macteacher

Hi people,

Just wondering if people here lock up their high end bikes? I read a lot about people who are locking up their bikes...just wondering what these things cost. My bike cost me some pretty pennies and I wouldn't dream of leaving it locked up anywhere.

Secondly, for those that do lock them up, what brand of U-lock (i assume these are the most secure), do you use? I hear a lot about Kryptonight, but then i also remember that youtube video of the 'bic pen' hack. I have a cheaper bike that I want to lock up..but i do value it. So i'm looking for a good U-lock

markhr

These are the main companies I think

nothing is 100% secure (so use nothing....) but if you get the biggest, heaviest and highest security rated u-locks or padlock and chain combos from any of these guys you should be ok from casual thieves.

https://www.kryptonitelock.com/

https://www.abus.de/us/main.asp?Scree...us&select=0900



https://www.onguardlock.com/product/

edit: masterlock removed due to significant negative reports - sorry, I have an Abus chain and I didn't know about ML (assume = ass of u and me )

sping

Sheldon Brown has interesting things to say about locking. i.e. use a small U lock, lock the rear wheel inside the frame triangle, and add a cable to the front wheel if you like. Justifications in his article.

Ngchen

FWIW, masterlock has a poor reputation around here (search for details). Abus, OnGuard, and Kryptonite are considered top notch. To my knowledge, OnGuard costs the least among the high-quality locks, but their locks have this issue where you must remember to ALWAYS turn the key gently and never force it (it's not difficult, but it's something to remember). If it doesn't open, then the cylinders aren't aligned and a little gentle back and forth is needed to insert the key all the way. I have an OnGuard Brute for my quite ordinary bike, and have been very pleased with the lock.

ax0n

Playing around, I found that the Master Python cable lock can be defeated easily. Yikes.

Basically, your best bet is to lock it up better than anyone else's nearby bikes are locked and pray that your "high end" bike isn't attractive enough to make it worth the increased challenge.

pinkrobe

There was a thread/poll about this before x-mas as well. Kyrptonite U-lock + crossing fingers. I tend not to lock up my more expensive bikes anywhere unless I can keep an eye on them.

Rob_E

I want rust colored decals to make my bike look less new.

I like Sheldon's point about how the U-bolt makes the difference in weight between a high and mid end bike. His idea works for commuters, but if you use your bike anywhere else, you may need a 2nd u-bolt for errands. And stopping on the way home gets problematic.

I'd get a lock that comes with an insurance policy (and fill out the paperwork withing the prescribed time), and always lock your bike to something stronger than the lock itself (the kryptonite insurance policy, at least, requires that you provide the broken lock). There's no sure-fire way to make sure your bike isn't stolen, but with a decent lock with an insurance policy, you can at least make sure your bike is not an easy target, and is replaceable if it is stolen.

CliftonGK1

I don't know if you'd call my bike "high-end", but I can't afford to replace it so that makes it valuable to me. Depending on where I'm going, I'll lock up with my OnGuard Rottweiller (armoured cable, mid-level security for quick errands in low-risk areas) or I'll bring my bike in with me (many stores around here are OK with that as long as you're not tracking a mess all over the shop.) I'm buying a Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit U-lock and a set of Pitlock skewers for locking up in less secure areas. It is overkill for a bike that cost under 4 figures? Maybe; but like I said... I can't afford to replace it.

jyossarian

I follow Sheldon Brown's advice on locking up except I use a Krypto chain instead of a cable cuz cables are easy to cut. Locking up a high end bike requires more than the right locking technique. You also need to put wax, solder, bb's, whatever, in the heads of all the screws, secure the saddle to the frame w/ a cable or bike chain, etc.

twinquad

On days when I ride my road bike to work, I use a Kryptonite u-lock through the frame and the rear wheel, then I remove the front wheel and take it in the office with me. I figure that a 1-wheeled bike is substantially less attractive than most 2-wheeled bikes nearby, even if they're less high-end. That, and I know I won't lose the wheel.

evblazer

Wow I want one of those superman pad locks from kryponite! that'll stop em..
Actually for my merlin I use a New York Fahgettaboudit® U-lock for the rear wheel/triangle and a New York Fahgettaboudit® chain for the front wheel/main triangle and wrapped around the handlebars to take up slack. Nice old dura ace chain with rubberized covers where it contacts the frame securing the saddle to the bike.
I park in an underground secured parking area right in front of the secured door and there is a camera on it all day so security can let in those folks that forget their badge.
No I really don't need em but I already had em and if I lost my bike I'm 20+ miles from home so what the hey. Someone actually stole the fruit leather from my little front stem bag.. Who steals fruit leather!! I guess I need to bring that in from now on.

enjoi

park next to a nicer bike

macteacher

I've been looking into the Kryptonite locks..but what about that whole issue of using a bic pen to break in? Has that been resolved?

By High end bikes I guess I should stated something over $800. After $800, I also have to examine the worth of a replacement. Mine was $1700.00 and I rarely lock it anywhere because of that constant fear. I even lock it in my garage and in my office at work I sometimes even lock it...although with a pair of bolt cutters, my lock is easily taken out of commission. I don't want to lock it up anywhere...but sometimes it's just so inconvenient to take it with me.

Maybe for smaller errands I should invest ina $200 or less beater-errand bike??

Rob_E

Keep in mind that my bike is well under a grand, so I am definitely not putting my money where my mouth is (yet, I am hoping to build up or buy something a little higher-end in the near future). But I just can't see riding a cheaper bike for general use. Maybe if you're looking at very rare situations where you'd be uncomfortable leaving your "real" bike, but I'd say why spend the money on a bike you're afraid to ride? In addition to insurance through the lock manufacturer, you can also check into homeowner's insurance. If you know your bike losses are recoverable, maybe you won't be as worried about it.

But if you really do two different types of riding, or worrying about losing the bike keeps you from doing certain activities, then maybe a 2nd bike is the way to go. I guess I do so little biking that doesn't involve locking the bike up somewhere, that it's hard to imagine owning a bike that I didn't feel I could lock up and walk away from, but if you're really not at ease in any locking situation, you might want a spare bike you're less concerned about. But then you may find yourself not wanting to ride it much, either.

Artkansas 

Hard to say, my good bike is a Bachetta Giro 20. It's stick-like shape is exceedingly hard to lock. I use a Kryptonite U lock to secure the frame to something solid, and then cable lock the wheels to each other.

CliftonGK1

The bic-pen issue has been resolved on new Krypto locks because they don't use the cylindrical keys any longer.

Since high-end starts at $800, then yes, I lock my low-end of the high-end spectrum bike when I take it out on errands. Casual bike theft is pretty low around my area, though. Group rides on weekend mornings leave a bunch of $2000 - $5000 bikes leaned against the wall unlocked (but in plain sight) at Starbucks while they go inside to get their post-ride java. I have no concerns leaving my bike leaned against the grocery carts inside the front door of the market while I get my groceries.

Crack Monkey

I commute on a $600 bike. Not junk, but not high end either. Lock it with an OnGuard cable lock to a decent bike rack. This is in a suburban office park, with the rack located by the smoker's door, so there is a bit of foot traffic.

I don't typically ride my mtn bike or road bike anywhere I'll need to lock them.

Abneycat

I would personally consider Kryptonite locks to be the best out of the ones i've tried. A U-lock is more substantial than any other typical offering you'll come up with *provided* that you practice proper lock-filling techniques (Sheldon's are good), the basic idea is simply to have minimal extra space in the lock for a thief to insert a jack or prying tool with. With my Xtracycle, I simply place the lock through both the bike's frame and the freeradical's frame. It holds them *both* at once so even the most determined thief couldn't seperate the two and walk away with one if they knew how, without defeating the lock first. It also fills up the space in the lock entirely, as with each piece filling up a different dimension of the lock, its stuffed upon being closed.

The only downside to a U-lock that I find, is its sometimes hard to find things you can *properly* lock to. And the most secure solutions always include two different kinds of locks..

As others have noted, the old weakness in the Kryptonite locks is resolved now. When picking the right lock, go with the smallest one possible that fits your bike.

CastIron

I run a Kryptonite NY lock and cable. I don't lock up at work and avoid it when possible. But when I do I use this set-up. Were I to have much nicer bike or need to routinely lock it up for long periods, I'd upgrade the cable to a Kryptonite chain (NY Noose perhaps). I usually try to secure my crankset in my locking manner as well. Pitlocks would pretty much do the rest along with anti-tamper stem bolts and lock-on grip ends (for flat bars).

joelpalmer

Nice, same theory I use with my truck - especially in Baltimore...

JTGraphics

I've got an OnGuard Pit-bull U-Lock/Cable Combo but its heavy so I tend not to take it unless I know I'm going to lock it up some place for a while. I'll take a lighter cable lock for really quick runs were I might need to use it but to tell you the truth I almost never leave my bikes were I can't see it even if its locked and if I have no lock I don't leave it, unless its on our tandem in which case the wife stays or I do and a lot of times I'll lock it even if she stays if I have my cable with us.

Flimflam

I ride a fairly clapped out roadbike almost all of the time right now, despite it being free to me, I've put lots of time and miles into it, and some money on some addons/accessories (Brooks saddle, for one) so I'm pretty attached to my faithful bike and it's my only way of getting around right now.

If I'm doing quick errands, I'll use my mini-Evolution U-lock and lock the frame to the locking posts (if it'll fit, the back wheel too) but that lock is small, so it's hard to get anything other than the frame+locking object in the shackle. If I'm locking up anywhere I don't know or I know it'll be a while, I'll bring along the beefy OnGuard Bulldog. I use the Bulldog to lock the rear wheel, frame and locking object and use the mini-Evo to lock the front wheel to the downtube on the frame.

When I'm leaving my bike outside at a buddies, I just use the mini-Evo to lock the frontwheel to the frame, as it's already in a backyard or on a deck, I feel this is enough (although it's not, really).

I stopped using the OnGuard as my primary lock because it's so heavy, so my regular carry-around lock is the miniEvo.

The OnGuard saved my MTB from being totally ripped off, I had it taken from my own backyard when I'd left it one Sunday afternoon (locked backwheel to frame only) - they dragged it across the street and pulled the saddle, not the seatpost, out, took *some* of my repair kit tools, left the wedge bag and rest of the bike across the street thankfully - needless to say I'm happy I have and had the lock.

doughboy

I actually use the same combination for my commuter. However, have you ever thought about the irony of having a high-end lightweight bike weighed down by what is literally 12lbs of locks on the commute?

FWIW, I read that the regular Kryptonite NY Chain w/Evo disc lock is as good as the Fahgettaboudit chain despite being lighter. Had I know that, I could've saved myself a couple of pounds of steel! Heck, knowing what I do now, I would be tempted to buy a beater MTB and use "just" 3-4lbs of locks. Hehe.

phillyrider

I like the smaller on-guard u-lock along with cables. In larger cities, use multiple styles of locks.
There are always craigstlist posts of bikes stolen - even with u-locks.
Depends on your area...I don't really mess around - I just park in front of the police station.

crazybikerchick

In downtown Toronto, yes I would invest in a beater-errand bike. If you were in somewhere suburban where few people bike I think a u-lock is fine. I have a touring bike and a don't worry about it beater bike. I would not lock the beater bike outside (and visible) overnight. I've seen so many that are still locked up but stripped of parts. Yes you can lock up the seat, the wheels. But there's many other things that can be removed with tools.

I like the Krypto evolution mini lock (mini is good because less room for leverage). The New York lock is better but heavier and at a certain point if someone wants to steal the bike they are going to break what it is attached to rather than the lock itself. (ie the post and rings in TO can be defeated with a 2x4) And yes, the Bic pen issue has been resolved - all U-locks currently for sale now use flat keys rather than cylindrical ones.

For my bike that was about $1500 I will lock it up for short periods of time, for places where I can see the bike but need to stop someone from doing a quick grab (like while eating out on a patio), on someone's front porch (when we are in the house), in underground parking at work (with the Evo mini). I would not leave it locked somewhere downtown for a few hours. In a small town I'll just lean it up against the wall of a building while going inside to buy stuff. Its all about location what the risk is. Some places I'll just bring a lightweight cable lock - where I'm just locking it to keep the honest people honest.