Rick LV

Anyone know of any good but lightweight U-locks. The few I have seen are pretty heavy and I would prefer to keep the extra weight off the bike.

Goatbiker

Rick LV,

Bicycling Mag has an archive artical about how many seconds it took their Pro Bike Thief to break a whole bunch of locks. The Kryptonite New York locks (chain and U) were the only ones that couldn't be broken with the portable tools carried by thieves.

Tom Balmer

Rick LV

Any information on where I can find this brand lock?

Crazy Cyclist

Rick LV, you can find more information on their website at www.kryptonitelock.com I hope this helps

Joe Gardner

I own one of the early models of the Kryptonite New York U-Locks, all 7lbs of it. When commuting by bike to school, i would leave the lock on the bike rack year round. I will do the same once i start commuting to work later this summer. I never take my lock on my daily road rides, or when mtn biking.

Guest

I've been salivating over that new kryptonite lock since I saw it in my performance bike catalog. I'm about to order the New York Kryptonite lock myself. I'm just paranoid that someone will steal my bike while I'm travelling, and I will get really really really mad.... so for the good of international diplomatic relations, I will make sure I have one before I leave town!


Koffee

Brains

The words 'Good' and 'lightweight' do not go together with locks - all of the good ones weigh in at 1.5 kg + (or over 4 pounds for the Americans)

Cycle Plus magazine did a profile last November of the top 20 locks available, the New York Kryptonite was in the top 3, along with a couple others that could not be got through by professional theives in under 5 mins, some of the cheap lightweight ones only took 4 seconds !

At the end of the day, expect to spend about 10% of the cost of your bike on a lock or two

Guest

Well....

I actually had a u-lock that I bought at my bike store, but after reading the first thread about the New York Kryptonite U-Lock, I reconsidered. I got the NY U-Lock.

The way I figure it, I spent about $55 bucks on the ulock, which was 10% of the cost of my bike. But the fact that I feel that I have much more protection for my bike while I'm travelling, and I will have my mind at ease knowing it will be less likely to get stolen while I'm on my trip. I mean, that's my main mode of transportation, and I will just be really upset if I didn't do everything I could to protect it.

I decided against the kryptonite chain. It was 9 pounds, and it was just too much weight. In contrast, the NY U-Lock is 2.9 lbs. So the u-lock will have to do.

Hmmm.... top three? What number was the u-lock? And what were the top 3 u-locks anyway? I'm curious.....


Koffee

LittleBigMan

I use Kryptonite 2000, one step below the U-lock, and a Kryptonite cable which protects my front wheel.

But strategy is more powerful than any lock. I bring the bike inside and use the U-lock/cable combo for quick stops at the store. Thieves are looking for something quick and easy, if possible.

1) Parking your bike outside in the same spot everyday is like asking someone, "hit me." Be unpredictable.

2) Park where eyes will help you. Onlooking people are a good deterrent, especially security guards (even if they are asleep.)

3) If you park outside, minimize risk. Use both a full cable lock and a U-lock. The tools used to break each kind of lock are different, so a thief must carry both kinds to steal yours. This is not very likely.

4) Be less stealable than the next guy. The old joke goes this way:

Two guys went camping. At bedtime one laced up his running shoes. His partner asked him what he was doing that for, and he said, "Bears." But you can't outrun a bear, said his partner.

"I don't have to outrun the bear. I only have to outrun you."

5) Park inside.

Oh! I remember a version of the Kryptonite U-lock (2000?) which is much smaller. This is both lighter and harder to break, since it is a small "U" with no room to jack or pry it.

Guest

Well....

While I bought the NY Kryptonite U-Lock, I also bought some bear mace. So, while I would be the guy still asleep in my tent, at least I would have the bear mace to get that big 'ole bear! Then I'd get that bear real good and take him over to the taxidermist and have a big laugh....

Having said that, it's my plan to take my bike inside as much as possible. However, I know I won't be able to do it all the time. BUT... I will keep the second u lock and the kryptonite bike chain I bought and just double up on the security. Let's hope that prevents me from having problems.

I will take your list of what not to do when I am travelling. Thanks LittleBigMan!

Koffee

LittleBigMan

Koffee, check out Sheldon Brown's website, lots of great stuff (and laughs. )

www.sheldonbrown.com

hyperdrive

Hi Rick,

As of yesterday, Performance had the Kryptonite New York chain for $59.99. I picked up one for myself, and a second for the better-half. Even if it isn't *all* it's cracked up to be, it's named after a very cool place.

Brains

I've dug out the magazine, it's the December isse of Cycle Plus.

They tested 20 bike locks, both D locks and cables, the ones listed below were all tested and found to be good for at least 5 mins secruity and then tested for a further 5 mins - all were unbroken (having said which not all the locks could be used again)

Only one cable lock made it into the top 6, and they did not include the Kyriptonite New York Chain as it was felt to heavy for normal transportation.

The positions are as follows

10 points
Axa Secu City Plus
£30.00
1.52 Kg

10 points
Halfords HTS 320MM
£34.99
1.64 kg

9 points
Kryptonite New York 3000
£69.95
1.65 kg

9 Points
Squire Paramount Plus
£54.99
2.02 kg

9 points
Abus Granite X-Plus
£59.99
1.46 kg

8 Points
Abus Granit cable (1 meter)
£49.99
1.82 kg

For those in the USA 1 kg is 2.2 pounds, and £50 is US $75

Guest

Brains-

Thanks for the info... I'm gonna take a look at those chains now.

Aaaaaaaah...




Koffee