v1nce, what is typical pricing for those two locks? And weights? (you have a link to an online shop that sells them?)

Pricing: See my post, it is in there, just use an on-line convertor for US or such. Weights i am not sure, but not heavy at all IMO for the strength they offer/in comparison with many other locks. Online shop, well i don't know any right now: just type in the make and model number and you find quite a few i think, though i am almost sure the Dutch (web)shops offer them a lot cheaper. Plus i don't know if US sites carry them, def. German, British and Dutch ones though.

Edit: i converted the pricing for you, if the Abus is E 34 that makes a bit under 41 US.
If you find the Axa for E 18, that is a a little under 22 US.

yup. channel locks would do it. just goes to show you how a little ignorance will put your mind at ease. and when I said I'd lock it up to the same extent I would any other bike of comparable value, well, I live in NYC, so this basically only means a quick tie up while running into a store of something. only the beater sits locked up all day, and no bike stays out overnight.

If only it was as easy as converting from one currency to another. You'll need to find a US retailer for accurate pricing.

I did the conversion in case no US retailer can be found or nobody in the US is cheap. If that is so i could perhaps sort you out Jasong and mail it to you. Not sure if the postage wouldn't eat up all the advantage/price diff. though...

You could saw the frame into with a hacksaw almost as fast as disassemblying my Ritchie.

I never leave it unwatched (except on Cycle Oregon where there are lots more expensive bikes also unlocked). When I do lock it, my lock could be cut with a pair of pliers, since I'm not going to carry a 5 lb lock on a 19 lb bike, but it is usually in my sight.

wow - this raises a devious possibility. if you had a number of s&s couplers and knew how to do the conversion (i.e. weld the couplers on), why not just cruise around with a hacksaw, cutting improperly locked bikes (i.e. those locked only by the top tube or main triangle), "converting" them and selling them? yikes. one more good reason to lock up the rear triangle.

Probably because the couplers themselves are usually worth more than all of the bikes you see locked up. And a lot of new frames are aluminum, which don't work with S&S. But I know you were joking..

actually just trying to think like a thief, so I can better anticipate potential theft targets.

Ti couplers are $600 a set, and it's not as simple as cutting tubes and whacking them in there. If you're going to think like a thief, remember: there are pro's, and there are opportunists. Huge difference.