After you read all of the "fine print" that comes with the theft insurance supplied by any lock company, you'll understand why they offer it. There are about twenty hoops you need to jump through to collect a dime, and you are likely to get much less than you paid for your bike. So, instead of relying on insurance, rely on buying the correct lock for your particular needs, and using it correctly.

The Pitbull and Bulldog mini u-locks appear to be essentially identical, although the OnGuard rates the Pitbull more highly. I recently bought the 2006 mini/mini version of the Bulldog, called the "Bulldog Mini TC". The "TC" uses a slimmer case around the shackle, which greatly reduces the "bulk" of the lock, and brings its weight down under two pounds, including the frame mount. The "TC" uses a dual bolt locking system, which means prying and leverage attacks will fail, and a crook cutting the lock must cut through both legs of the shackle. Much more work than the average crook is willing to do.

The "TC" is an ideal lock for someone who is locking up a bike worth less than $500 or so in a safe neighborhood during the day. It is just big enough to use the "Sheldon Brown" locking method of putting the lock around the rear wheel (and around NO part of the frame) and around a beefy parking meter post set in concrete. Put a second "TC" or cable lock on the front wheel, and you are good to go.

The "Mini Brute" was on the OnGuard catalog in around 2004, although some stores still have them in stock. The shackle is about the same length and width as the "TC", but the "Mini Brute" weighs more than four pounds, compared to less than two pounds for the "TC". Neither lock can be broken by the typical prying/leverage methods, but the "Mini Brute" would last longer against heavy duty cutting tools. (I've never heard of a crook in my town using heavy duty cutting tools against a premium lock...if they can't pry a lock, they give up).

If your bike is worth more than about $500, or if you are parking in neighborhoods that are not exactly "Friendly Village", you need a heavy duty u-lock, such as the OnGuard Brute, the Mini Brute., or the Kryptonite New York lock. Otherwise, the "TC" will work fine.