slipknot0129

Will a $20 walmart kryptonite bike lock be good enough in my rural area? Thats all the money I have so far. Biggest town in my county is 10,000 people. I dont think people around here steal bikes thats locked. Ive never heard of it. Only bikes that werent locked in the front yard got stolen.

Anybody ever had a bike stolen with a u lock in a rural area like mine? Ive never heard of it.I guess im just asking for a second opinion on this.

10 Wheels

Where is your area?

bkaapcke

Try it and let us know. bk

slipknot0129

Seminole county oklahoma.

drmweaver2

I'd ask the local cops and my LBS.

StephenH

If it's a cheapo Walmart bike, then you're likely fine with a cheapo Walmart lock of the U-lock variety. If it's a $4,000 bike, I probably wouldn't leave it alone for any time with ANY lock on it.

You may be in a rural area, but I'll bet you have your fair share of meth addicts and others that'd steal from their own grandmothers. And there's probably no end of people around there that own cutting torches and/or big bolt cutters, so you're still trusting to people's honesty to a fair extent.

Nitram612

Is there a problem with property crime in your area? Where specifically are you planning on locking the bike? If you are just using it to get around town for short errands and such, a U lock will probably be fine. If you can afford it, I would consider getting a secondary cable (shouldn't cost more than $10) to loop through the other wheel. If you are riding it to work every day, I would try to find a secure place (preferably indoors) to lock it. A bike left out in the same spot for too long will eventually attract attention from the wrong person, no matter how small your town is.

bikem

Any real bike theif knows one solid hit with a hammer on a cheep U lock right by where the key goes in and they pop open. Look at the peice that swings around when you turn the key and locks the lock, on some locks it is about the thickness of a quarter and will sheer of easily when hit.

fietsbob

You have to lock it onto something solid or it gets thrown into a truck
and goes back to the farm where the tools are ..

thedutchtouch

Kryptonite is a good lock brand. the fact that it's bought from walmart shouldnt matter. Kryptonite usually also has a bike theft coverage, not really sure how it works as i've never had a bike stolen, but i use a ~60 dollar Kryptonite for around town (and i live in a city that has crime). edit: looks like the walmart one has a 750 antitheft guarantee, so i'd say go for it if your bike is worth less than that, but in the end, it's your call. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Kryptonite...-LOCK/10370936

EDIT: see post 14!

Retro Grouch 

Probably.

The truth is that the first lock that you put on your bike, no matter how cheesy, is about 90% effective. That's because it limits stealing your bike to thieves who brought the right tool to defeat it. As you go from 90% effective to 99% effective you engage in a high-tech and expensive game of one-ups-man-ship with the thief. There is no 100% effective bike lock. Given the time and technology, any lock system can be defeated.

cehowardGS

Good Point!

Yesterday, I was eating breakfast at a shop, with my Litespeed locked to the railings right in front the window with a CHEAP DOLLAR STORE LOCK. A serious biker came by walking his bike, and did the walk around in either admiration of the bike, or laughing at the cheap lock I had on such an expensive bike. The point of the matter, I was less than 20 feet away from the bike, and my eyes were on the bike at all times. Even the biker who seem to be a serious biker,I was 1/2 second from sprinting right to the bike. In plain talk, I ain't leaving my bike locked no dam where, unless I am eyeballing it. Pure and simple.. Most of the time, I bring it inside with me.. BTW, I don't ride the Litespeed everyday, most of the time I am one of my vintage Raleighs. No matter, they stay in sight or in my hand..

Just my 2 cents..

Bianchigirll 

I agree for short to medium periods of time in high traffic areas (in front of a store/ coffeshop) any lock is better than nothing. Kryptonites are good and they used to come with an optional warranty against theft for replacement.

StephenH

Read the fine print on the bike-loss warranty. The ones I've read were pretty worthless (ie, warrany void if power tools were used, or if the lock was taken along with the bike, or if you didn't have the receipt for the bike, etc., etc.)

Doug5150

Two points-

1) those loss warranties are rather difficult to claim on; the documentation requirements are rather onerous, and not by mistake I'd bet. There's stories of people online who tried, and most failed.

2) I am not anti-capitalism by any means,,,,,,,,, but Wal-mart stuff tends to be lower-quality than you would get elsewhere (such as in smaller, independent shops). This is not just simply bad-mouthing Wal-Mart, it is a known fact. Wal-Mart competes on price alone, and often has manufacturers make extra-low-quality products just for Wal-Mart to sell.

This story is about Snapper (lawn mowers) refusing to brand Wal-Mart junk, and the article mentions Levi's jeans. There are other accounts online of other different companies doing this as well.
https://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/...n_snapper.html

I don't blame anyone for shopping at Wal-Mart--but keep in mind that if you buy a "brand-name" at Wal-Mart, there is a very good chance that you are NOT getting the same quality that you might by buying the same item through some other smaller & higher-priced store.
~

ahsposo 

I've always used the airplane cable locks. I like to be able to run it through my wheels which are pretty easy to remove due to the quick release. Plus if there is nothing to attach the bike to I'll run it through the wheels so the bike would have to be carried away. That would at least slow them down.


These come in various lengths and styles. Generally available for $15 to $20. This certainly works against your thief of opportunity.

Against a pro thief out to steal a bike there's not much you can do.

ahsposo 

Hey, slipknot!

You posted about riding on dirt roads or something last spring. Did you get the hang of it?

longbeachgary

If that's all the money you have than what other choice is there? Leaving it unlocked?

slipknot0129

I was getting better at it till my air conditioner in the summer went out then didnt feel like riding.It started to get cool so now im riding again. I just need a pants protector so my pants wont get caught in the crank gears.

CCrew

So, this tells you two things..
1) You have thieves around
2) They're generally lazy.

Roll the dice.

Garfield Cat

This would be your next logical step to take in your decision making.

neilfein

Any lock is better than no lock. If it's what you can afford, then use it!

Retro Grouch 

Rubber band, bandana, piece of string, stuff your pants cuff into your sock. If that's what's keeping you from riding I'm thinking you just don't want to ride very bad.

neilfein

The person who posted this sure is a ... never mind, saw the username. Carry on.

rekmeyata

All I've ever used is a 5/8ths inch thick vinyl covered cable with a Abus Discus lock for the past 30 years or more...but I never park any of my bikes in high crime areas or low traffic areas, and I lived in areas of larger populations then you!