Availability of Kryptonite U-locks?
 

Hi All,

I will soon begin commuting with a brand new Lemond Poprad and have been planning a way to secure the bike while at work. My work parking place has a locked bike room with racks. I was going to buy a big-ol-honking lock and leave it locked to the rack so I won't have to carry it with me while riding between the office and my house.

Since I don't have to carry the lock, and since I had a really nice Gary Fisher bike stolen a few years ago by the lock being forced, I wanted to get a U-lock that is stronger (and thus heavier) than the already highly regarded Kryptonite New York 3000. I was planning on getting one of the Kryptonite motorcycle U-locks like the New York M18-WL.

I will also eventually get a chain lock (like an Abus), as well, but wanted to start off with the U-lock since it seemed like an easier and lighter locking system.

I made a few phone calls today, and discovered that Kryptonite U-locks are actuall hard to find in my town (Washington, D.C.). I called 3 motorcycle/scooter shops, each one being a Kryptonite "Elite" dealer, and none of them had either the Kryptonite New York 3000 or any of the bigger U-locks ( I didn't ask about any of the smaller Kryptonite U-locks). One of the dealers commented that they used to stock and sell a ton of Kryptonite U-locks, however, lately they have been stocking very few of the Kryptonite U-locks but were stocking and selling a lot more Kryptonite chain locks instead.

Anyone have any suggestions on where to get a M18-WL lock, and any thoughts on why I am having a hard time sourcing the bigger Kryptonite U-locks?

Thanks!

--Twofer

Time to E-mail Kryptonite. Even Amazon was out of the ML. Odd.
NY3K's abound from the mail-order joints.

Actually look here: Sunrise Cyclery

The new york 3000 lock by kryptonite was replaced with the just new york lock, which i have, and is rated at a security rating number 11 out of 12 on the kryptoscale. Its has been certifited by many tests as a secure lock. I Have found many bike shops in NY have it, and some still carry the older model ny3000, but i can't verify fthe popularity or d.c.

The real secret to U-lock security is a narrow shackle. If a jack or other tool can't be forced inside it, the only other option is to cut it (hard to do without power tools!). Combine a sturdy U-lock with a narrow shackle with a nice cable or chain, and you should be pretty safe.

Did you know that you can break any lock quite simply by spraying deodorant into the lock which freezes it, then you just have to pull it off and there you go, simple! I managed to break into my friends garage the other day by doing this

order it online:

http://www.bicyclebuys.com/Items01.a...&SKU=1729902WL

https://shop.sunrisecyclery.com/item/12657/

http://www.bicyclebuys.com/HTML/Locks.htm

http://www.accwhse.com/kryptoni.htm

Twofer - thanks for wanting a Kryptonite for your new cycling adventure! You are correct in thinking you need either a U-lock or chain in DC!

Jimbo is right, the New York 3000 is now, just simply the New York Lock. However, motorcycle and scooter dealers wouldn't have this because it is a bicycle lock. They'd most likely have the New York MC. They also wouldn't have any of the other U-locks, as these are for bicycle, too. Motorcycle/scooter dealers would have chain, as you found out, or disc locks.

If you are looking for the New York M-18, which is a motorcycle lock, please do give customer service a call - in the US the number is 1-800-SAY-LOCK. They may be able to help you, or one of our online partners as Walkafire mentions.

If you don't want a chain and aren't comfortable with the New York Lock for some reason, the M-18 is a good (heavy!) choice. In stores in a month or so will be the New York Fahgettaboudit U-lock, which has more steel than the New York Lock, but is a 'Mini'. This is for exactly what grolby was talking about! You can view it over on Singletrack's site.
http://www.singletrackworld.com/mod....mg=1722-10.jpg

Thanks, again, for choosing Kryptonite! And good luck with your commuting!
Donna

Thanks for all the suggestions! I wanted the M18-WL model over the New York lock just for the extra security. I am thinking that the obvious extra beef to the M18-WL model will make a thief more likely to choose a different (and presumably noticeably smaller) lock to mess with than mine. Kinda like choosing a Rottweiler over a Golden Retreiver to guard your home.

Kryptonite Lock: The New York Fahgettaboudit U-lock does look great, but I want something with a larger interior diameter than a mini for the application I have in mind. Thanks for the head's-up on the new product, though.

I ordered a M18-WL from Sunrisecyclery per Cast Iron and Walkafire suggestions.

--Twofer

Twofer: Congrats on the new lock! Hope you like it and it works for you the way you want it to. Remember to register your key numbers with us online when you get the lock. It's free and if you ever need more keys the first two are free. :) Have a great weekend.

Great bike. Is it the orange 2006? With or without disc brakes?
Al

It will be a 59cm 2006 model - [cannible?] orange, with disc brakes, 10 gear rear cog [shimano 105?], carbon fork.

At buildup, I am having the Aheadset headset replaced with a black Chris King headset. I am also getting Crank Brothers stainless steel Egbeaters peddles, and the frame treated with JP Weigle Frame Saver. It's gonna be my all-weather-commuter-do-everything bike.

I've ridden the 2006 canti models, and they feel really good to me. Tried a 57cm, but it felt cramped in the cockpit. The 59cm felt much better. I had about 1/2" of standover in my street shoes on the 59cm. BTW, I am 6'1" with a 34" bicycle inseam and I wear a 16x36 dress shirt.

As far as I or my LBS can tell, the factory has yet to produce any 59cm Poprads with disc brakes. I have heard of a few 57cm Poprads with disc brakes, but no 59cm's yet. Delivery is currently expected at the end of January. I guess I'll be the "first kid on my block" to have one when it finally shows up. I am having a hard time waiting for it!

--twofer

I think the disc brakes a good choice as the front canti brakes shudder or squeal even with great care in adjustment. Good choice for commuting vs. CX racing.
I got a 57cm, I am 6'2" with a longer than normal torso (when I got a back x-ray the technician said amazed at how long my spine was for my height) and shorter than normal legs for that height - i think my standover inseam is 33" The poprad has longer top tube than seat (i.e. ~58cm top tube for 57cm frame)

Al

noisebeam: I hope I made the right choice in frame size. I chose the 59cm over the 57cm, but it sounds like my torso is shorter than yours? Did you get a chance to ride a 59cm, and how did it feel if you did?

Latest word from Trek is that Februrary 1st is the expected due date for the 59cm Poprads with disc brakes. The delievery date is slowly being pushed back (as I expected).

I heard that a bike store in Portland, Oregon has some 59cm Poprads with disc brakes. I might see about buying from them if the delievery date continues to be pushed back. I'd much rather buy from by LBS, though.

--Twofer

You are looking for a lock to use for a bike that is stored inside a locked room at your office? A mini u-lock around the rear wheel, attached to a beefy steel pole will provide you plenty of security. A high quality mini u-lock around the rear wheel does not provide enough empty space for effective leverage tools, and it is hard to picture someone breaking into that locked room during office hours and attacking bike locks with power tools.

The New York U-lock is certainly strong enough to deter even a skilled crook...if you get one of those, there would be no reason to also buy a chain lock.

alanbikehouston: Thanks for your input. The bikeroom is indeed locked, but about 150 people have access to it. Plus, it is in a low traffic area of the basement so someone could be alone in the room during off-commute times for as much as an hour. Thus, the locked bike room does help with bike security, but a stout lock also seems necessary.

Since I don't have to carry the lock, I couldn't see an *overall* advantage to a lighter mini-U-lock (although I know the smaller interior shackel size does help to thwart leverage attacks, the smaller size reduces your locking options) and I decided to err on the "too heavy" side. The Kryptonite M18-WL is thick enough that it should withstand any leverage attack and withstand most any power tool attack, plus I can lock to larger objects if necessary.

I might be taking your suggestions on the mini-U-lock for carrying with me, though.

Thanks!

--mudslinger (fka "twofer")

I too was uneasy about fitting the right frame size on a bike I hadn't test ridden (although I tried out ones with similar geometry). I had an agreement with LBS that if frame size was wrong, they would pay shipping to get right size and if I didn't like the bike for whatever reasons I'd only loose the $100 shipping charge. After getting the bike sometimes I thought it was too large, sometimes too small. I got a fitting fine tune after a few months (only needed fine tuning to seat height) and now a year later I feel like the bike is just the right size.

Al

Al

You can get a NY3000 Ulock from Performancebike.com. $64.99 plus shipping. It would take more than an hour to force that lock without power tools.