General Cycling Discussion - Urbanites? Locks?

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View Full Version : Urbanites? Locks?

Ziemas
03-19-05, 01:54 AM
I use an Abus motorcycle chain lock(level 25). The strongest they make. I also leave my bike outside for long periods of time.

http://www.abus.de/us/main.asp?ScreenLang=us&sid=87473696409570419032005811982151&select=0105b02&artikel=4003318248481m

I used to use an Abus U lock(level 12) and a different Abus chain (level 12) together. I think this offers more security against the determened thief.

Abus also makes a silly strong U lock(level 25). I went with the chain because of its versatility.

http://www.abus.de/us/main.asp?ScreenLang=us&sid=87473696409570419032005811982151&select=0105b01&artikel=4003318201875m

BTW, the Abus Manhattan U lock mentioned earlier in this post is level 10.

ruchai
03-19-05, 05:51 AM
I use folding bike and bring it with me every where I go.
alanbikehouston
03-19-05, 08:28 PM
No lock will stop a determined professional who is equipped with "state of the art" tools. The ART foundation of Holland certifies bike locks. The highest rating goes to a lock that can stop a well equipped Pro for five minutes, or more. A lock that can stop a well-equipped Pro for three minutes would get a good rating. The purpose of a good lock is NOT to make stealing a bike impossible. Their purpose is to make somebody's else's bike look easier to get.

So, in areas where Pro thieves operate, such as NYC, and large universities, it would simply be foolish to leave a $3,000 bike out of your sight for ten minutes, even with one of the "top" locks. Those are the kinds of places were having a $200 trashmo bike makes sense. (My $200 trashmo bike rides as nice as a $2,000 bike, so riding it involves no sacrifice on my part).

When I lock my Kryptonite "mini" U-lock around a rear tire and sturdy pole, there is very little room to use even a slim prybar, and it is impossible to use the tool Pro's typically use to break U-locks. And, if a thief could open the U-lock, next he would have to deal with the cable lock that I also use. The crook is likely to ignore my $200 bike, and take the $2,000 bike further down the rack that is locked with a five buck chain lock.