damme

Credit card touring in Western Europe next summer so I can get the bike inside every night, but for daytime when I'm exploring the cities I would like to get a lightweight lock that will keep the most thiefs away. For example if I go to the museums, beach or shopping malls etc and I'm away for few hours. I've been looking for these locks:

https://www.abus.com/eng/Mobile-Secur.../Folding-locks

This model in particular: https://www.abus.com/eng/Mobile-Secur...ordo-Lite-6050

Then there's always the u-locks: https://www.abus.com/eng/Mobile-Secur.../Locks/U-locks

Do you think the 650g folding lock would hold during the daytime if I leave the bike in area with a lot of people passing by so that the thieves don't have time to work on the lock.

BigAura

It doesn't take long with one of these:

damme

I know but I don't think thieves will use that kind of tools in a public area during daytime.

fuzz2050

The point of a bike lock is not to make your bike impossible to steal, the point is to make the risks and expenditures outweigh the potential reward. For most tours, I find I'm not far from my bike and make due with a small cable lock. However, I don't tend to go through big cities or high theft areas. If I wanted to lock up my bike so I could take in a museum, one of those Abus locks look like it might do the trick. I'd be more worried about luggage though.

damme

Luggage will be on the hotel room

seeker333

There are videos on YouTube of folks grinding their own bike locks off (lost the key) in mid-day in NYC. Hundreds of people walk by, and not one person says a word or even seems to notice.

Any lock can be defeated. I think a medium size U-lock, with or without supplemental cable / locks is a good choice. Not too heavy to carry, won't break immediately if attacked by an amateur (crackheads), and the lock even has an alternative use (defensive weapon).

staehpj1

I don't usually visit major metro areas when on tour, but if I did I might leave the bike in the room with the luggage. Walking and using public transit works very well in most bigger cities and some smaller ones.

damme

You can see like 10 times more if you use bike. Walking takes so much time and in big cities you end up using metro a lot. I rather drive than go underground. It's also way easier to explore the surroundings of the city with bike. Exploring the cities is the main reasons I will take the bike with me. It's even more important reason than using the bike to travel from city to city since I plan to take a bus if the distance from city to city is too long to save time and money.

BigAura

Sadly that may not be the case.


But you may be right.

BigAura

I agree with your statement. I too use a cable lock (weight = 14 ounces) and would never trust it in a city. My point is why carry a 23 ounce lock that just as insecure, in that environment.

fuzz2050

I would disagree that a cable lock is just as insecure as a u-lock. I think that the risk of taking an angle grinder to something in public is greater than the risk of taking a bolt cutter to something, or at least that the perceived risk is higher. I don't have any actual data, but that's because I don't think actual data exists on the perceived risks of bike theft.

I think the best strategy is to make your bike look really secure; the point after all is to deter bike thieves and make them choose a new target, so it doesn't matter how secure it actually is.

Maybe a giant Kyrptonite style chain, but make it out of aluminum, so it's nice and light. If someone actually tries to cut it, you've already lost.

X-LinkedRider

I always bring the bike in the hotel room with me. Usually i just camp when touring however.

staehpj1

In that case I'd advise a big heavy U Lock.

Rootman

Looks cool, so does the bike showing in the locks picture. Anyone know what bike that is?

damme

I still need something for the other tire and I think it would be way too much weight in total if I get u-lock, something over 2kg.

What I was thinking was this on one end of the bike:

https://www.abus.com/eng/Mobile-Secur...ordo-Lite-6050

And one of these to the other end:

https://www.abus.com/eng/Mobile-Secur.../Millennio-894 (15mm tight cable, 85cm long [Kryptonite cable is 10mm])
https://www.abus.com/eng/Mobile-Secur.../Millennio-895 (10mm tight cable, 185cm long)

The total weight would be only 1,2-1,3kg depending which cable lock I would choose. I was thinking first to get two of those Bordo folding locks, but maybe it's better to have two different kind of locks? Maybe the shorter but tighter 15mm cable lock would be better if I search for a place where I can lock the bike from front and back. I would save 150g too.

prathmann

Another lock option might be the TiGR lock (https://tigrlock.com/) which also claims rather high security. Has the advantage of storing compactly along the bike's top tube, relatively light weight, and locks both wheels plus the frame. Disadvantages include slightly longer time to lock/unlock the bike, limited to locking to fairly thin poles, and high price.

Bekologist

I'd go with a with an Abus frame lock with the supplementary 6mm security chain

Frame locks are great!



and a Bordo or a light U-lock for the front wheel/frame. (alloy U-locks are available, look very solid)

you will be able to secure the frame twice, and both wheels, when high security was needed.

solid.

reasonably lightweight, and the framelock leaves the bike ready to be secured in an instant for quick trips off the bike.

fietsbob

might be a good idea to have the bike there too, and take public transportation to the museums.
so your bike is not exposed to possible stripping or theft.
rent a bike for sightseeing if you get off and do much stuff that the bike is on the street..


I've passed on some tourist high spots along the way, because of insecurity.


I brought an armored cable lock , and some extra double loop cable.
one made up from hardware stores, and 10 feet long, so I can use tyrees and picnic tables.

link locks may do but for the limited ability to reach
around stuff, so in town, when its suitable, its fine, but for other places
I Also have a Chain lock. it combines a key lock..
nylon cover , being red, It got dirty from chain on bike, so tape ,
zip tie, and an old innertube as another sleeve covered that..
ala https://www.abus.com/eng/Mobile-Secur...mbination/1500

stevepusser

If you don't have a bike yet, maybe a folding bike would a better option. Then you could bring the compacted bike into restaurants and museums with you, or at least see if you could store it inside the security office, off the street. Most any lock can be broken within a couple minutes.

plodderslusk

I have the Abus Granit Futura, a lighter U-lock, it only weighs a little over a hundred grammes more than the other Abus locks you considered. Not quite as easy to use as its bigger siblings but very nice around town.
https://www.abus.com/eng/Mobile-Secur...anit-Futura-64

damme

That is not big enough to be able to lock both tire and frame...

damme

Just ordered the bike today. I would never buy folding bike. I will ask from all places I go if I can take my bike inside and if I can't and there isn't good place to leave the bike then I visit the place next day without my bike.

plodderslusk

With a bit of lifting and tweaking it will lock my frame and front wheel to railings and fences. Does not work well with MTB's though.

mikhalit

I'd recommend Abus U-Mini or Kryptonite Evolution Mini + pitlocks + a lightweight cable. But i would not leave the bike in front of the cinema at night, would rather take a walk or look for a better parking spot. A good parking spot is where I can lock it so that it is difficult for a thief to get the lock with a grinder or to use picks. A spot against the wall, next to other bikes, etc.

Juha

I second Bek's suggestion. Get a frame mounted lock for the rear wheel (Abus I think makes one, and Axa/Basta) and some method of attaching your bike to something solid, preferrably with a separate lock. If you think the risk is low, cable might achieve that, if you want more security, use a chain and/or a small U-lock.

The Axa Defender frame lock can be combined with a plug in cable. This might be a good lightweight option. Nothing prevents you from running a cable or chain by some other manufacturer through the lock either. The problem with using just one lock for everything is, the thief only has to defeat that one lock and they can ride away. If you have a separate lock for the chain/cable, it'll make it less attractive for the thief.

Finally, no matter how much locking hardware you haul around, if a determined pro thief wants your bike, they have the means to take it.

--J