I've been having a look for a small and light lock something along the lines of the ski lock type ones
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jobsworth-R.../dp/B079QKKV8R

But virtually all of them gets iffy reviews with lots saying it won't work after they change the combination .... does anyone know if any of the manufacturers make a decent one or any other suggestions for small, light and easy to store locks.

It's for places like if we go for a beer our bikes are within sight from where we sit so just something half decent to stop the opportunist nabbing them.

Walmart has these. The coil is small enough to fit in my small-size seat bag. About $6.00

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bell-Spor...lack/115208574

That's virtually identical to one that I have, it came with a mount that goes on the seat post but it's always getting knocked in between your legs and moving to a position that it's a PITA.

My alternative is to get a bigger 1.5 ltr saddle bag and put it in there where it's out of the way.

I like the ABUS Bordo locks, a lot of them come with cases that can easily mount to any bike either with the provided straps or on the bottle cage bosses. Plus they will offer more security than the cheaper cables that frequently fail.

This looks interesting but no reviews -
https://www.amazon.com/Mefashion-Por...dp/B07JH3LHN2/


What I've used in the past with my "to expensive never leaves my sight" bike is a cable and tiny combination padlock. It only protects against "casually walk off with it" kind of theft but with the bike that I wouldn't let out of my sight in public it's enough.

Here's something similar on amazon thought he lock is a little big:
https://www.amazon.com/d/Luggage-Loc...ty/B01JQGLMGE/


Here's just the 4 foot cable, you could buy a tiny combination padlock from target (what I did):
https://www.amazon.com/Luggage-Light...dp/B071P44GLR/


A bit bigger there's also the folding metal locks much better for leaving your bike out of sight for a few minutes (depending on location):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KLWQIIK/


I never leave my commute back locked with anything short of a ulock. Any cable small than the ulock is very easily cut in a few seconds with a tool the size of scissors, so I only find them suitable for preventing the most casual "punk kid see unlocked bike and grabs it for fun" kind of theft.

My saddle bag has a wraparound strap, so this type of coil lock can hang underneath the bag, through the strap.

The thin ski lock cables are almost invisible. I wonder if they can be broken just by a hard yank with two hands on the bike frame? The coil ones at least look like a lock.

These small locks are all just for "ride off" bike thieves. A thief with a diagonal cutter can cut through these.

Cables
And the right tools can cut any cable, quickly and quietly. With pocket sized tools.

The "lock picking lawyer" on youtube

diagonal cutters

ottolock in two seconds! I LOL'd.

Litelok, but it needed 18 inch long cable cutters, leveraged against the floor.


A ratcheting cable cutter! Cut 4 loops at once.
Just 30 seconds from attaching the cutter.


Other tools
Folding locks: a small nut splitter tool and a rachet wrench.
U locks: a hand held hydraulic rebar cutter! (but it couldn't cut the expensive and heavy strongest U locks.)
padlocks: a Ramset concrete nail gun! Just one bang noise. but you need to know exactly where to aim it for each different padlock.

[MENTION=131376]PaulRivers[/MENTION]
The top one you linked to looks the same as this Ribble one, there are quite a few reviews and quite mixed, the one at the bottom of page 4 which says he broke it open with his hands was the one that caused me the most concern .... shame as the size is perfect
https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-cafe-lock-r-cl10/

I'd seriously been considering one of the folding ones you linked to like the Meet Locks but was wondering if they'd be fiddly to attach and wrap round posts etc and unless you got a sizeable one wouldn't get it round a couple of bikes.

The one I think I like most is just the cable and I think I've got a fairly sturdy combination lock in the garage ... if I can remember the code

If anyone generally has any feedback on what the folding ones are like and how easily they wrap around things like say a 4 x 4 timber and if they'll also go round another bike relatively easily as well?

My bike came with a frame lock, and I really like it! Mine is Abus 5650, as an added bonus you can buy an adaptor chain that plugs into the side of that lock for added security when you need it.

Abus folding lock. Even the lighter weight, less secure version is 600 grams. These really need to be carried on their frame mount.

Yea raining on your parade , any bike lock can be defeated
by someone willing to buy the right tools to defeat it,
fortunately none of the meth addicts around here do that.. planning ahead..



...

My lightweight lock for lightweight protection is Ottolock, the 2s with snippers above. Maybe I should switch to Litelok, but then I do not want to spend more on the lock than the bike I am securing..

+1 for the Otto Lock. Small, light and supposed to be tougher than a cable lock. A bit pricey however. It's designed for exactly what you'll be using it for; short time stops rather than extended unattended periods. I'm happy with mine.

This.

I have one just to prevent the opportunistic thief from jumping on may bike and riding away (this actually happened to me). Just make sure its within sight and "get to" distance.

I have one substantially similar to the one you linked from amazon. But I think it's a master lock. Maybe made for skis. It just keeps honest people hones. I don't think you could cut it with a scissors, but you probably could with a pair of gardening shears.

I have a similar one and recently figured out that I can just wrap it around my saddle bag. However, it doesn't inspire confidence. For quick stops, to prevent opportunistic grab&gos, it'll probably work. Otherwise, those folding locks are what I've seen being used.

Litelok was defeated in 17 seconds with a simple torsion attack, what appears to be a pair of tire irons or bars, one to stabilize the loop to prevent damaging the bike while the other twists it apart.

Ottolock was easily defeated twice by the Lock Picking Lawyer, first by popping the lock apart like a zip tie closure, then by cutting it in 2 seconds.

Nothing wrong with cafe locks to minimize snatches by passing thieves. But for $50-$150 a lightweight lock should take more effort or more obvious tools. Might as well stick with lightweight chains or medium weight cables at a fraction of the price. Probably just as secure from a casual attack using small snips. I wouldn't expect to see a thief carry a full length cutting tool around the cafes and places we stop where patrons are in full view of the bike parking only a few feet away. But that also depends on a city culture where people are more likely to get involved or report suspicious activity rather than dismissing it somebody else's problem.

I finally got a couple of U-locks for my errand bikes to secure at the grocery store, hospital bike parking, etc., where they have security guards patrolling the parking lots to discourage thefts. The U-locks are heavy but actually quicker and easier to lock up and unlock than the heavy duty cable and disc lock I used for a few years. I wouldn't depend on them overnight or anywhere there isn't a security guard around to semi-discourage theft.

Was it one of these
https://www.masterlock.com/personal-use/product/4605D

What did you think of it, was the lock itself OK / no problems with the numbers???

I wonder what thickness the cable would need to be before it becomes just that bit more effective, most of these the cable itself is about 2 / 2.5mm and then the plastic coating on top, I wonder if going from 2mm to 4mm would make any difference, I've found a place that offers the cable in various lengths and widths with loops on the end on it's own and wonder if that combined with a decent quality padlock may be a better option.

How secure are folding locks compared to u-locks? Interested in the meet locks listed above.

That looks like it. Except mine is a ten year older version. It works great. No problems at all.
But I only use it on longer rides, when I know I'm going to likely have to leave my bike unattended, for just a few minutes, like running into a 7\11 or a restaurant or a rest room, etc.

I have not seen popping of the closure like for a zip tie. I tried it myself but with no success.

If the lock stays always on the bike, making it irrelevant whether it is bulky and heavy, sure I use a sturdy chain or U-lock. However, the Ottolock weights practically nothing, so has advantage when you need to actually carry the lock, on a loan bike, travel, when you I take a lock along just in case etc.

I got the one with the key and it has served me well for running into stores for shopping. Bike thefts in my area are low during daylight hours so I'm not really worried since they are the ones unlocked, leaning against a wall outside a coffee shop or bar.

I couldn't find anything that was a step up from a cable lock, but not huge, heavy, and expensive. So I've gone back to what I had as a kid: A small padlock, some chain sold by the foot at the hardware store, covered with a length of innertube. What I figure is that nothing will defeat a determined thief, but my chain would be hard to crack with a basic wirecutters. I always prefer a combination, because I'm afraid of losing my keys and having to make the Call of Shame.

I live in a pretty tame neighborhood.

What does this setup weigh? Is it anywhere near a pound? Yours sounds cheap and is probably effective, but I'm considering the meet locks listed above which is only 1.25 lbs and just $25.

I'm pretty sure a sharp yank would destroy that.

I think the weakest part of a lot of cheap cable locks isn't the cable, but rather the lock body. This turned out to be the case with the first and last cable lock I bought, dirt cheap at the hardware store. Bought it, took it home, read the instructions, changed the combination and went on. The first time I used it I came out of the store and it wouldn't open, and I was pretty sure I hadn't forgotten the combination. Kept trying for a while, then I got really angry at it, gripped it in my fists and bent it, and *crunch*--it broke. I was astonished until I looked at the broken parts and saw it was made of cast pot-metal.