MAK

I know that this has been discussed, but many of the responses were mere opinions based on lack of actual experience. Furthermore, I searched and nothing seems to have been posted in the last six months. There are a few You Tube videos that are critical although there are many more that are positive. It's designed for brief water stops or bathroom stops and not for long term security so it seems to be just what I'm looking for.

I'd like to hear, good or bad, reviews/responses from actual owners.

igorek

When I searched Otto Lock on YouTube I stumbled on this very interesting video...


Priceless

MAK

And which lock will protect against that??? Like I asked...how about comments from actual users? It's obvious that a u- lock is more secure, but road riders aren't going to carry a 3-4 pound lock.

diphthong

avole

You can save money by buying a cheap lock, the otto lock provides nothing the others do not, except for a price premium. I do carry a heavy lock on my every day road bike, by the way, but not the one I use for exercise. That sits in a locked room and returns there after the ride. I have had two locked bikes stolen, one of which was only out of eye contact for the time it took to buy some water. Your best bet, frankly, is not the lock, which you should definitely use, but insurance.

hillyman

Not sure what your wanting here. Either your bike has been stolen or not using Ottolock. Same with any lock if the thief brings right tools or methods. So far so good with my Ottolock. But I only use for short trips into stores or restaurants. No way overnight anywhere except bike camping . I like the lock within its limits.

jpescatore

Been using a medium Ottolock for 4 months now. It works as advertised - no one has stolen my bike from rest/lunch stops, it is easy to carry, fairly light, etc.

I've found that on rides where I only carry 1 water bottle, I can store the lock on the seat tube, coiled inside the unused water bottle. Have to be a bit careful to make sure the rubber strap is pulled tight so the lock doesn't uncoil.

I've used it on rides with other folks - the medium is long enough to lock 2 bikes, a bit short for 3 bikes.

The negatives: lining up the numbers, pushing the release pin and pulling the strap out of the ratchet isn't always easy. Locking multiple bikes together can mean the release pin and numbers are in an awkward spot, and getting to them can cause your hand to move the numbers and now the lock won't open. When riding alone, hasn't been a problem.

Is it worth the cost? I actually haven't had a bike stolen since I was 10 years old and I have left many bikes unlocked many times. So, theoretically spending any money on a lock isn't worth it, because no one is trying to steal my bikes.

Now, most of those bikes weren't worth stealing but for the past 20 years I have ridden a fairly expensive Trek 520 and usually locked it up with a substantial and cheap cable key lock that I carried in a rack trunk or in the panniers on tours. For the past 18 months a Domane SL6 disc that is a more tempting target for thieves, and I only have a small saddle bag that isn't big enough to carry any kind of lock. The added cost of the Ottolock got me the versatility to carry it easily in multiple ways on the bike (I don't wear cycling jerseys or carry anything on my back) - I am a happy customer.

fidodido

I agree with the above. I bought my Ottolock on Kickstarter thinking it would be very handy to to use a combination lock so I don't need to carry a key around. But much to my surprise, I take more time opening and locking the combination lock than using a lock with a key. Lining up the numbers is a real pain and hard to do when there's not enough light. You need to line it up for both locking and unlocking. The release pin is a bit stiff as well. Much simpler, easier and quicker to open and close with a key. I haven't used other combination locks before so I'm not sure if these issues are the same but I don't enjoy using Ottolocks at all.

veganbikes

What are you looking for? Cheap weak locks are all the same no matter what color or shape they are. Figure out if you have a lot of bike theft in your area and get a lock that suits those levels. Bike shops tend to know a great deal about that because we deal with a lot of that from people needing better locks to new bikes to mentioning about their stolen bikes.

I don't need to have used the ottolock or some other forms of cable and light duty locks to know they are not very strong and really to stop the total opportunistic thief who has zero tools on them and that is about it. If you are looking for something on road rides I recommend a friend or more so that way you can stop and grab water or potty and they can watch the bike and you can all switch. Also I have found a lot of places are quite accommodating if you don't have a lock and you can just bring it in.

Milton Keynes

I love how nobody even questions him grinding through a lock or even takes a second look.

124Spider

Exactly!

transitguy

Last month I used a newer Ottolock on a tour from Albany NY to Buffalo NY and then from Chicago to La Crosse, WI (Amtrak between Buffalo and Chicago). I camped often along the Erie Canal Trail and throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, and the lock worked quite well. It survived a couple of overnight downpours while my bike was locked to either a tree or a picnic table and I never had any issues opening it in the morning, which had been my chief concern. It was lighter than my old cable lock and, at least for touring, it seems to be a very good choice.
Transitguy
Coon Rapids, MN