MuddyBikeRider

$300 for $5,000 of insurance with a $100 deductible. (covers theft, damage, crashes, etc).

MixedRider

Spin carbon fibre bike from Germany? You are in the US and have a Spin carbon fibre bike? When did you get it, what year is it, model, how is it spec'd? There are maybe, just maybe, a handful (if any) of those in the US. I would love to see pics!

ColonelSanders

So you think it would be able to cut through a Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit U-Lock with the 18mm diameter shackle?

ColonelSanders

Where does one buy the Pewag chain from?

JohnDThompson 

If I had $8-10K sunk into a bike, I wouldn't be leaving it outside with any lock.

Battery-powered angle grinders are readily available.

Maelochs

Anyone who wants to be sure his/her bike won't be stolen has one option--never leave it where it could be stolen.

But certainly, JohnDThompson has the right response. If your bike costs that much, don't leave it locked anywhere.

Seriously folks, there have been threads here linking to videos of guys (in shops, not out on the street) demonstrating that any lock or chain on the market can be defeated. Some of them took five minutes with a grinder ... but absolutely every one was defeated. And if thieves were really serious, they could pack a portable torch. After all, people shaped the metal in the first place. it can certainly be reshaped.

If a thief can buy a tool for $300, use it to steal a bike worth $10,000, which he can sell for $5,000 ... and he can use the tool over and over ....

Insurance is a good idea, except that it is pretty much a scam. Your $10,000 bike gets stolen, they tell you after depreciation it is worth $6400, subtract the deductible, and raise your rates. The good part is that after ten years at $300 per year for a $5000 bike, the bike is rated as worthless if it is stolen, and you have spent $3000 which could have gone towards a new bike.

Not saying don't do it ... just saying not many people would leave something easily portable and worth $5000-$10000 Anywhere where it might get stolen ... except cyclists, it seems.

General Geoff

Doesn't matter how much force is applied to the lock or chain, if the cutting edges of the tool chip and shatter because the lock/chain is harder than the cutting edge.
A cordless angle grinder will always get through within 5 minutes, albeit with a spectacular display of noise and sparks. Much quicker than setting up an oxy-acetylene torch.

Reynolds 

It's made from Grade 5 Titanium according to the link, not very hard it seems (HRC 36). A fine hacksaw should cut it fairly easy if it's so.

Ty0604

Right, from Germany! I grew up there.

Oh really? I'm out of the power tool loop I guess!

jefnvk

Meh. Studies have shown that passer-bys generally aren't interested in the going-ons around them. One of my favorite bike theft stories was by a guy in the Netherlands, who told us how bike thieves there one day dressed up like the city officials whose job it was to remove illegally chained bikes, and cleaned out an entire street in broad daylight, his bike included.

To be honest, if I see a guy with a grinder, I'm more than likely to keep walking and really pay no attention to what he is doing with it. Brains often aren't conditioned to see construction tools as destructive devices.

JohnDThompson 

Unlikely with titanium, which while strong is not as strong or hard as hardened steel.

No sparks with titanium, either.

Maelochs

Reminds me of a story I heard about car thieves: if a car alarm goes off, they just look sheepish, and continue trying to break in, and everyone assumes they just accidentally hit the "alarm" button and like most folks, don't know how to turn it off.

Anyway ... casual thieves can be deterred by just about any locks, serious thieves are less likely to attack a really serious lock/chain, but can and will defeat Any security system if they choose to. Common sense and rational analysis is still one of the greatest of human strengths---figure out what is appropriate for the situation that applies to you.

MRT2

I agree. When I was a kid growing up in the suburbs, I always used a heavy chain and combination lock, and never had my bike stolen. And I left the bike outside my Mom's condo 9 or 10 months out of the year and got around by bike until I got my drivers license at age 17. I knew kids who had bikes stolen, mostly because they left their bikes unlocked. There is always an element of risk when leaving any bike out in the open. So long as bike theft is a crime that is rarely or never punished, bike thieves will do what they do. (I know it is anecdotal, but in 13 years doing criminal defense, I have not once defended an accused bike thief, nor have I even seen a single bike thief brought to justice). So I would like to see authorities use more bait bikes to catch the more prolific bike thieves.

That said, I don't think a lightweight lock that is almost as good as a U lock or heavy chain, but almost as light as a cable lock is completely unreasonable. Though the video shows or suggests this is a good lock for urban commuters, I think it would be maybe more appropriate for the tourer or road rider who wants something light enough to put in a jersey pocket or attach to the bike but still needs a deterrent for times when the bike might be left in a public place for longer than just to run into a convenience store or bathroom.

I rarely leave my bike unattended for more than a few minutes these days, but there are exceptions to this rule. For example, in my neck of the woods, there are a fair number of street festivals and events where it isn't necessarily feasible to stay with the bike because you find yourself walking in and out of shops, restaurants, etc...This is usually not an all day thing, but more leaving the bikes out for a half hour or hour while we stop for a break, and I usually try not to go to far from the bikes. When I go to events like this with my wife and/or son, we usually use a combination of one U lock and multiple cable locks to lock the bikes together, as well as to a post or bike rack. I know a bike thief who knows what he is doing can defeat this easily, but my hope is, the sight of two or three bikes locked up together will encourage the bike thieves to look for an easier target. Two of these titanium locks, or maybe one of these titanium locks along with a U lock might provide an extra level of deterrence for us than a cable lock alone or even a cable lock along with a U lock.

indyfabz

And where is that? I like to avoid visiting places with collectively low IQs.

indyfabz

Where is that place? Fort Knox, maybe?

Maelochs

In my garage.

blakcloud

Most of you guys are truly amazing. Start a post asking what lock I should buy and you will get countless recommendations, Kryptonite, Abus Master Lock etc. Start a thread saying what do you think of this lock and all of sudden everyone is an expert on how to defeat it.

All locks can be defeated, that should be understood. Some are just easier than others.

jefnvk

To be fair, you asked for our thoughts. Aesthetics and the weight of a lock affects me in no way at all, and it is likely as easy to defeat as much cheaper options, so it is not for me.

indyfabz

That must be some garage. The only place I have had a bike stolen from was my house, while I was at home, awake.

Maelochs

Well, if you leave it in my garage, it becomes abandoned property. If it fits me, I will ride it, and if not, I will sell it.

But hey ... call my bluff. Leave all your bikes in my garage, and if any are stolen, you can tell the world that I was wrong. PM me for shipping address.

MixedRider

PICS PLEASE! How is it spec'd? Was it built custom for you? Do you know of any other people in the states that have one? So many questions!

(sorry to thread-jack... this bike is probably worthy of its own thread)

General Geoff

Titanium does indeed produce sparks while grinding. That being said, I was more referring to the "any other bike lock on the market can be cut with one if the user is even moderately muscular and knows how to use the tool" remark.

And I agree, titanium is strong but in my opinion, it's wasted on lock construction. Makes a wicked spork though.

JohnDThompson 

Well, I stand corrected.

dim

made in the USA ... use google to find who sells them .... very good and on my wishlist (heavy though, and I reckon a 2 foot long Pewag chain plus
the Ablock padlock will do the trick)... I'd still add a Fahgettaboudit U-Lock to secure the front wheel to the frame aswell

General Geoff

Pewag #3012 (12mm thickness) traction chain is made in Austria, not USA.

Also, get at least 4 feet of chain. 2 feet isn't long enough to loop around anything substantial.

I got mine from Westech Rigging Supply.