Burton

Haven't had a chance to try one out yet but would like to. My impression is that the level of security is the same as all but a few U-locks and the package is lighter and easier to carry on a bicycle.

But there's nothing like hand's-on experience!

Anyone got one of these babys?

fietsbob

I have one , its pouch is on top of my Bike Friday's main tube, water bottle boss..
being a folding link lock it is quite handy.. lighter? maybe not..

I also have a 'Steel O Chain' lock, from them, too..

canyoneagle

I really like mine. It is not much (if any) lighter than a U-lock, but much more convenient and versatile, IMO.

acidfast7

i use one daily.

i love it compared to a U lock.

they're super common over here and i've never seen the broken remnants of one

acidfast7

I realized that I should provide a better description:

Pros:

1. Easy to carry/transport in the plastic holder.
2. Always stores securely out of the way (i.e., I can easily take it MTBing on a single track without it falling off/out, and then have it to lock my bike at the castle while having having a beer.)
3. I can easily get two bikes locked around a pole in the city with a single lock, if someone forgets their lock.

Cons

1. Not so cheap ... I think it was roughly €90 or so
2. It is as heavy as you imagine
3. They're super common here (most newer bikes are locked up with one) so once they're defeated systematically, it will be an issue for a lot of people

Image of mine in action at work:



Pic of what it looks like when on the bike:



I'd be more than happy to answer any questions!

unterhausen

for whatever reason, bike thieves almost never leave the broken remains of locks behind. A fact that makes most lock guarantees pretty much worthless if they require the remains of the lock.

Burton

Based on the Arbus website - there are apparently several different models: three different lengths: 75, 90 and 120 cm, key or combination locking, and weights varying from 1,400 grams to 650g for the Lite version.
All apparently use the same 5mm links.

The exception is the Granit-X varient which uses 5.5mm links, is 85cm in length and weighs 1,580g. Apparently this has the highest security rating and all the others are equal but slightly less.

I'm thinking of going for the Lite version. Any lock is only a deterrent and this one looks like the simplist to carry on a bike that has no rack.

chaadster

Have you seen the Tigr Lock (www.tigrlock.com) Burton? You seem like the kind of guy who would appreciate the design, light weight, portability, and versatility of the lock.

Here's mine mounted:



And here it is in a full lock (frame + both wheels) scenario:



If you look on the TiGr Facebook page photos, and in the User Gallery on their own website, you'll see some of the other ways people carry the locks on their bikes, sometimes using only one velcro strap, or none at all, even. Weight is 459gm, nearly 200gm less than Bordo Lite.

Burton

Thanks for the link chaadster!
Have to say I haven't seen that one before and it looks worth looking into!

smasha

i don't trust the bordo. it looks too easy to pop the rivets with a drill or a long enough lever. sure enough...

"As a main source of security though, it’s not quite so good. We were able to pop one of the rivets out of the Bordo in just over 46 seconds." - https://www.bikeradar.com/gear/catego...ing-lock-16372

maybe better than a thin/cheap cable, but not in the same league as a kryptonite series-4 U-lock.

as pointed out above, most bike thieves take the busted locks with them. if you see broken locks on the ground, they were likely busted by a rank amateur.

acidfast7

I think a person with a 1m long pipe/Sawzall/grinder would attract significant attention in Frankfurt. More than enough for someone to confront him/her and/or call the police. Just mentioning "suspicious activity" would have a dozen police there in a few moments with the recent bomb in Bonn (Germany).

https://www.dw.de/federal-prosecutors...ism/a-16456063

Germans are quite vigilant in this regard.

smasha

there are ways to make that seem benign. two of those ways are an orange hard-hat and a "construction vest"

with people on high-alert for "suspicious activity", someone making a more specific report of "bike theft" gets to wait for police.

in any case, it's not always about having the biggest lock... it's about having a big enough lock on a cheap enough bike; ideally, parked next to a more expensive bike with a cheaper lock.

Burton

Agreed - but an angle grinder can make short work of any lock. Point is - we're talking about a couple $1,000 bikes that'll be parked outside at a cafe within viewing distance while we're having lunch or coffee. And the city is Cali Colombia. The other ocassional possibility is leaving it in the parking at a shopping center - where gate security issues a ticket and you don't get back out unless the serial number marked on the ticket matches the serial number on the bike. And the bicycle rack is right inside and next to the guy in charge of the gate. Most people in that situation don't even bother with a lock. Not even a small chance that the bikes will be left outside overnight or left unsupervised.

So the main thing thing I'm looking for is reasonable security that's easy to carry. There'll be no racks on these bikes., and both a cable lock and a U-lock are a real pain to pack - actually - with or without a rack. So this and the TiGr look a lot more convenient as either will sorta 'integrate' into the bike.

But I'm still open to light, practical alternatives.

acidfast7

It depends on what you do with your bike.

You sound like me.

If you live in a reasonable urban area, you'll usually have access to bicycle parking at the train/subway station that employs video recording or has live people attending to the bikes. Personally, I think a Bordo is more than enough to lock up a bike for a hour or two for a coffee and some shopping.

If you're locking up a bike overnight outside, it should be more of a city bike or beater bike.

I just think U-locks are a pain in the ass, as do most commuters over here, which is why the Bordo is incredibly popular.

Whodat

I have the "lite" version with the combo lock, so no need to carry a key. Very convenient, although since you have to loop the lock around and get the ends hooked up at the right angle, functionally, it's not quite as long or versatile as you'd think. Not as convenient as a cable lock, but probably harder to defeat. More convenient than a U, but less secure (unless you get the heaviest model). Easier to carry than either, although you give up a bottle cage For quick stops I use the Bordo. If I'm leaving the bike for hours while I'm in the office I use a U, which is easy to carry in my briefcase/pannier, and use the Bordo to secure the rear wheel. Finally, for now, they're uncommon here in the Boston area, so the unfamiliarity probably adds a layer of security.

acidfast7

That's a really good point. I think I may have the light version with a combo lock and I have to insert the distal bar into the head at the right angle which can be a pain in the ass. Especially, if you're locking two bikes around a light post or to a fence/gate with a single bordo.

I think the major selling point for most people over here is the convenience. A U-lock for an average person is a hassle, especially when riding in the city and having everything bumping around, and that's why most people still use a cable that they can rapidly wrap around the handlebars. The bordo fills these requirements quite nicely and is even less hassle, which is why it sells so well, even though it's hugely expensive for the level of security (€49 on amazon.de).

I just noticed that ABUS released a 120cm (Bordo big) version for €59, which seems to be a better value.

https://www.amazon.de/ABUS-Faltschlos...7197317&sr=8-6

Also, the OP should know that the bars on the bordo will leave marks on your bike if that's an issue for you. It's not for me, but for some it is. I also took some of the powdercoating off by opening it and having the end hit the frame. But, I did buy the bike to use it.

Whodat

Hmmm... Username "Acidfast". Uses "distal".
ID?

acidfast7

I use distal and proximal in everyday speech.

Which backstory am I missing?

Whodat

I think that distal & proximal are incredibly useful words, and I marvel that their utility is so unrecognized. The only people I ever hear use them are physicians. That, plus the fact that "acidfast" is used to refer to certain microorganisms (such as those that cause TB) made me wonder if you were in Infectious Disease.

acidfast7

I'm a microbiologist by training but more of a synthetic biologist these days.

Whodat

So I wasn't too far off the mark.

acidfast7

Not at all. I just don't like working with sick people. Their isolates are much more interesting. Plus, we are just beginning to identify the microbiome.

Burton

OK So I ended up ordering a few Bordo Lites - the combination model over the key model. Wanted something that would be most likely to get used so weight and convenience were the deciding factors.

The Bordo Lites can be permanently installed using the silicone holder and the bottle cage mounting holes and a combination lock means no key to carry. The Lite version is almost half the weight of the others. The frame sizes are 'S' so no other lock would be as unobtrusive when riding. Cable and U-locks are far more common here, sooooooo ......... they're on order.

acidfast7

chaadster

Are you in Cali now, Burton? I've always heard, since the Fifties when my dad lived there, through the early 200os when I traveled to SAm, that theft is a huge problem in the city. Is that overblown, or are there neighborhoods that you can ride in that are much safer? Anyway, I'd have thought extra security would be preferable to "lite" security, so I'm curious about your decision.