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Locking Problem Solved?

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Old 11-08-13 | 08:48 PM
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Locking Problem Solved?

Well, I think I have solved my locking problem (for now). I ended up getting the Knog Strongman. I was able to use some discounts that I had, so the price was decent. I went with the Strongman, because of its' high security rating, use of protective silicone, and (to be frank ... ) its' cool looks. I, also, have a Knog PartyFrank for my front wheel/frame. Although, I am considering getting something else (a cable, perhaps?) to back up both of these, but I'm not sure.

I am going with this set-up, because I live near a college campus, so the risk of theft is high, but I do not live in a huge city, such as Brooklyn, Chicago, Manhattan, SF etc. Of course, the risk of theft is high anywhere, but as everyone knows, it is how you lock up, as well as where, that is just as important, (perhaps more?) as the quality of locks you use. Eventually, (hopefully, I will be moving soon to a bigger city, such as, Alberta, Chicago, Toronto etc.) I hope to get a chain lock for my rear locking set-up, and use the Strongman for my front locking set-up, but that will be in the future.

Suggestions? As always, I appreciate all the help you guys offer!
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Old 11-08-13 | 11:09 PM
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the strongman is not that bad but that cables core is only 5mm.
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Old 11-09-13 | 10:27 AM
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Take 2 mins extra to find a bike nicer than yours to park next to and if your locks look stronger than the other guys your battle is half way done.

if your bike is truly targeted it doesn't realy matter what locks you have it will go. Just make sure your locks are good enough to satisfy your insurance and go ride.
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Old 11-09-13 | 11:02 AM
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I Like Abus Hardened Chain locks . they have a cover like a nylon hose.

Or look for something really heavy , lock stays on the rack ..

tell campus security , and agree on a code* label,

so if they want you to move the lock they will call and ask you rather than just grind it off.

*Code rather than actual personal info.


I moved away from a college Or hip Bike town , theft potential reduced as a result.

Last edited by fietsbob; 11-09-13 at 11:54 AM.
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Old 11-09-13 | 11:10 AM
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i looked at that lock and went with this instead:

https://www.amazon.de/Kryptonite-B%C3...rds=kryptonite

because the Gesamtverbandes der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft rated it a GdS Klasse A+

good value for money
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Old 11-09-13 | 11:19 AM
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Originally Posted by alex jb

if your bike is truly targeted it doesn't realy matter what locks you have it will go. Just make sure your locks are good enough to satisfy your insurance and go ride.
Ain't that the truth.
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Old 11-09-13 | 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted by roashru
the strongman is not that bad but that cables core is only 5mm.
That is why the cable is only a back-up. That is why I am also considering a third locking option, too. I'm just not sure which.
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Old 11-09-13 | 12:36 PM
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Originally Posted by fietsbob
I Like Abus Hardened Chain locks . they have a cover like a nylon hose.

Or look for something really heavy , lock stays on the rack ..

tell campus security , and agree on a code* label,

so if they want you to move the lock they will call and ask you rather than just grind it off.

*Code rather than actual personal info.


I moved away from a college Or hip Bike town , theft potential reduced as a result.
I live in a college town, but I go to another university in a different city, and with the high crime rate the city that my school is in has (not that where I live doesnt have crime everywhere does of course) is why I choose to live in a different city (one I love) and commute via my car back and forth. Sound strange, yes, but it works for me (plus my family - Mom particularly - won't "allow" me to commute ... LOL).

Right now, I have no true need (hopefully I'm not jinxing myself by saying that) or means to transport or leave a chain lock for commuting, as most of my stuff is back and forth and not staying in one place for a viable amount of time to leave a chain overnight.

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Old 11-09-13 | 02:46 PM
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Most of my destinations are cafe's with lots of windows and people sitting there so theft is somewhat unlikely and for ease I simply use my ring lock, similar to this:


If I need more I'll take along an Abus Bordo which I think is considerably more secure than any cable or chain and stores easily.
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Old 11-09-13 | 05:54 PM
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Originally Posted by LiteraryChic
That is why the cable is only a back-up. That is why I am also considering a third locking option, too. I'm just not sure which.
better to use 10mm or thicker core cable locks for 2nd main, and remember cable locks are only a deterrent only good for temporarily locking up in front of a convenience store or coffee shop. smaller cable locks are for something less valuable like a saddle.
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Old 11-09-13 | 06:44 PM
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Locks that are defeated in less than 5 seconds are useless even if you park your bicycle in front of the coffee shop. 5 seconds most of the time is less than the time it takes to turn your head away to buy your coffee or even reach your bike after you've noticed the thief. It is playing with fire.
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Old 11-09-13 | 06:50 PM
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Originally Posted by CrankyOne
Most of my destinations are cafe's with lots of windows and people sitting there so theft is somewhat unlikely and for ease I simply use my ring lock, similar to this:


If I need more I'll take along an Abus Bordo which I think is considerably more secure than any cable or chain and stores easily.
like most of the non-US people ... this is very standard on bikes over here
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Old 11-09-13 | 07:01 PM
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One can trap the end loop of a cable in the ring lock, to attach the bike to something solid.

Blue and yellow.. a good color scheme for Stockholm.
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Old 11-10-13 | 08:11 AM
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Originally Posted by CrankyOne
If I need more I'll take along an Abus Bordo which I think is considerably more secure than any cable or chain and stores easily.
Yeah, um, you'll want to look some ratings up, because they tell a different story (depending on Bordo model, of course).
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Old 11-10-13 | 07:13 PM
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Originally Posted by chaadster
Yeah, um, you'll want to look some ratings up, because they tell a different story (depending on Bordo model, of course).
I think the original Bordo had less strong rivets, but reviews I'd seen of the newer ones seem equal or better than U locks. None are perfect but the Bordo has the advantage of taking longer for typical tools that a thief is likely to have like angle grinders or crowbars and combined with the ring lock on the rear wheel make my bike less inviting. Kind of like the old story of not needing to outrun a bear, but only run faster than the other guy, I'd mostly just like to make mine less inviting than other options. That's about all anyone can do.
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Old 11-10-13 | 08:18 PM
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Originally Posted by CrankyOne
Most of my destinations are cafe's with lots of windows and people sitting there so theft is somewhat unlikely and for ease I simply use my ring lock, similar to this:


If I need more I'll take along an Abus Bordo which I think is considerably more secure than any cable or chain and stores easily.
Pretty bike!
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Old 11-10-13 | 08:20 PM
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Originally Posted by erig007
Locks that are defeated in less than 5 seconds are useless even if you park your bicycle in front of the coffee shop. 5 seconds most of the time is less than the time it takes to turn your head away to buy your coffee or even reach your bike after you've noticed the thief. It is playing with fire.
+1 That is why I have the Strongman coming this week.
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Old 11-10-13 | 08:23 PM
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Got this off of Knog's website. For some reason, I thought the steel was a higher grade/rating.

Cable Diameter: Party Frank: Cable Diameter 12mm, Steel Cable Diameter 5mm.

Any suggestions for secondary lock? Not a huge fan of running a cable from the front to the rear with the lock. Too odd to lug around.

Thoughts? Thanks!
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Old 11-10-13 | 09:05 PM
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Originally Posted by LiteraryChic
Any suggestions for secondary lock?

Not a huge fan of running a cable from the front to the rear with the lock. That would be my first choice.

Too odd to lug around. So??
It's said to be best if you have two completely different types of locks, like u-lock and cable. A thief would have to carry different tools to get around each. And.....a good cable lock will go around the odd thing that a u-lock won't. I don't eat fast crap but Cheryl likes Wendy's junk. The only thing there to lock to is their gas meter. Cable works. U-lock--several feet short.

This guy gets it right...........locks--not his hair.

Video 1 of 3.

There's 2 more + a few more.

For the biggest part, I go by the what he shows.

I think the best thing you have done is get a Knog. It is so different that I bank on crackheads moving to the next bike instead of figuring out how to defeat it. They are, by nature, too lazy to think.
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Old 11-10-13 | 09:07 PM
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Saw this on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0019R...074?pc_redir=C). Sorry I'm on my iPhone, and can't make it an actual link. Then, I saw this one (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000P6...110_SY165_QL70).

Thoughts on either one as a secondary?
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Old 11-10-13 | 09:46 PM
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The Master lock could loop itself around something a u-lock won't reach, thread through the front wheel and lock to the Knog on the back wheel/frame. My smaller Knog won't reach around the frame and rear wheel, I just thread the cable through front wheel, big frame triangle then to Knog around rear wheel.

I would forget the first "cuff" lock that you linked to.

At some point, anything you get is better than nothing yet not good enough. You can only stop the idiots......a pro will get your bike no matter how you lock it with however many expensive as you care to get locks.

You can only use "security level" indications on lock mfg. sites, cost, weight, trouble and theft rate where you leave your bike to determine what it would take to make you a bit more confident your pride is secure.
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Old 11-10-13 | 09:46 PM
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not good to use master lock in a high risk area. i use onguard brute series u-locks and chains they can be found low priced sometimes. kryptonite fahgettaboudit series are always expensive. then i have a 6 foot 10mm cable lock with a cast padlock for the front wheel or used primarily in good neighborhoods.
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Old 11-10-13 | 09:55 PM
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Originally Posted by gregjones
It's said to be best if you have two completely different types of locks, like u-lock and cable. A thief would have to carry different tools to get around each.
I keep hearing cyclists make this claim: you can't cut a cable with the tool you use to cut a u-lock. This claim seems suspect.
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Old 11-10-13 | 10:01 PM
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Originally Posted by gregjones
The Master lock could loop itself around something a u-lock won't reach, thread through the front wheel and lock to the Knog on the back wheel/frame.
Defeat the u-lock (Knog) and the cable locked by it (Master Quantum) becomes moot.
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Old 11-11-13 | 06:46 AM
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Originally Posted by CrankyOne
I think the original Bordo had less strong rivets, but reviews I'd seen of the newer ones seem equal or better than U locks. None are perfect but the Bordo has the advantage of taking longer for typical tools that a thief is likely to have like angle grinders or crowbars and combined with the ring lock on the rear wheel make my bike less inviting. Kind of like the old story of not needing to outrun a bear, but only run faster than the other guy, I'd mostly just like to make mine less inviting than other options. That's about all anyone can do.
Well, before you said you thought the Bordo was "considerably more secure than any cable or chain," and now you're saying Ulock...really, you need to look up some certification agency ratings. For example, even the best Bordo, the 6500 Granit Xplus, garners only 2 Stars from Stichting Art, while the Kyponite NY Legend chain takes 5 Stars and the Knog Strongman U Lock 3 Stars.

Of course that's not to say the Bordo is insufficient, and I certainly get the appeal of the design, but to say Bordo is considerably more secure than any chain and equal or better than U locks is simply the wrong way to phrase, and look at, things.
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