Advocacy & Safety - bike locks

I was at my LBS and I saw a lock form BikeGuard, it is the 1400 model, has anyone used this model and if so how do they like it, is it a good lock? How does it compare to other locks, I hear that they have used the flat key lock this year after the Kryptonite lock was found to be defective in their locking mechanism.

Most U-locks work using the "hope" principle. You hope the crook is lazy, and walks past your bike to one that is using a cable lock, or a five dollar flimsy chain lock.

Based on the tests in the April issue of "Cycling Plus", there are several locks sold in the USA that actually can stop a skilled and experienced crook. The Kryptonite New York 3000 lock is highly effective the typical leverage and breaking type of attacks. The New York lock lasted an amazing ten minutes against the much rarer attack with portable power tools. The $24 OnGuard Bulldog Mini was just as effective as the much heavier New York lock against attacks using manual tools. No lock matches the New York lock against power tools.

sonicfresh, what the hell are you posting this in a cycling site for? It has nothing to do with cycling.

Lollerskates.

sonicfresh, what the hell are you posting this in a cycling site for? It has nothing to do with cycling.
Apparently I missed something

- - Try asking the poster of this entry from Septermber 23, 2004 Forums:
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#924
alicat
Newbie

Registered: Sep 2004

I have a BikeGuard U-lock and was warned by a co-worker that cylinder locks weren't safe. Sure enough, BikeGuard is on the list of unsafe locks. I took a look at the videos, and I'm as shocked as anyone else. However, some locks seem to open a lot easier than others - has anyone considered if the length of the grooves on the key has any correlation to the vulnerability that particular lock is to this method? I'm assuming this works because the BIC pen molds to the length of the of the groves so the locking mechanisms in the U-lock slide to the correct position for the lock to open. Would this have less to do with brand, and more to do with each individual lock?
Maybe I'm just in denial...
I'd try it myself, but I don't have a BIC pen.

get one that uses flat keys

I'm still waiting on my new lock from kryptonite! :( It's been about 5 months now! Anybody else get their replacements?

I was able to pick my lock using a bic pen, but it did take me quite a bit of effort because the hole was larger than the pen. I haven't tried this on my Bell lock yet, but I'm sure it'd be just as easy.

Speaking of which, I've noticed a lot of stores like Fred Meyer, Rite Aid, and major sporting goods stores STILL carrying these locks. Whatta buncha turds.

I got my replacment locks - I was hoping for a current line Kryptonite product. The replacment lock was a "special edition" lock just for replacment purposes - not a regular product. It offers "comparable" (maybe 2 star) protection, but is light & cheap looking. The lock on the unit does not open very well or easily. I am not sure why Kryptonite bothered.....

Apparently I missed something

Probably some guy spamming stuff and his post got deleted.

Hi i am going to get a new bike friday and am going riding saturday with some friends we usually go into stores and just leave our bikes outside where we can't see them like when we go to walmart we park them in the back where the employees park close to the building i was thinking that i don't want my new bike to get stolen. So i was thinking of getting a bike lock at walmart that cost a $1.94 and was wondering if this we be a good lock i would just chain it something and input would be appreciated thanks.

I hope this isn't a serious question.

I hope this is a serious question as this is a great opportunity to point out to someone that you get what you pay for.
By no means I am driving anyone towards a $90 dollar lock, I am simply stating that if you want a $1.94 'lock' it will probably give you $1.94 worth of security. High crime area? Might as well just hand your bike off to the first stranger you see. That way it won't be theft, but a random act of kindness on your behalf. Score points! Proactive Karma!
I wouldn't expect much out of that lock. Except the loss of $1.94...

If you bike is parked next to a bunch of unlocked bikes, it should provide adequate security. However I suggest youspend about $25 on locks - a $6 padlock, a steel cable or chain wrapped in inner tube, and a cheap U lock. 2 different locking systems make your bike a lot more secure, even if they are not top of the line locks, because they will require different tools to bust them.

You'd be better off spending the buck ninety-four on a sharpie and a piece of cardboard to write "FREE BIKE" on.

I think he gets the point. (Imagine me being the voice of reason and moderation :eek: )

I hope this isn't a serious question.

This has to be joke.

If it's not a joke, at least invest in a u-lock...preferably a heavily built one if you can afford one.

I use an onguard ultimate and it's rather good, despite being big and heavy..it was about $40. Kryptonite haas some pretty nice ones as well in that price range.

Wait, is this lock going to be used on a bike that's also from Wal-mart?

Sure, yeah, the $1.94 lock will be fine. ;)

Good point about the value of the lock reflecting the value of the bike. I bought the Kryptonite "combo kit" (cable and U-lock) when I bought my bike, and they have worked fine in my relatively low crime area. Kryptonite's very classy U-lock cylinder key replacement policy has made me a customer for life.

This is not unreasonable.

A heavy duty chain and a $2 padlock on a bike that is below the average value of other bikes in the area will be fine in relatively low crime busy areas during the day.

Al

get an onguard bute u lock and some sort of chain lock

If it's one of those cheap link chains with the cylindrical style combination locks, they're not even a casual deterrent. Yanking on the bike will break the chain. Kryptonite and every other manufacturer makes inexpensive cable locks that attach to a mount under your seat. They won't stop a determined thief, but they'll stop an opportunistic thief. Of course, as pointed out already, if you think your bike's only worth $2, then get the cheap lock.

I bought a bike lock it i master lock it is coated in a rubber substance and has a little cylinder combo lock on it.

I bought a bike lock it i master lock it is coated in a rubber substance and has a little cylinder combo lock on it.

I taught myself to crack those when I was in 4th grade. Unfortunately it was also securing my bike, though the bike was never stolen...

any lock is breakable, it just depends on how much work you want to put into it. Assuming it is a $200 bike that is going to be left outside a suburban store for maybe 30 minutes, a $2 lock will do fine. Would I ever keep a nice bike locked up in a bad nieghboored for an extened period of time? Of course not, but a $2 lock is way better than no lock at all.

I just read that the Kryptonite "Evolution" can be hacked w/ a BIC ballpoint pen. Does anyone know if the OTHER Kryptonite locks (the cyclinrical key sort as well?) are vulnerable also?

I have to leave my bike all day/into the nite at the downtown train station (high crime area) and have had one bike stolen already, so it's a question for me of the pricey $100 Kryptonite "fugetaboutit" chain/lock thing - or maybe just two types of locks. (thinking anything that would slow someone down would be good...).

I just read that the Kryptonite "Evolution" can be hacked w/ a BIC ballpoint pen. Does anyone know if the OTHER Kryptonite locks (the cyclinrical key sort as well?) are vulnerable also?

I have to leave my bike all day/into the nite at the downtown train station (high crime area) and have had one bike stolen already, so it's a question for me of the pricey $100 Kryptonite "fugetaboutit" chain/lock thing - or maybe just two types of locks. (thinking anything that would slow someone down would be good...).

Whoa, was the cave you were living in recently open up due to glacial thaw?

This is old, old news. Yes, pretty much any cylindrical lock can be picked with a ballpoint ben, even the Kryptonite ones. Kryptonite is currently in the process of replacing all their locks with standard keyed versions. Any new ones they're selling are OK, as long as they're not old stock!

Cool, thx...

If I am heading into a grocery store or some place like Wal-Mart I'll chain my rear wheel to my bike frame, my front wheel to my bike frame, and then my bike to something big, heavy, and worthless.... like an H2 in the parking lot :D
I'll even go as far as to pop my saddle post out and cary it with me so that no godless son-of-a-***** takes it out of spite.
2 3-foot bike chains/locks and a U-lock have served me well thus far. If someone is going to go thru all of those to get my bike then I doubt that anything else I can do to it is going to deter them as well.

The April issue of the UK magazine "Cycling Plus" has a detailed test that should answer people's questions about which U-lock is worth buying (their tests show that NO cable lock is worth buying).

The winner: the 2005 Kryptonite New York 3000. Unbreakable using leverage, prying, and breaking tools. Lasted more than ten minutes against portable power tools.

The "bargain priced" winner. The OnGuard Bulldog Mini ($24 at REI.com) did as well as the Kryptonite New York 3000 against manual attacks. That make the Bulldog the top pick for a light, easy-to-carry but tough lock.

However, the Bulldog "Mini" lasted less than two minutes against power tools, so it is not the best lock for an expensive bike parked in Manhattan, where a few crooks have used power tools against "targeted" high end bikes.


HOW TO LOCK YOUR BIKE by Sheldon Brown:

www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html