General Cycling Discussion - Just got my TiGr lock, and what a cool bike lock it is!

I was going to make a defense here of how I could possibly make the claim that a bicycle lock could be cool, but then I realized that if you even bothered to click on the thread, doing so probably wouldn't be necessary, so I'll just jump straight into a description of what it is.

This is the TiGr lock, a titanium bow with a stainless cylinder lock that secures it closed. It will slide through the frame, both wheels, and around a post or bike rack, and it stows conveniently on the top tube for carrying.

I think the design itself is pretty cool, but combined with the tidy portage and light weight--it's gotta weigh a quarter of my old Kryptonite U-lock) make it irresistibly cool to me. Hell, it's TITANIUM!

The small points of criticism include the lack of accommodation for carrying the locking cylinder, which I just through in my seat bag, and the slight signs of scuffing on the inside of the vinyl (or whatever) wrap that encases the bow and prevents scratching of the frame paint. It looks like they may be machine marks from the application process. In any case, no big deal to be sure as they're barely visible.

It's been a joy to use as well, although on longer wheelbase bikes, the full wheel-frame-wheel lock-up may be an issue; I haven't used it yet except on my road bike and the utility bike in the pics, but based on those experiences, I'm thinking it may take some futzing to get my MTB and my short-wheelbase-but-fat-tire (2.35) play bike into the full lock. We'll see. Fortunately, I'm never in a high security lock situation, so I'm not really worried about it though, and will trade off, say, an unsecured front wheel for the easy portability. If you need to lockup a bike really securely though, you might want to take a look at the wheelbase and tire width numbers.

This is one of the early production units coming off their successful Kickstarter funding drive, and so I'm guessing the project will continue to develop and evolve. For example, I did talk to the producer, and he told me they were exploring mount options for the cylinder.

As it is now, though, this is definitely the most handy and coolest lock I've had or seen, and will be a real boon on the upcoming summer fun rides, where previously I've gone without any bike security.

Some pics:

http://p6.hostingprod.com/@chaadthomas.com/tigr_kit.jpg

http://p6.hostingprod.com/@chaadthomas.com/tigr_locked.jpg

http://p6.hostingprod.com/@chaadthomas.com/tigr_mounted.jpg

http://p6.hostingprod.com/@chaadthomas.com/tigr_secured.jpg

Its good to see at least one Kickstarter campaign bear fruit, glad it was this one. How is the lock when locking the bike to a rack/pole? How snug are those top-tube straps? Any vibration/noise?
It looks great, by the way, its a good under-stated gray, would probably match my frame (a little lighter than yours)

Its good to see at least one Kickstarter campaign bear fruit, glad it was this one. How is the lock when locking the bike to a rack/pole? How snug are those top-tube straps? Any vibration/noise?
It looks great, by the way, its a good under-stated gray, would probably match my frame (a little lighter than yours)
Locking up is, so far, taking a little extra work to do, primarily because I have to get down low to thread the lock through the shortest distance rim to rim in order to get a comfortable amount of length to wrap around a pole and work the ends together to lock.

It hasn't been a big deal, and I've only locked up a trio of times thus far, so I'm sure it'll become automatic once I get used to it and more proficient with selecting locations and bike orientation.

I do think wheelbase length needs to be considered before buying the lock, but for me, as I said in the OP, I don't really need high security, and so leaving the front wheel unsecured if it proves faster and easier is acceptable to me; at least that's how I've been doing it for years now. I usually lock up in high traffic, visible locations during the day, so I've been willing to roll the dice and consider those low risk.

Regarding the solidity of the mount straps, no noise or vibration at all. The forward strap I pull snug to apply tension, and the rear straps down snugly right against the frame, so there's no wiggle or anything. It's simple, but works.

It looks great, by the way, its a good under-stated gray, would probably match my frame (a little lighter than yours)
This comment got me thinking about how cool it would be if they offered polished and anodized versions! I probably would have paid extra for purple to match my wheels!

It is a cool looking lock, but starting at $165.00 is steep, no?

It'll succumb to a cordless angle grinder like every other lock.

It'll succumb to a cordless angle grinder like every other lock.
Yeah, every lock can can broken given the right tools and sufficient time.

Did you have a point to make?

It is a cool looking lock, but starting at $165.00 is steep, no?
Not for what you get, though that could be more than you want or recognize. If all you want is a bike lock, then yeah, it's steep, but for the more discriminating user, it's easier to perceive the value.

Not for what you get, though that could be more than you want or recognize. If all you want is a bike lock, then yeah, it's steep, but for the more discriminating user, it's easier to perceive the value.

I think you'd have to be pretty discriminating for a 400% increase in price :D

Yeah, every lock can can broken given the right tools and sufficient time.

Did you have a point to make?

It's bad enough if they get your bike, but they'll destroy a $165 lock in the process just the same as they would a $40 lock.

It's bad enough if they get your bike, but they'll destroy a $165 lock in the process just the same as they would a $40 lock.
Gotcha. For me, though, the remote possibility of such an attack does not outweigh the benefits of the TiGr lock. A noisy, sparks flying grinder attack in my lockup scenarios would be incredibly brazen, too. But if that's what you face when you lockup, well, I guess I get your position, and you're probably right to save the money towards putting into a move to a better zip code!

It probably doesn't matter in your context, but this video by TiGr purports to show the Ti bar stock holding up against an angle grinder better than a typical u-lock:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uw5ALXQous&feature=player_embedded

I think you'd have to be pretty discriminating for a 400% increase in price :D
Yeah, well, like I said...

Gotcha. For me, though, the remote possibility of such an attack does not outweigh the benefits of the TiGr lock. A noisy, sparks flying grinder attack in my lockup scenarios would be incredibly brazen, too. But if that's what you face when you lockup, well, I guess I get your position, and you're probably right to save the money towards putting into a move to a better zip code!

It probably doesn't matter in your context, but this video by TiGr purports to show the Ti bar stock holding up against an angle grinder better than a typical u-lock:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uw5ALXQous&feature=player_embedded

Eh, don't mind me. After losing two locked bikes to thieves, I don't leave my bikes anywhere unattended, unless it's inside behind locked doors.

Interesting video, I would have liked to have seen a bolt cutter attack on the locking cylinder or the joint between the cylinder and the strap before I would believe bolt cutters can't break it. A lock is only as strong as its weakest component and they don't say much about the strength of the cylinder.

Interesting video, I would have liked to have seen a bolt cutter attack on the locking cylinder or the joint between the cylinder and the strap before I would believe bolt cutters can't break it. A lock is only as strong as its weakest component and they don't say much about the strength of the cylinder.
Good questions. The gap between the strap and the cylinder is very narrow (1mm?), but I guess enough to get the edge of bolt cutters seated, so I think that would be particularly interesting to see, but I suspect the 1" think stainless cylinder would prevent the jaws from closing enough to get to the narrow span of Ti underneath.

The cylinder, I'd think, would be very difficult to cut, both for the size of cutters needed to get a 1" diameter cutting grip, and for the fact that it's very unstable and located in an awkward position that's very difficult to leverage against. I guess the same is true for the strap.

TiGr says they've got the lock out for independent testing and certification, so we'll see what comes back!