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Best 2 lock combination

Old 12-21-07, 01:06 AM
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Best 2 lock combination

I have a chain lock and a cable lock ( I know its a pos) anyways, I want to get a second lock. First I don't know if a NYC U lock will fit around my bike and frame, I've heard its a tight fit. Also would that be the best combo or would it be better to just get 2 chains given that weight is not an issue?
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Old 12-21-07, 07:34 AM
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I think the conventional wisdom is that a the best two lock combination is a solid chain lock and a good u-lock. It takes different tools to defeat each.
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Old 12-21-07, 08:08 AM
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Can't you use a cutoff wheel on an angle grinder on a chain too?

two is still better than one though. Even better is to park next to a nicer bike that isn't locked up as well.

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Old 12-21-07, 08:57 AM
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Originally Posted by kmac27
I have a chain lock and a cable lock ( I know its a pos) anyways, I want to get a second lock. First I don't know if a NYC U lock will fit around my bike and frame, I've heard its a tight fit. Also would that be the best combo or would it be better to just get 2 chains given that weight is not an issue?
Best would be a heavy duty chain and a heavy duty U lock. If you are concerned about the size, take a look at OnGuard locks. I have various ones and they perform well. Even the smallest one fitst aroung my frame and a bike rack. Strength wise they are comparable to Kryptonites
In addition to being high quality locks, the way you use them is equally important:
For a Ulock, buy the smallest size that will fit your purpose. Any bigger than necessary gives thieves the change to use a jack to break the lock.
For a chain make sure that it is hanging well away from the ground. A thief with 2 foot steel cutters will not be able to cut it using his body strength, but he may be able to cut it if can put one arm of the cutter on the floor and throw his body wieght at it

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Old 12-21-07, 02:06 PM
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if you're concerned about the size of krypto locks and not fitting on the bike. There are some people who have mounted them pretty creatively on this forum.

Cordless angle grinder defeats anything. Then again, that's a pro tool, average thief would just sell it.
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Old 12-21-07, 03:56 PM
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Yea but the place I'm locking my bike up to is right next to a cafeteria. I think someone would notice a power tool
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Old 12-21-07, 05:57 PM
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Why not two U-locks, one for the front wheel to the frame and the other for the rear to the frame, and either one locked to an object?

Although I agree that putting the rear U-lock around just the wheel and a post while going through the rear triangle is really secure, I'd think that some idiot thief will try to undo it anyway, disconnecting the wheel and trying to yank the lock through the rear end.
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Old 12-21-07, 11:58 PM
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Yes, an angle grinder will cut through anything, etc. BUT with a Kryptonite NY lock, it would take 10 minutes to do it, all the while making a helluva racket--they'd probably resort to picking the lock first (which is starting to gain popularity I hear).
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Old 12-22-07, 12:07 AM
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Are you talking about the kryptonite NY chain lock or U lock. I currently have a bulldog chain lock and am looking to get a U lock or whatever suits me best.
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Old 12-22-07, 01:57 PM
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Originally Posted by kmac27
Are you talking about the kryptonite NY chain lock or U lock. I currently have a bulldog chain lock and am looking to get a U lock or whatever suits me best.
Definitely the U-lock; not sure about the chain.
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Old 12-23-07, 03:02 AM
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Originally Posted by kmac27
Yea but the place I'm locking my bike up to is right next to a cafeteria. I think someone would notice a power tool
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TNTq3nhuh0
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Old 12-23-07, 10:00 AM
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That video isn't too convincing, they used those dinky chains. It does show however how unconcerned people are about bike thiefs and they could care less.
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Old 12-23-07, 11:14 AM
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This should strike fear into your eyes instead of that youtube movie. https://youtube.com/watch?v=6Ip5QoMFyi0&feature=related
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Old 12-23-07, 11:23 AM
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Well on that note. Can the same tool that breaks a chain lock break a U lock. Talking about the heavy duty locks that is. Well after that video they don't look heavy duty at all.
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Old 12-23-07, 02:55 PM
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Originally Posted by kmac27
This should strike fear into your eyes instead of that youtube movie. https://youtube.com/watch?v=6Ip5QoMFyi0&feature=related
Wow at :09 in that video, it looks like a NY chain lock of some sort is easily cut with a bolt cutter!
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Old 12-23-07, 03:57 PM
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Originally Posted by kmac27
Well on that note. Can the same tool that breaks a chain lock break a U lock. Talking about the heavy duty locks that is. Well after that video they don't look heavy duty at all.
The heavy duty locks are being beaten by heavy-heavy-heavy duty cutting forces, though. Bolt cutters three feet long will give a lot of leverage already, and leaning into them with your whole body weight has got to put some insane force into those jaws.
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Old 12-23-07, 04:15 PM
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Originally Posted by kmac27
This should strike fear into your eyes instead of that youtube movie. https://youtube.com/watch?v=6Ip5QoMFyi0&feature=related
The company who's name shall not be spoken.
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Old 12-23-07, 07:52 PM
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Very astonishing that nobody does anything. However I bet if someone lugged those onto a college campus security would be around fairly quickly. The campus that I am going to is surveyed by the cops constantly :-)
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Old 12-27-07, 11:14 PM
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In the best lock tests, such as those in "Cycling Plus", the best five pound u-locks do as well as the ten pound chain locks. So, I don't see the point of using a chain lock, unless you park in neighborhoods where there are no available locking posts that fit a u-lock, and you need to lock to telephone poles or something too large for a u-lock.

If you park a clearly valuable bike at the precise same location for hours every day, sooner or later a "pro" is gonna see it, and take it. If you have to leave your bike out of your sight for hours, have a second bike that LOOKS like an old piece of junk (even if it rides like a pro bike), and always park it next to new Cannondales.
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