Originally Posted by
mds0725
From Sheldon Brown's
lock strategy page:
"The best U-locks are the smallest. My favorite is the Kryptonite Mini, which not all bike shops stock. The Mini is much smaller and lighter than the more popular models, but just as secure. It may be even more secure, because of the limited room to put a jack inside it. It also gives less purchase for leverage-based attacks."
The problem with this strategy is that it can be hard fitting mini U-locks around posts, fences or even bike racks. As it is, my regular New York lock barely fits around the bike rack at work, my frame and rear wheel. I always lock the wheels because they are so easy to remove with quick releases. I loop a cable through my front wheel and the U-lock.
I highly recommend the Kryptonite New York locks. I've used one for nearly three years with no problems, except for the time I absent-mindedly left my lock and cable, with the key, laying on the ground at the bike rack after leaving work for the day. It was gone the next day. I bought a cheaper lock to replace it, but it just didn't match the NY lock in quality and security. So I sold the replacement lock and bought another NY lock. I leave it locked to the rack at work so I don't have to cart it on my commute every day. It IS heavy, but that's part of the reason why it's so strong.