robb99

Just starting to ride bikes more often as a commuter, so need to upgrade to a nicer lock. Opinions, links appreciated.

TIA

robb

rickdog81

Most people will recommend a Kryptonite evolution or New York if you don't mind the weight.

Kryptonite Evolution
Kryptonite New York


I went with the more affordable OnGuard option.
This is what I have used with no problems at all.
OnGuard Pitbull Mini

But if you like a larger size you can use the bigger version:
OnGuard Pitbull

What ever you get I suggest you get either a cable (as is included with the OnGuard locks I linked) or even two U-Locks so that you can secure your front wheel as well.

robb99

appreciate it

cia dog

Wait a second, those particular Krpts are the most expensive locks they offer. How expensive is the bike your going to be locking up? Why spend $150 in locks for a $100 bike...not saying your bike is worth $100 but do see where I'm going here? You shouldn't spend more the 10% of the value of the bike for a lock or locks.

I did say locks in the last word of the last sentence, why? Because you should use two locks not one. Use a U-bolt lock then use the thickest armored cable lock you can find. Why, because it takes two different tools to defeat those locks, and a would be bike jacker won't be carrying two sets of tools with him to do a job he'll just move onto a bike where his tool will work.

bicycleflyer

Take a look at a British magazine called "Cyling Plus" It is available here in the states at a book store called "Borders". Every year they run a lock review. It is almost disgusting how quickly they can defeat some of those cheaper locks. usually it is the better locks like Kryptonite that stand up really well. Master lock's street cuffs did well too. Not sure when the next lock article will run, or when the last article was. But maybe someone on here will have a copy that they would be willing to copy or scan the article for you.

Sheldon Brown's website has a good article on locking strategy that is worth a read.

As someone mentioned above, all you're trying to do is convince a would be thief that someone Else's bike would be an easier target than yours. Damned shame, but true.

Cyclist0383

This has been covered in depth many, many, times. Try doing a search on the subject, and if you have any specific questions I'm sure they'll be answered swiftly.

cia dog

Sheldon Brown's way is a OK way of doing it; but a better way is to use his way BUT, remove the front wheel and put it alongside the rear in such a way that you can lock the front to the rear and frame the same way as Sheldon shows.

BarracksSi

To be fair, if you're using a bike for transportation -- whether you're riding to work or riding a dozen miles across town for a Sunday brunch -- it doesn't matter whether the bike cost $100 or $5000. They're both worth the same because they both act as transport. Whether you drive a Yugo or a Mercedes to the office, if it gets stolen, you're still screwed until you get a replacement.

IMO, then, you don't just choose a lock based on the value of the bike. You should choose one based on how well you think it'll let you return home on your bike.

agarose2000

As much as I'm all for bike security, you should also take into consideration your area of bike use/locking.

Those pricey Kryptonite NY locks are REALLY heavy. If you do hi-grade lock + heavy cable, and you're talking serious poundage, as well as lots of size. If you're in a hi-theft area, it's worth it, but if you're not, I guarantee you'll be incredibly frustrated when you have to ride your bike for a short errand, and have to lug around this enormous, bulky lock. I did this awhile and almost completely gave up on using my bike for its most effective tasks, which are short (<2 mile) commutes and errands since the lock usually outweighed anything I was carrying.

I've been perfectly happy with a standard kryptonite U-lock, particularly because it makes any parking meter a bike parking spot (fits perfectly around them.) I don't ride in a hi-crime area though, although it's still urban. Light enough to still not feel ridiculous when I ride a few blocks to run an errand and back.

cia dog

Interesting point, but if you bought the bike new for $350 for example, and it's 5 years old now worth about $50 and you buy $300 worth of locks, doesn't that seem a little odd to spend that kind of money for locks for a bike like that? That's akin to going out buying a $1000 car with 180k and buying a $500 alarm system for it.

BarracksSi

You can always use the locks for the next bike, though.

My point still is, do you want to be stuck without a ride home or not? A $50 bike will get you home, but a missing bike won't. I use the same locks regardless of which bike I'm using.

cia dog

Another good point. OK, I surrender.

I use the same lock as well for all my bikes, but crime for bike theft is pretty low where I live and lived in the past so my lock isn't much just a real thick cable and a Abus Discus which I've been using for 25 or 30 years. But I always have been able to park the bike in whatever office I worked in so leaving it outside while working was never a fear, then only "fear" I had was parking it outside a store or the such, but I always looked for high traffic areas to park...although after watching a U-Tube film of a guy purposely trying to steal his own bike and no one, not even two cops bothered to question him! Makes me wonder about getting something better like maybe the Handcuff design since it seems more portable then the U locks, and just combine it with the cable. If I was really worried about getting a bike stolen I would buy a junker and ride it to the place I was concerned about leaving it unattended.

BarracksSi

I get to park my bike inside at work, too (and inside my apartment), so the only times I need to lock up are when I'm out and about.

I usually use a big chain (OnGuard Beast) because I can't always find a U-rack or parking meter that isn't already full of bikes, so I have to lock to a tree or light pole instead. To carry it on my short-hop city bike, I wrap it around the seatpost and lock it to the rear rack; for the road bike, I either wear it bandolier-style across my body or take a Kryptonite NY U-lock instead.

I don't really notice the weight much, but that's probably because I have a lot of weight of my own to carry.

BarracksSi

So, anyway, back to the OP's question --

Since any lock can be defeated eventually, but they still serve as a deterrent, you want two things: looks and durability.

Of course, for something built for function and not aesthetics, looks shouldn't matter. But, you want your bike to look harder to steal than the one next to it. Half of the deterrence effect is how difficult it looks to break. Usually, though, any lock is enough to make a casual thief think twice, so it's not like you need to get something too crazy.

Durability means that not only should it stand up to an attempted theft, but it should work when you need it to work. Otherwise, you're either stuck without a lock to use, or your bike is stuck inside a busted lock. Between the two big US lock brands, people here have talked about their OnGuard locks breaking, but not Kryptonite.

Whatever lock you get, don't settle for one with a barrel lock (the key looks like a little tube). They're getting hard to find thanks to the widely-publicized trick of opening them with a Bic pen, but they might still be in stores.

robb99

I appreciate the responses from everyone on here, I ended up getting an onguard pitbull mini w/ cable I think it's a 5008. It was only 26 bucks w/ free shipping from amazon. I would say that I live in a relatively low crime rate city. Hopefully I won't have any problems.



Thnx

robb

cia dog

But how expensive is your bike? And are you concerned at all? You have one lock now and that's good, but sometime in the near future consider getting a really thick cable lock. Walmart has a armored cable lock that would add deterrent by making sure any would be thief would have to carry two tools with him.

weavers

if your using the words "hopefully" you'll still have your bike in a few years then you need to spend more money on locks. really just buy the top of the line lock. do you really want to regret paying for a lock? and really you should be buying 2 ulocks. what cost more a 64 dollar top of the line lock or a new front wheel, or rear wheel, or a whole new bike, or even an old used steel bike? the lock is cheaper. keep in mind a battery powered angle grinder can cut threw anything in a few minutes. those cable locks you can be cut threw with a pair of wire cutters or even household scissors.

64 dollars with free shipping and the best lock you can buy. and pair it with an new york ls, so you can lock to most racks/poles.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...YDFP39Z8T87JMP
https://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-Bic...6388637&sr=1-5

or consider the chain verson, so you can lock it up to anything and everything, and don't worry about the weight with a rear rack setup.
https://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-Leg...388637&sr=1-17

robb99

i ride a fixed gear worth a little over a 1200

BarracksSi

1200 for a fixie? Sheesh -- what's it made out of?

smit

Platinum.

Also, I never thought of the Sheldon way to lock a bike.
I think the idea about making your bike look harder to steal doesn't come into effect with the Sheldon Way. For a split second, a thief might think that only the rear wheel is locked up - easy target - and get to work at ruining your rear wheel before giving up in defeat, while still succeeding at destroying your ride home.

In any case, I think I will give that one a try.

robb99

Fuji obey, Phil hubs, velocity rims, soma bars, origin stem.

Wouldn't get that much but replacement would be.

BarracksSi

For best security, if you're using a mixed cable/U-lock pair, try to use the U-lock to secure the bike to the pole, rack, or whatever you're locking to. If you use the cable to lock to a rack, and the U-lock to lock the unsecured wheel to the bike frame, a thief could snip the cable, toss the bike in their car, and take it home to defeat the U-lock later.

Funny thing about chains and my bikes -- I've got the 110cm OnGuard Beast chain lock. It's juuust long enough to wrap through both wheels of my road bike and around a typical inverted-U bike rack. The 100cm Kryptonite chains would be too short. I'd like to either "try on" one of the larger 5' Krypto chains (wonder how big they'll be around my body) or just get one of the mini-locks that Kryptonite uses on their chains.

cia dog

I would like to see someone cut through a thick cable with household scissors. But an angle grinder will cut through a top of the line Krpto U Lock like butter anyways.

rfomenko

And a small piece of TNT will do the job even better. Not to mention bottle jacks etc. The point is that no sane thief will use an angle grinder unless the bike is well worth it. The bike thieves use bolt cutters with screw-in handles which are easy to conceal in a backpack and are silent unlike the angle grinders. So why don't you try using them on on top Krypto locks instead of trolling on this forum?

PS

cia dog

I'm not trolling, and need for your trash talk here. I was referring to Weavers post 17 that mentioned angle grinder. By the in NY they do use angle grinders and jacks, but you wouldn't know that because your too busy calling people trolls.