General Cycling Discussion - Your brand new bicycle u-lock is not safe!

they just called me. i need to send them my old keys and they will send me a new lock.

Nice, I wonder if kryptonite will do that for the people who's locks are also affected but weren't quoted in a news paper.

[off topic]i wish i had a dollar for everytime someone viewed this thread...[/off topic]

Another one here, not Kraptonite, but Oxford (UK company) and even worse, it has a Sold Secure sticker on it to show that it has been independently tested and found to be a satisfactory deterrent against theft. Sold Secure stuff gets discounts on insurance in the UK, you tell me if the whole system is corrupt or not.

Right click, save as.

www.zanx.net/pick2.wmv

Kryptonite just called me too. They're sending me a different kind of lock for my NY chain, that I assume will not be susceptible to the pen.

The woman I spoke to told me that they are doing the free replacement for locks under 2 years old, and because of my KK***** key code, they knew it was bought recently. I have to mail back my keys, and they will send me a new lock. New locks will be shipped priority mail.

Other, older owners will either have to provide some proof of purchase, or are only eligible for a partial credit/refund/replacement.

This is straight from Kryptonite. I'll be getting my lock by early next week since I didn't want to mail my keys yet (I still use my EV with another padlock), so she took my CC information and will send the new lock today/tomorrow. When I return my keys, they will shred my CC information.

I think Kryptonite hit this right on the head with customer service. They have restored my faith.

eeh i think the lesson learned here is just use combination locks :)

hey guys!

this is exploding!

i just got back from the NPR studios here in NYC where i interviewed with michele norris for today's edition of All Things Considered - it airs at 4PM est on most public radio stations around here. check your local listings!!!!!!

I went to the NPR website and the links to the audio of their shows is F***'d! They end up pointing to completely different stories. To get the Kryptonite lock story, go to this link and click on the audio link on the page:
http://www.npr.org/rundowns/segment.php?wfId=3924659

Anyways, here's a transcript of the interview that I did after I finally found it. Mispellings and mistakes are mine.

Can Plastic Pen Defeat Kryptonite locks?
September 17, 2004

Michele Norris: Bicylcle shops around the country have pulled a style of U-lock off their shelves as word spread that they have a weakness. The Bic ball-point pen. Many locks with a cylindrical key are at risk. The Kryptonite is one possible, one popular brand. Benjamin Running is a graphic designer in New York city. He helped bring the lock's vulnerability to national attention with a demonstration video on his website. He says a quarter of a million people have logged on to learn how to pick these locks.

Benjamin Running: The first time I did it, it took a while, you know, you sort of have to get your technique down. The first time it take maybe a few minutes. But after 5 or 10 times I had it down to 5 seconds. Literally the time it takes to open the lock with a key.

MN: Well, I happen to have a pen in my hand, and, uh, what I do? How do I do this? I have a pen and a lock here.

BR: Yeah, the pen gets inserted into the lock. And at that point and time it's basically just a matter of jamming it in there good and jiggling it around a little bit, until you get some traction, and then twisting it.

MN: Well, it's not popping open. But I definitely have some movement in there.

BR: You have some traction.

MN: If I, like you, could do this 5 or 10 times, it's clear that I put this Kryptonite open, and I, and lo and behold it doesn't take Superman to operate the lock.

BR: Would be bike thieves with a little bit of time on their hands who can practise this, uh, you know, can obviously pop these locks open very quickly.

MN: What's the word on the street, I mean, bicyclists as they talk to each other? What are they saying?

BR: This is, the word is spreading fast. Uh, which is a good thing because if you walk down any street in NYC, you're going to see a dozen, you're going to see 20 bikes locked up on some blocks. And, you know, 90% of these bikes have Kryptonite locks on them. And, um, at first, you know, on Monday and Tuesday it was the bike specific groups and websites that had these stories on them. But now it's spreading to the New York Times, the Daily News, I think people are, uh, realizing the severe problem which affects them.

MN: Well, before this happened, you were using your bike on a daily basis, and what are you going to do now, how are you going to secure it when you venture out of the house or the apartment?

BR: Well, I've purchased a flat lock which uses, sorry a U-lock that uses a flat key. And I'm also going to purchase a new padlock which I'm going to use on my existing Kryptonite chain. And several brands have been recommended on various Internet newsgroups. Um. So we're going to look for something a little more secure.

MN: Alright Benjamin, thanks so much for coming in to talk to us.

BR: Thanks very much Michele.

MN: Benjamin Running is a graphic designer in New York City and avid cyclist in search of a new lock. Although I couldn't open up a lock, one of our producers, Ben Gilbert, popped open a colleagues lock in a matter of minutes. The owner of that lock plans to take Kryptonite up on its offer to upgrade the lock.

So, it's official, free upgrades for (nearly) all. And if your Kryptonite locks are older than 2 years, you get an unspecified rebate.

BikeBiz.com has first details. http://www.bikebiz.co.uk/web/article.php?id=4644

PS
Next Wednesday looks like a busy day for kryponite.com...

BikeBiz.com has first details. http://www.bikebiz.co.uk/web/article.php?id=4644
Is there a link that doesn't require login/password?

From BusinessWire.com:

September 17, 2004 06:09 PM US Eastern Timezone

Kryptonite Offering Free Upgrade Worldwide for Consumers' High End Tubular Cyliner Locks; Unprecedented Offer Intended to Address the Needs of Loyal Consumers

CANTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 17, 2004--Kryptonite today announced it will provide free product upgrades for certain locks purchased since September 2002, in response to consumer concerns about tubular cylinder lock technology. Consumers can visit the company's Website (www.kryptonitelock.com ) on Wednesday afternoon, September 22, 2004, to learn how they can participate in the security upgrade program.

Consumers who have purchased an Evolution lock, KryptoLok lock, New York Chain, New York Noose, Evolution Disc Lock, KryptoDisco or DFS Disc Lock in the last two years are eligible for a product upgrade free of charge from Kryptonite. Customers will need to have either registered their key number, registered for the Kryptonite anti-theft protection offer or have proof of purchase to qualify.

Specifically, Kryptonite will provide for free cross bars featuring the company's new disc-style cylinder lock technology to consumers who have purchased Evolution and KryptoLok series products. In addition the company will replace for free recently purchased Evolution Disc Locks on New York Chain and New York Noose with its "Molly Lock", a heavy duty solid steel padlock. Kryptonite also will upgrade recently purchased disc locks.

Consumers who have had one of the Kryptonite locks mentioned with a tubular cylinder for longer than two years will be eligible for a sizeable rebate on the upgraded products. This program will be administered through Kryptonite dealers and distributors.

A distributor and dealer swap program will be rolled out through direct communication from Kryptonite to all its partners.

Full details about this unprecedented program will be available on Kryptonite's website by afternoon Eastern Standard Time, Wednesday, September 22, 2004, at www.kryptonite.com

if you're interested in listening to the piece, my friend tom made an mp3 (652K) which you can download here: http://thirdrate.com/empeethree/benjamin_running-npr.mp3

http://www.englishchain.co.uk/prod_security.html

i should not have to present a reciept to get my lock refitted properly since it has been proven this was out for 12 years.

Either way, I know the profit game, but still if they knew about it, and didnt react, it's their foul. And I bought a lock that for 11 years they knew the design bit. Full exchange and my prodding the crap out of it....I'm far from locksmith level of knowledge, so if I can crack a lock, it truly sucks.

Official Kryptonite lock picking device for sale.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5521534021&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

Just so you guys know i was reading about this in the NY Times and decided to try this my self since i am working in a hardware store we had 6 u locks all kryptonites and i tried it on all of them it work on 4 outta 6 what i do think the cause is, it that the key pins are too close together - like they are the same height. i was reading threw the posts and some body suggested a tubular lock pick to be faster in fact it doesnt work.. those tubular picks are actually bigger tha a krypto lock key further more this method has been known to theives and such for years. if u ask me the alterunative is do get a american padlock and a krypto chain. most locks good name brand locks i know of do make pad locks ie. Multi lock, Medico the locks to stay away from are the master locks types and tubular key locks as they are easily beaten tubular locks with pens. Master lock type locks , the ones that are plates mushed together are a little harder to break but it is still easy the top or bottom of it has rivets and u can file them and hammer it out with a masonary nail and your bike is gone. every thing i said here is from experianced lock smiths and personal mishaps as i have lost 2 bikes to thieves.

Official Kryptonite lock picking device for sale.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5521534021&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

Heh... like no one saw that one coming. :)

Official Kryptonite lock picking device for sale.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5521534021&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

Hey, thats my picture in your auction. eBay Fraud! I bet you will want me to cash out your Nigerian money order for $736,863 and send you the balance too.

Funny auction by the way.

Read my post in the thread entitled "Kryptoinites response....". The company appears to be trying to make things right.

the "mashed plate" masterlocks are single-row locks, and are low pin-count as well. filing them takes more time than picking them, and picking them is very quick. household materials used for that too, just nothng as inconspicuous as a bic pen though.

The article in the NY Times today reported that any lock with a cylindrical tube is vulnerable. I too have an On Guard Lock. Does anyone have information on how to contact On Guard to find out if/how they're responding to this?

eeh i think the lesson learned here is just use combination locks :)

I wish I could agree. You have to be careful which combination lock you use. The combination to standard Master combination locks can be easily narrowed down to 100 possible combinations, meaning that it would take an average of 50 tries to unlock the lock.

Seriously. I won't post how to do it. However, I once found a combination Master lock. I did some Google research to see if Master Lock would provide the combination. What I found instead was a way to crack the combination. Within a minute, the combination can be narrowed down to 100 combinations. From there, it is simply a matter of going through them one by one. I tried it out and to my amazement, I cracked the combination. From what I understand, the American brand combination locks are much harder to crack.

There are other ways to open combination locks also, like slipping a thin slither of metal into the shackle in order to push the thingy back. I was unsuccessful in this attempt though.

More reason to get a cheap bike.

The article in the NY Times today reported that any lock with a cylindrical tube is vulnerable. I too have an On Guard Lock. Does anyone have information on how to contact On Guard to find out if/how they're responding to this?

Well, I suppose you could call their customer support line :rolleyes:

Ok, boys and girls. I hate to burst everyone's bubble, and I hope this hasnt been said before, but not only does this "bic" pen scenario work on u-locks it also works on vending machines, coin-op washers and dryers, and all other low-pin count circular locks.

I just sent an email to On Guard's customer support. I'll post back once/if I get a reply from them. For others who may be interested, here's how you can get in touch with On Guard:

OnGuard Locks USA
Todson, Inc.
8 Spring Brook Road
P.O. Box 637
Foxborough, MA 02035 U.S.A.
Phone: (508) 698-2802
Toll-Free: (800) 213-4561
Fax: (508) 698-3970
Toll-Free Fax: (800) 341-3013
Web: http://www.onguardlocks.com
General and Sales Email: USA@onguardlocks.com
Product Support Email: Support@onguardlocks.com

Has anyone successfully opened a really old Kryptonite lock? I've been working on an old Kryptonite4 which I think was bought in 1985. The lock barrel is marked AceII and the key is coded KBX####.

I can't get the pen to open it...

Didn't know if any of ya'll noticed, but it is on the splash page of CNN right now,


Excuse me if I am a little late reporting this.

Phil

Has anyone successfully opened a really old Kryptonite lock? I've been working on an old Kryptonite4 which I think was bought in 1985. The lock barrel is marked AceII and the key is coded KBX####.

I can't get the pen to open it...


A lock shop today recommended that I find a lock with an Ace-II cylinder. The Ace-I has 7 pins with the same tension, the Ace-II has 7 pins all with their own tension. Thus much more difficult to defeat.

They said that it was likely unpickable with a bic.

-Pete

From what I read on Kryptonite's website regarding the locks exchange, it appears that Kryptonite intends to do well by lock owners. While the full details are not yet known, I applaud the company for quickly owning up to the problem and coming up with a solution that seems fair. There is no doubt that this is going to cost Kryptonite a large sum of money.

It's all too common today for corporations to deny problems, delay solutions, and avoid responsibility altogether to the detriment of the consumer. Kryptonite has acted unbelievably fast here to commit to what is obviously going to be a big effort. I cannot imagine the work they have had to put in just to arrange the logistics of doing a lock swap. They either have a warehouse full of locks ready to go (that will not be sold) or they are going to be paying serious expidite premiums to their suppliers and manufacturers. I suggest that we hold off on the critisism and give them a chance to execute this exchange program and let's see how it goes.

For those who suggest forming up a class action lawsuit I can only say that, having been a class member of several class actions, the settlements negotiated are usually worthless (get $5.00 off your next $300 purchase kind of worthless) and make money only for the lawyers. Kryptonite's announced program looks far better than ANY class action settlement for a defective product that I have seen.

A lock shop today recommended that I find a lock with an Ace-II cylinder. The Ace-I has 7 pins with the same tension, the Ace-II has 7 pins all with their own tension. Thus much more difficult to defeat.

They said that it was likely unpickable with a bic.

-Pete

Interesting. I gave up trying to open mine and spent 15 min fishing all the shredded plastic bits out of the lock before my key would work :D

Opening the lock was easy. I did it incrementally and eventally got it open. I've been working to close it for a while now but the thing won't budge. Do I just keep trying or is there something blocking the reverse of this method?

The only thing I can assume isthere is plastic stuck in the teeth (the reason the bic works)...

Get a tooth pic and start trying to clean.

Proof of Purchase?!? How about the fact that I own one. Isn't that proof enough? Oh, yeah, I probably stole it with my pen. Hey Krypto, what's the difference between a 2 year old lock and one that is older? Ya, that's what I thought.

One of my two U-locks is safely(?) locked to a bike rack, so I cannot get to it right now, but my newer one is a 3 or 4 year old EvoLite ATB with a NBA key 5XXX. The pens diameter is a little too small, but I suppose by flaring the pen, it may fit in there. The key for my older Cyclopro is even bigger, so I don't think even a flared pen would fit that one.

I still want a replacement, though. They say Wednesday they will make an announcement, but then I suppose we will have to wait until Kingdom come for the new locks. Until then I will be using my wife's combo cable along with my U-lock.

You basically have to pick it closed. It appears that as the cylinder rotates, some of the upper pins will line up with lower pins. If the pen tube is not holding these pins just right, they have a tendency to move up or down freezing the lock. There are two solutions to this. First is to keep working the lock until you get all the pins lined up again. The second is to take a file to the outer alignment pin of the key. This is the protrusion on the key that fits through the slot in the outer part of the cylinder. File the pin flush with the key's cylinder. you can now insert the key into the lock no matter how it is positioned and should be able to easily turn it.

Now quit dinking with it.

one has to point out something tho :) I saw this on a website many years ago..
they have a rather entertaining marketing pitch

Forgot your briefcase key at home? You get all the way to the airport when you realize you left it on the kitchen counter. Luckily, you've slipped the Dyno Kwick Pickª your brother wanted you to try out in your suit jacket and opened the briefcase in minutes. Light, comfortable to carry, the Kwick Pick is an invaluable tool anywhere you go. In lightweight aluminum alloy, this locksmith-in-a-pocket fits comfortably in your hand, and opens everything from padlocks, file cabinets, desk drawers and toolboxes to luggage, gas caps and some auto doors and door locks.



the other sales pitch is on about how having one around at all times stops you from being locked out of your own home ( and anyone elses you want to get into ) the device gets positive reviews on lockpicking associated sites and has been sold for years in infomericals not suprisingly.. I thought it was a rather stupid thing to sell :)

I stopped by a local locksmith shop today. I told them I was looking for something secure to lock up my bike. He suggested the Krypto. I laughed. He says, "Oh you saw the paper". So now I really trust this guy. I get him to show me the super lock that Koffee bought, the Mul-T-Lock, he wants $75. When I ask about chain, he suggested any hardware store chain would be sufficient.
I left without giving him my business. Let's be careful out there.

A lock shop today recommended that I find a lock with an Ace-II cylinder. The Ace-I has 7 pins with the same tension, the Ace-II has 7 pins all with their own tension. Thus much more difficult to defeat.

They said that it was likely unpickable with a bic.

As I posted previously, I have managed to successfully pick the Ace-II cylinder on my locking hitchpin (made by Masterlock) but had to use the cap of the Bic instead of the body as the pin pattern is of a larger diameter than what the pen body could hit. It was rather difficult and took much jiggling but eventually I was able to do it. The thing is you only get one shot with each cap as attempting to turn the cylinder without properly depressing the pins will strip the end of the cap rendering it useless for a second attempt. Also, you have a limited amount of jiggles before you chew up the cap. The upshot is that the Ace-II provides a much better deterrent by the fact that it will probably take more skill and time to defeat than an Ace-I but it can be done using similarly commonly available tools.

The thing is, there are alternatives to the chain. If you can't get it from a hardware store, then people have listed some of the other bike locks out there with equally as strong chains but cheaper. I paid $110 for my Kryptonite lock. I paid $70 for the lock plus an extra key (it already comes with one key). With the $30 chain someone else mentioned earlier in this thread (about 1 or 2 pages back) and the lock, I still end up paying less than what I paid for the Kryptonite chain. And the chain I got for $100 is about a thousand times more secure.

Locksmiths aren't supposed to be a mini Home Depot. I wasn't surprised the locksmith I went to didn't have chains for sale, but if I wanted, I could have went to the Home Depot around the corner and picked up a chain there and had it cut for my specifications. As it stood, I just decided to recycle the Kryptonite chain and use it, since the complaint wasn't about the chain, it was about the lock.

I think we ARE being careful... we're replacing the locks we have right now that have the worth of a bic pen. My bike is worth a lot more than what Kryptonite would pay in the event someone stole my bike while chained with the lock, so it is of no benefit to me to play around. I need the best chain possible, and money is not as important to me as security for my bike. But I have to say, money is real important to me when I find out I threw it away on nothing.

My thought is if you bought the kryptonite chain, it's worth it to get the Mul-T-Lock. There's a reason why it's worth as much as it is. Dude showed me locks that were made by Medeco 30 years ago that are still good locks, even after being hacked away with ice picks by potential thieves, and he said the Mul-T-Lock would stand up to the same stress and still come out strong. Now, if some thieving idiot has to take a pickax to my bike just to get the lock off, they are welcome to the bike. It'll pretty much be unrideable at that point, and I'll just call my insurance company and get the bike replaced.

Koffee

Whoops, as a side note, I just finished talking to a friend in Sweden. He said most people there use ABUS, and they rarely have bike theft problems. I tried to find that one yesterday, and I didn't have any luck. So if I can't find it, he'll send me one. Then I'll finally have my backup lock.

Koffee

I know ya'll love your bikes, but if you really want to shake somebody up, stick a popsicle stick in that BMW key slot and shake it real fast while turning ...

A tip on chains ... rumor has it that if you spray a chain with freon for a bit, then smack it with a hammer, it'll shatter ...

one has to point out something tho :) I saw this on a website many years ago..
they have a rather entertaining marketing pitch

[B]Forgot your briefcase key at home?


In most states / cities, you would end up in jail for possession of burglary tools. Be careful ... kinda like a gun - not illegal to sell, but you need to be careful where you go with it and how you use it.

Opening the lock was easy. I did it incrementally and eventally got it open. I've been working to close it for a while now but the thing won't budge. Do I just keep trying or is there something blocking the reverse of this method?


reverse is always harder. I messed with mine enough last night to get a feel for how the lock behaves. It seems there is some sort of problem that happens if pin tension is released in mid-turn. Basically what happens is the lock jams, so you have to force it back via lowering the pins back to the unlocking height and shimmying it around till it gets where it is supposed to be. It takes time and luck. It's also a wise idea to find out if your pen rubs the outside, and if it does, gently sand the outer area of the pen for a few seconds to thin it...any friction on the outer ring of the lock is bad since it will affect your ability to shimmy the mechanism effectively, which seems to be required to "un-jam" these things.

Whoops, as a side note, I just finished talking to a friend in Sweden. He said most people there use ABUS, and they rarely have bike theft problems. I tried to find that one yesterday, and I didn't have any luck. So if I can't find it, he'll send me one. Then I'll finally have my backup lock.

Koffee

I've been looking for Abus locks since I started riding decent bikes....when you do find them, the u-locks start at nearly $100, and go way up from there.... :mad:

Actually, I had a beater bike over 10 years old, stolen last June from a
subway station between 4 pm to Midnight. The bike completely vanished
without a trace, no lock, no bike, no remenants of anything, and it had
been locked up with a Kryptonite low-end lock that I'd been using at the
same location, for hundreds of times in the past years. The weird part,
is that the bike was showing beginnings of rust on the wheels, quite a bit,
as I ride in the snow, in the winter, the paint was scratched a lot, the pedal
arms were slightly bent, the seat needed replacing, as it was ripped in a place,
and it was actually a female-frame design. But extremely sturdy, MTB style...

I couldn't believe someone could be bothered stealing a bike in that condition,
that undesirable, beginning of rust on wheels, etc. I concluded by thinking
they did because "they could" rather than because it was worth anything above $50..

I guess they did so, with the above Bic pen....

You would be amazed what some people steal, I had my old regal broken into about 4 years ago (beautiful resto job, 1981 sleeper project), for of all things....a #2 pencil. Nothing else was missing....

Now I dunno about you, but that had to be the most angering theft ever....a $200 tinted glass panel (not film, the glass itself was made tinted), for a five cent pencil....what really makes me mad was if that person never broke into my car I would have gave him enough for a whole box if he had the guts to ask me as a stranger.....some folks jsut suck like that.

It's also why I immediately went into my storage and got my old heavy chain once I heard of this...people will steal things jsut to do it.

Anybody tried oil in their Krypto locks? It seems to me that if you simply squirt a few drops of 3-in-1 or WD-40 in the lock, there's no way the Bic can get a grip on the inside. Has anyone actually tried this? I was unable to open my lock with a Bic after several attempts with a dry (unlubricated) Bic. . My Krypto chewed it up and spit it out. Well, that's what it looked like...the end of the Bic was chewed up because it appeared as though it wasn't getting a good grip. I did not have another Bic at my disposal to give it a second try..

Locks, like most products at large, actually must be idiot-proof
to be successful in the marketplace.

If you actually need to start inserting lube into the U-LOCK opening
for it to do its job, I doubt that 9/10 of the population will
bother buying the lube, applying it regularly, or buying the product in
the first place, because they can't be bothered to maintain the lube
on a regular basis.

I see people from time to time, riding squeeky, rusted out bikes, the
wheels are out of shape, and they are not using clips on the pedals.

Did they bother using WD-40 or lube on the bike's moving parts, before
climbing on it ? Nope! Their I.Q. is often too low, or they can't be bothered,
or they're going to buy a new bike altogether for $200 rather than getting
a $4 WD spray can.

A tip on chains ... rumor has it that if you spray a chain with freon for a bit, then smack it with a hammer, it'll shatter ...

So will anything metal including a U-lock

Did they bother using WD-40 or lube on the bike's moving parts, before
climbing on it ? Nope! Their I.Q. is often too low, or they can't be bothered,
or they're going to buy a new bike altogether for $200 rather than getting
a $4 WD spray can.

I know this is off-topic but... One might argue that general application of that $4 can of WD-40 will most likely result in $200 (or more) worth of repair. WD-40 is not a lube. Use it with extreme caution on your bike.

Here Are The Flaws In Kryptonite's Proposed Upgrade/recall:

Kryptonite Needs To Do A Complete Recall, And Must Be Free To The Lockowners.

Imagine The Following Scenarios:

News Flash, You Have An Anti-virus Software, Claimed To 100% Safe. Now Hackers Have Found A Way In To The Versions Bought Within The Last Two Years, So The Software Company Then Suggests A New Patch Would Be Issued, Only To Those Who Bought It Within The Last Two Years.

Imagine How Kryptonite Would React If They Bought These Anti-virus Software Three Years Ago, And Not Elegible For The Upgrade/rebate Due To The Time Cut-off. I Am Sure That They Will Continue To Use That Anti-virus Software And Feel Very Safe With Their Corporate It Environment. It Is 100% Safe? Right?



Discount/coupon On The Lock Upgrade As A Fix To The Design Flaw Is Equivalent Of Paying For Security Patch #2, Automobile's Engine Failure Due To Design Flaw, You Car Can Not Move, But You Still Have To Pay The Carmaker Money To Have The Engine Replaced + Labors. Btw, If You Got Your Software Or Car Over Two Years Ago, And Forgot To Register, You Are Completely On Your Own, 'cause The Car Makeer Does Not Care Whether Your Car Would Come To Sudden Stop Driving On The Highway.

Kryptonite Needs To Make The Upgrade/recall Completely Free To All U-lock Owners, Regardless Of Registration And Purchase Dates. This Is The Failed Suv Tire Of Bikelocks That Could Only Be Partially Remediated By Free Downloads Of 90mb Security Patches. Imagine If Microsoft Wanted To Issue Security Patch #2 For Xp, And Said, Well, Let's Give A Rebate So Anyone That Has Xp, So That They Could Buy A New Copy At Some Discount? If Microsoft Is A Monopoly, That Might Have To Be The Only Solution. But Since They Are Not Completely There Yet, So The Security Patch Was Free. Now Kryptonite Wanted To Just Give A Discount For Future Purchase? Think About It.

We Buy Their Locks To Secure Our Bikes, So It Is Main Objective Is To Make Sure That Our Bikes Are Safe From Thieves. If Their Locks Are So Easily Picked Open, They Failed Their Objective. They Made Announcements Only After Intense Pressure Created By Kowing That Many People Have Viewed The Video And Would Know How To Open The Locks Without Keys. Yet They Might Just Allow Discount/coupon For Only Recent Two Year Purchases. Remember That They Did Not Know Such Way Of Picking The Lock Open Themselves. So The Discount/coupon Method Just Won't Cut It. By Issuing Such "fix", Kryptonite Is Essentially Saying That Those Customers Who Bought The Older Locks Should Not Be Treated The Same Way As The Recent Customers. Because Their Good Name Was Only Built In The Last Two Years. The Old Customers Do Not Matter As They Never Refer Any Of The Ones That Bought A Kryptonite To Buy A Kryptonite At The First Place.

If You Had Purchased A Kryptonite Lock More Than Two Years Ago, Would You Still Say, Well, Since Kryptonite Has Not Given A Rebate/free Recall For My Lock, Thus Those Older Locks Must Be Safe And They Would Protect My Bike. You Would Then Continue To Use The Older Lock, Until You Watch A New Video That Would Show How To Use Another Modified Tool To Pick It Open. And Now, You Might Have Come To Realized That The Lock Is Not That Safe Anymore, But Your Bike Has Already Beens Stolen.

That Is The Consequence Of Kryptonite's Proposed Solution.

I was avoiding lubing my lock to make it harder to open. It got real rusty and froze unlocked with key stuck in crossbar. I had to borrow a squit of WD40 from a messenger (he didn't have lube). The lock opens and closes now with steel key effortlessly. I don't know about plastic... I used to get a kick out of a lock with this kind of easy flow mechanism, now it scares me! I'll try to trade in, THANKS KYRYPTONITE, your huge reputation got bigger in my eyes.