General Cycling Discussion - How to break a U-lock?

I bought a used bike with a U-lock attached, locking the front wheel to the frame. Unfortunately the key did not come with it. How do I break it or unlock it?

g'day,

the best method is to take it to the local police station. They have very special tools for dealing with this problem.

cheers,

hitchy

Would the police charge a fee for this service? The funny thing is I bought the bike at a police auction. But I picked up the bike at a warehouse, not the police station.

I've thought about using a hacksaw but it seems like a real pain in the butt. Ulocks are cut resistant, even with power tools.

Don't tell this person anything else guys. If he's legit then he can go down to the police station as Hitch said and they'll handle it for him.

I don't know what your police station is like Hitchy but I don't think my local cop shop has a special locksmiths department for helping people who have bought locked up bikes- they would probably just tell you to **** off (fill in your own favourite word here)

A thin grinding disc on a hand grinder will do the job. I cut an older metal one off a bike a couple of weeks ago, took about 2 minutes, lots of sparks. Best done outside.

a car jack, the kind that lifts up the car so u can change tires, will break a u-lock.

sd

There was a thread on here a couple of months ago with a link to a movie showing a guy in NYC breaking a U-lock in plain view of pedestrians. No one stopped him. I tried to search for it, but couldn't find it.

I think for the U-lock he used a hammer and chisel?

Bring it to NYC. Let it sit for all of 2 minutes, someone will help you out with it. :)

Yeah, take a drill and drill out the lock. That's how bike thieves do it. Takes all of 3 seconds.

you might try a pair bolt cutters. or a torch.

you might try a pair bolt cutters. or a torch.
Most decent U-locks won't be cut easily by even the biggest bolt cutters

I find it easier to cut the frame, then cut the u-lock ;)

Sounds like a job for DYNAMITE!!!! 2 or 3 sticks maybe?

some u-locks are harder than bolt cutters... the bolt cutters will bend.

I don't know what your police station is like Hitchy but I don't think my local cop shop has a special locksmiths department for helping people who have bought locked up bikes- they would probably just tell you to **** off (fill in your own favourite word here)

g'day,

appears Hitchy's sarcastic reply missed the mark here......the original post sounds so suspect I'm assuming he's pinched the bike. If he has pinched it, If he's dumb enough to take it to the police station to 'get it cut off' with the 'special tools'....we might see justice done after all!,


cheers,

Hitchy

Several years ago in college someone tried to steal my bike while locked with a U-lock. In the process, they dinged up my down tube pretty good and jammed something into the key hole that ruined the lock so my key wouldn't work. However, they still couldn't get the bike.

Since I was on campus I called campus police. They couldn't pick the lock so they had someone from a shop on campus come with bolt cutters and a torch. Bolt cutters didn't work...torch did.

Took the U-lock back to my LBS and they replaced it for me for free.

Good luck with yours.

saw it halfway and then use 2 vise grip wrench and bend it

You need some plastic explosive..

Or better yet, the google ad-bot is advertising lock picking tools!

This is legit. The bike was purchased at stealitback.com. It was part of a lot of 5, all very beat up and categorized under bicycle parts. I think I'll contact Kryptonite and see if they have replacement keys because I might want to keep the lock. If they don't , I"ll try some of the methods above. Thanks everone.

Liquid nitrogen.

Dave