Best Bike Locks?
 

Im looking for some quality locks to use for my commute to school....

I'm think Pinhead Locking Skewers, Kryptonite New York U Lock, and maybe a chain to keep at school?

Any suggestions?

sounds like a pretty good system

I use pitlock skewers/seatpost on my Aurora. Just a u-lock on the frame and i'm good.

Yes, those are almost the best locks.

In research a while back, Pitlocks seem to be a bit higher up the food (and $) chain than pinheads. Though neither is recommended for horizontal drops.

Unclear what you would be chaining other than a visual deterrent.

THe one thing about a U-lock is that sometimes you need to tie up in places where there isn't something solid that your lock will fit around. Having the chain or cable lets you hook up to something like a telephone pole or a lamp post, as well as chain several bikes together for those times when your riding buddy left his/her lock at home.

exactly that....and while the ulock is on the frame and rear wheel, i can also have some extra protection on the front wheel.

that and also if you utilize both lock styles it will deter some thieves that only have one tool.

with a big chain all you need is a mini u-lock for the frame and rear wheel so its not so bad.

how do they break into those chains anyway?

I am planning on getting Pitlocks and a frame lock as well as the U-lock, cable, and chain that I already have. For the most part, in my local area, all the aforementioned is not really needed. When I go into the city however, I want to do the Lawyer and bear thing.---

Two lawyers were walking in the woods, came upon a bear. One lawyer opens his briefcase and takes out a pair of running shoes, the other lawyer says "What are you doing, you can't outrun a bear." First lawyer says "I know, I just have to outrun you."

I figure that unless they want MY bike real bad, they will take another one.
BTW, the cable and the chain each have their own separate lock. That way a thief has to defeat three separate locks. When I get the frame lock they will have to defeat another lock to actually get any use out of my bike.

i've seen a video where they break the top of the line chains with a bolt cutter that has like 4 foot arms. also an angle grinder can cut anything from hardened steel chains to u-locks.

oh dear. I would probably go mad if I saw someone doing that to one of my bikes.

I'd be wary of this setup as it relies solely on the security of a cable. In SF, cables aren't a theft deterrent, but instead a target, as they are quickly defeated. My friend had his MTB stolen last summer when he couldn't find a good rack or post to U-lock to, and instead wrapped his cable around a lightpole and U-locked it to his frame. The bike was gone 30 minutes later. Just my two cents :)

OP said "chain to keep at school" -- therefore I presume the flexibility issue you raise is moot as s/he will find a good place and is only talking about one place.

The second kind of lock / hybrid threat issue others mentioned is a viable reason. Requires that you use a second locking mechanism, too, not just running the chain off the u-lock. i.e. chain + lock.

True... the kind of lock you use is going to depend a whole lot on the level of sophistication of your local bike thieves.

are there really people out there with enough motivation to bring two huge tools to break locks for a bike that's probably not worth the hassle?

Read 'till you bleed. This should be a sticky..

Far fewer of those than there are people with enough motivation to bring one huge tool to break one lock (or two of same type). And that's really the point.

Combined arms, just the Marine, KLW2. ;) Place your enemy on the horns of a dilemma. Thanks for that lock jedi link.

It is.
Its under the 'start here' for SSFG..

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ed-Start-Here!

If killing 'em once works, twice won't hurt....;-)