Kryptonite disaster/bike lock recs
 

Hello all,
First post from a long-time lurker.
Love this forum.

Yesterday, my lightly used Kryptonite Kryptolok Series 2 went from full functioning to frozen up disaster - no warning signs. As I've now learned, this is a common problem. The key wouldn't turn past 90 degrees. Lots of stuff on the internet about solving this but none of it worked. Was stranded at supermarket, had to pay $150 to locksmith to saw it off.
It is clear from examining this lock that -while the structural parts are strong and well built - the lock part is cheap junk. It's clear from the internet that this is a common failure of this lock. Now it's time to buy a new one and want to ask if anyone knows of a lock with a good "lock" - there's lots of discussion about how strong they are but no one mentions the key-lock mechanism. The kryptonite mechanism is cheap metal, easily bent or rusted or clogged.
Any suggestions?

I Like my Abus Bordo 6500 https://www.abus.com/eng/Mobile-Secu...IT-X-Plus-6500

some oil in the lock cylinder helps in the long run, it is a mechanism, after all, left out in the weather..


[reminds self to do the same] :innocent:

I've been using the same On Guard lock for the last eight years or so. While I haven't been leaving my bike locked up in a high crime area at night, that lock has provided adequate security for where the bike's been.


Of course, they may have changed processes, materials, or design, but eight years ago they built good stuff!

I have the Bordo posted above for usage in German urban areas, which a decent MTB (€800 or so)

I use a Kryptonite lock daily for 4 years and haven't had any issue. I assume that it will be cut one day and that will be the end of it ... and this is seaside England which destroys metal, bricks and concrete.

Use Lock-Ease on locks. It is graphite. You have to maintain things, even locks. The locks aren't junk. Everything needs to be taken care of.

I always use big cheap bell U locks. Never had a problem.

Next time just buy a cheap angle grinder and save $100.

This is too late to solve your problem, but three observations:

(1) You can use an extremely tiny, eyeglass screwdriver to align the little bits in the barrel, if progressively jamming the key in there and wiggling it about doesn't help.

(2) Put a drop of tri-flow in there once a month.

(3) I complained about this to Kryptonite, and they sent me a new lock, no questions asked. Now I have two locks that I am somewhat afraid to use.

I'm still using a Yardeni U-lock with a big chain. The lock looks like the one in the middle in this pic:

http://www.yardenilocks.co.il/images/Back_03.jpg

and I bought it at a hardware store. Just go to your local hardware and ask what they use to lock up the store. I did and got this one. :) Search around. This topic has come up before. Here, for example:

http://www.bikeforums.net/general-cy...r-bicycle.html

+1 for Abus Bordo 6500 (the Granit X-plus version, not the cheap, poorly made one).
Locking mechanism is both hard to beat and durable to withstand the elements.
Construction makes cutting/breaking hard enough.
- No lock is unbeatable, but this one is quite good compared to the others - so even if the bike is expensive, it will require more skill and/or hard work, often enough to make the thieves look for easier pray.

My writing on bicycle locks in general:
Bicycle locks

And some on locking the bike:
Locking a bicycle

Thanks --
1. I tried that - didn't work
2. That's the kind of thing we all learn after we spend money on a locksmith. Note to Kryptonite- include that in your instructions/owner's manual
3. I also submitted a "claim" to Kryptonite and fear the same. they'll remedy it the same way and I too will have a lock that I am afraid to use.

Funny-- on Kryptonite's website they have a page dedicated to this problem. they list 3 steps to solving it which are:
1. try oil - if that doesn't work...
2. try thin screw driver - if that doesn't work....
3. submit a claim to us

Just to throw in a piece of data on Abus not always working smoothly either when it should, I had a duplicate made by Abus service from the code supplied with the lock. The duplicate was absolutely identical to the original keys, no matter from what angle you looked at it. However, it stopped half way and would not open the lock. I send one of the original keys to them and they again made a duplicate. It looked identical and again it did not work. We could not figure out what the issue was and gave up - to this day I do not know what the issue is and have no additional key for the lock.

Duplicates for 3 or more other Abus locks worked fine. We recycle locks across bicycles and learned to get extra keys early on.

The Kryptolok series 2 uses a disc detainer lock cylinder. These are very different from conventional pin tumbler lock cylinders, and are very difficult to pick without special tools which are very different from typical lock picks.

I have four different locks with disc detainer style cylinders, and the oldest/most used one is a Master 8184D U-lock. I stopped using this lock several years ago after discovering a severe weakness in the locking pawl (can be broken with a few sharp strikes of a hammer), but the lock saw regular use for about 3 years when I loaned it to my roommate who commuted to work with his bicycle.

He occasionally had trouble getting the key to turn on it as well. The trick to getting the cylinder un-stuck was to insert the key deliberately, one cut at a time, turning the key both ways gently until there was no resistance in engaging the next cut, pushing the key further in and repeating the process until the key was completely bottomed out in the keyway, whereupon you could turn the key completely to open the lock. Basically the dirt and crud would build up inside the keyway, between the discs, and cause them to stick together but out of alignment, preventing the key from fully seating in the keyway.

Which model was that?

It was a U-lock Granite X-Plus. Its key style is identical to that in the mentioned folding lock Bordo Granite X Plus 6500. All keys that we ordered in the batch were of that style and the other duplicates, for other locks, worked.

My Bordo has a number lock, that way I can't lose the key and I can let someone else use the lock.

1-2-3-4

Keyed ones are generally safer (harder to pick).

Strange to hear that Abus screwed with the duplicate key production. :foo:

My son had a Kryptonite fail with the key breaking off in the lock. I rented an angle grinder from Home Depot which was around $10.00 and purchased a cut off wheel, $5.00 and cut off the lock. Kryptonite sent me a new lock and sent me a cheque for the rental and cut off wheel. I have 10 Kryptonite U locks and I am never scared to use them.

Kryptonite is a great company and make good locks but I only buy the higher end locks and not something like the Kyrptolok.

In 2001 Kryptonite was bought by Ingersoll Rand that used to be a very reputable lock manufacturer in the UK and Ireland. They also bought Schlage and claim to be #1 manufacturer of security products in the US. Keeping it at #1 in merchandise sold can be a mixed bag, though as we know, as it may force you to dilute the brand.

Abus 4 Life. :thumb:

Hi all
Important follow up.
I got an email from Kryptonite this week saying they would replace my lock and they would be sending me a gift card in the amount of my lock-smith bill.
I sincerely applaud this great customer service.

Very nice. Good to hear. :thumb:

That's exactly what I was going to say. An even cheaper option would have been to buy a hacksaw and a handful of blades. It might take 10 minutes to get though the lock, but that's probably far less time than it took for the locksmith to get there. The grocery store might have even had a hacksaw in stock.

Agreed. When my series 2 started acting up, I dropped some chain oil (since I was at school and had nothing else) and put pressure on the key in the lock while wiggling it around in a conical direction in the barrel. While the lock doesn't reliably open, the conical wiggling gets it open every time it acts up.

Does kryptonite send out new locks in the UK? I love my series 2, and unless someone knows of another high quality, long d-lock with gold security rating (for the bike insurance) whilst still being relatively inexpensive, then I'd want another series 2

I also wrapped mine in old inner tube to make it less obvious to the world and to protect the paintwork on my bike, or what's left of it, anyway.

Despite only using this in my dry garage, and keeping it carefully lubricated, it has become unusable. The barrel jammed with the lock off the bike. Even with an eyeglass screwdriver, good lighting, and zero pressure, I still can't get it to work.