lots of people always around. No one is dumb enough to bring a angle grinder or jack to try and steal a bike in that area. At least not in broad daylight.

And you are EXACTLY correct. I don't lock up my bike anywhere for more than 5 minutes. EVER.I'm skeptical, but OK ...

I then lock it up in a corner where they can keep an eye on it. I'm lucky that most places haven't turned down my request.It's not really luck, as you can just turn around and leave if they say no.

In any event, jacks and cable cutters work just fine indoors too. I'm guessing that your bike is locked up at these places (indoors, OK) for more than five minutes?

No one is dumb enough to bring a angle grinder or jack to try and steal a bike in that area. At least not in broad daylight.Angle grinders make a lot of noise and sparks, but jacks are small, quiet and stealthy. And you'd be surprised how dumb people can be.

And people are known for ignoring crimes in progress. They may see somebody working on your bike, but they don't know for sure that the bike is being stolen, and don't know the owner of the bike and don't want to get involved anyways (which could turn into trouble for them), so they just keep walking ...

Sounds like you've done the needful with regards to keeping your bike from being stolen -- but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen tomorrow.

^ Ohh I definitely agree with you on the regard it could get stolen. There is really no way of stopping theft 100% when you leave your bike unattended.

However, living in a pretty strong bike community I haven't felt worried with the precautions I take. Also... The places where I lock up the bike inside. I'm there for much longer than 5 mins. I usually spend an hour at the gym and I bring my bike inside and lock it to whatever is available. As long as it doesn't obstruct anything or anyone the employees don't mind and help keep an eye out.

I use a mini ulock so I'm not sure what kind of jack could break it without a bit of trouble, but I'm sure it's possible.

My main point was leaving your bike outside and unattended with any lock is dangerous. I would rather go out of my way to bring it in wherever I'm going or not leave it out for more than a few minutes.

I'm actually a bit surprised people can stand leaving their bikes out for long periods of time. No one I know personally ever locks their bike outside for more than a few minutes and they take the steps that I usually do.

So what lock should we buy, I read the articel to be somewhat negative WRT ongaurd.
I leave my bike locked up at work, but a theif would have a ward time getting between all the motorcycles parked around the bike rack to get to the bike to steal it, they would have to then carry the bike up and over all the motorcycles to get it out like I do.

No lock will prevent theft by a professional bike thief with the right tools unfortunately. Based on your risk asessment buy the best lock you feel will deter the amateur thieves and verify that your homeowners or renters insurance will cover the bike if it is stolen. Maybe even ask about a policy rider for full replacement value insurance on the bike(s) and make sure it covers wreck repair or replacement too.

I found it extremely informative. It tells me that OnGuard will use any and every trick around to avoid reimbursing me if I buy their lock and my bike is stolen.

Who cares? Most locks don't even have any sort of reimbursement program, and those that do use the same legal fine print.
I buy a lock so it doesn't get stolen in the first place, not because I'm interested in their reimbusement offer should it get stolen.
If I'm trying to put in the claim then the product is already a failure. In that sense the article is totally unimformative for me, because it says nothing about how good the lock itself is.

I would compare weight and size with the level of protection.

Performance Bike lists the weight.

Who cares? Most locks don't even have any sort of reimbursement program, and those that do use the same legal fine print.
I buy a lock so it doesn't get stolen in the first place, not because I'm interested in their reimbusement offer should it get stolen.
If I'm trying to put in the claim then the product is already a failure. In that sense the article is totally unimformative for me, because it says nothing about how good the lock itself is.

Well, I did find it informative, and I also know the purpose of the article had nothing to do with how good the lock is. I can get that data in a number of other places. I found it informative to know SPECIFICALLY the legal hoops I would have to jump through in order to take advantage of their heavily-marketed insurance.

While I'm sure Kryptonite has the same lengthy, byzantine requirements, I was glad to see OnGuard's spelled out in detail *before* I let the marketing affect any future decision I make about buying a u-lock.

How good can they be?

They're sold at Xmart.They're also the only U-lock sold at both of the bike shops I go to. That must say something about your preconceived notions.

I have an OnGuard lock, but luckily I didn't let that reimbursement program affect my decision. Those hoops you have to jump through should be assumed whenever an offer seems too good to be true (which it does in this case).