krooner

I have a kryptonite mini 5.5, and I like it a lot.

I'm frustrated with the ability to securely lock my bike to things though, since I click into bike racks with wierd and unwieldy designs more often than anything resembling a good and safe bike rack, and I'm in secured garages so its safer than locking them on the street outside (plus building frowns on it).

So I'm looking at these security chains made by kryptonite or similar top tier guys, for the added reach and ability to lock on objects my ulock is to small for.

Anyone have advice on using a chain vs a ulock, provided its a 'security' chain from someone like kryptonite? Weight is a non issue for me, it's about security convenience. But about security more than convenience.

Or I could look at getting a longer ulock?

cruiserhead

Kryptonite NYC chain consistently gets the highest security ratings. If weight is not an issue, than get the chain and tie it off w/ a NYC u-lock

krooner

Weight isn't an issue, but money is! My bike spends its time inside secured garages, or my apartment, so I'm not sure I need or want to lay out 150$ for both.

wirespot

That's the wrong arithmetic. Compare the cost with what you'll have to spend if your bike gets nicked.

By design, I don't think anything beats an u-lock in terms of safety vs weight. But they can be a bit awkward to use.

The Kryptonite thick link chains look like they could hold their own against the u-locks, but double the weight is simply ridiculous.

You might want to also look into foldable locks, they look like a nice compromise between the solidity of the u-lock and flexibility of a chain.

cruiserhead

more security = more expensive.

Get a chain within your budget and use your existing ulock to tie it off.

krooner

I thought about that, but if I'm going to depend on the ulock why introduce the chain period? Why not just get a longer ulock?

umazuki

Bolt cutter vs. angle grinder?

droy45

Get a lightweight versatile cable with the combination lock. Easier to cut off but if your in a secure parking garage.... maybe a good choice. Can you leave your u-lock and chain locked to the rack when you leave till the next day when you arrive to use it again?

cruiserhead

then get a longer ulock.

cplager

Hi,

Consider Masterlink cuffs. Have a similar anti-theft guarantee to Kryptonite U locks, but I find that they are much easier to use.

Cheers,
Charles

krooner

Man, those look cool. I just googled them though, and apparently you can destroy them in 5 seconds bare handed, and it's a known defect with the design and metal. I haven't seen anyone recommend them anywhere.

windhchaser

ill add a question i bought a luck from the folks who made the car club. is it true a bic pen can open it easly?

canyoneagle

I've been using an Abus bar-link lock, and like it. It weighs about as much as a U-lock, but folds nicely and is stored in a small pouch that mounts to bottle cage braze ons.
The length is just about right for many different locking situations, and I've only had a couple of instances where I was unable to get the lock to work (large diameter poles, primarily)

fietsbob

I have both an Abus folding Link Lock, like above, and one of their Steel-O-Chains..
some times U use both . the Chain lock is the more versatile..

using above link , they look like this
https://www.treefortbikes.com/cat/0/1...22381890___144

For buying locally, J&B and QBP are both distributing Abus Locks.

cplager

I just don't buy that.

I don't believe they are any worse than kryptonite locks (you can find videos of those being destroyed using a can of compressed air).

All locks are beatable. The question is how easy is it to do it for a given lock. I don't think Masterlock would guarantee their lock if "you can destroy them in 5 seconds bare handed.".

cruiserhead

to be fair, any lock can be taken out with a grinder. It's a question of time.
In any case, I don't like the ML cuffs because there are too many joints and possible break points.
For easy use and novelty, they look like a respectable choice. They look more portable and easily stowed than a u-lock.
They don't seem to give any more room to clamp a larger diameter pole, compared to a small ulock.

PatrickGSR94

I would think that a square-link chain and lock with very small shackle opening would be best, when locked around your bike relatively high off the ground, around a vertical part of your frame like the seat post. The square chain link resists bolt cutters, and being high off the ground means less of a "base" to work with using an angle grinder, and with bolt cutters the ground can't be used for leverage with one of the cutter handles. Just my thoughts.

cplager

Your point that any lock can be cut with a grinder is a good one. Here's a video with a kryptonite lock being cut with a hand-held hack-saw (I'm sure the Masterlock cuffs could be as well).

I haven't seen any evidence that the joints actually make it less safe.

PatrickGSR94

wow, looks like it took forEVER to get through that lock with the carbide hand saw.

cplager

Use a grinder. It will go faster.

Bluish Green

If weight is not an issue and/or if you can leave the lock at work locked to the rack (or whatever you lock the bike to), just get the biggest, heaviest, thickest steel U-lock you can and leave it at work everyday. It will be there waiting for you when you arrive. It will be a major problem to try to cut through. If you don't need to haul it for other destinations (running errands, etc.), just go big and heavy. I did that and am happy.

Here is my lock:
https://www.amazon.com/OnGuard-Bulldo...d+bulldog+5009

There are probably others even better if you search around. Go as big, thick, heavy and solid as possible. Think "boat anchor."

fietsbob

If the carbide grinders are commonly used in bike thefts where you live,
maybe walking and the bus is a better choice.

krooner

They aren't I hope.

FYI, just google reviews of the chain cuffs, the ones I turned up just said to pivot the thing so the main link was frozen, then you could kick it or tear the bike off using it as a crowbar. I didn't see any real refutations on any websites, and I found several no related reports of the same thing. The link steel is apparently brittle and not hardened.

Any time a conversation devolves to 'but angle grinder' it's pretty silly. That's like saying the guys show up with a truck and take the whole rack or object the bike is affixed to. It's possible, but sort of beyond the norm.

Thanks to all for the discussion.

cplager

I have this lock. You can't just "pivot the thing so the main link is frozen" and I don't see how you'd use a crow bar with this lock any differently than a U lock.

"The link steel is apparently brittle and not hardened." Ummm huh??

Again, locks are not fool proof. Whatever lock you buy can be defeated. But I haven't seen any evidence that this lock holds up worse than any other.

Spld cyclist

Now that cordless tools such as angle grinders are so cheap and available everywhere, I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes a pretty popular way of stealing bikes.