Mr. Tuff Dandy

I would like to make sure that my bike is secured to the maximum.

Based on what I've read so far, my plan at the moment is to get two Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit U-locks, and use them simultaneously to secure each tire and the frame.

I have read some commentary and seen some videos that recommend to use two different types of locks so that thieves have to use different tools. Most of the people giving that advice recommend a cable lock to secure the front tire.

However, using a cable lock seems utterly pointless after I watch videos like this:


Here are my first set of questions:

What differences does it make if the thieves have to use two tools (one for the cable lock and one for the U-lock), if the tool they use to defeat the cable is one that they have on-hand anyway and one that is small, simple, and fast? I'm not following the logic behind those who advocate for a cable lock as a backup to a U-lock. If that plan to use a cable lock as a backup is sensible, can you please explain why that is so? What I'm missing? How is having a cable lock any better than having no lock, except for stopping the few thieves who hunt with no cable-cutting tool?

Here are my second set of questions:

Can the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit U-locks be defeated quickly and easily like the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit chain lock is at about 7:27 in that video, when they use large bolt cutters on it?

How long could the Fahgettaboudit U-lock stand up to those same bolt cutters?

On a similar note, can the Fahgettaboudit U-lock stand up to a hacksaw, or if not, how long would it take for a hacksaw to defeat it?

Is getting two two Fahgettaboudit U-locks the best way that I can get maximum security, or does a better way exist? If a better way exists, what is it?

My final set of questions relates to seat security:

I'd prefer not to take my seat with me every time I lock my bike.

I'd also prefer not use a useless cable lock on my seat.

What is the best way how I can secure my seat?

I've read some comments that say to change some joints where the seat attaches (I'm not versed in the technical jargon that I've read, so I'm not remembering what I read properly and hence I am also not paraphrasing this idea properly) so that thieves who do not have uncommon tools cannot remove the seat. But I am not a DIY person. I would rather pay someone to service my bike than learn how to and do it myself.

What exactly should I ask my LBS to do to my seat in order to give maximum security to it? Preferably, I'd want the modification to be one that any LBS could work with, so that I don't get stuck in the event that I switch shops on later service appointments.

Cougrrcj

One has to ask - Where are you leaving the bike, and for how long? If it is going to be a 'couple of minutes' deal, I just use my 3/8" cable lock. For an 15 minutes- to an hour hour - a U-lock around frame and rear wheel that also utilizes the cable to secure the front wheel. My bikes are not out of my sight for longer than that!

Fortunately, my bikes are old enough (30-40 years old) that they're not hot items. Not flashy and usually dusty/dirty too! Not very valuable other than to me for sentimental reasons - say $250 tops for any of them. Typically a thief won't risk jail time for something worth so little money.

Seat? I've never had a problem with that (remember - it is rarely out of my sight for anything over 10 minutes) If you're that worried, use a tamper-resistant Torx bolt (looks like a round-head Carriage bolt, but has TR Torx socket) and a rounded-off nut that must be held with vice-grips or better yet a threaded seatpost.

elcruxio

You can lock the seat to the frame with bike chain wrapped inside an inner tube and tightened with zip ties. No need for a lock, just use the usual pinning method and that seat is staying there. As a secondary measure you should use an uncommon bolt in the seat tube collar, like a five star or a hexagon.

You won't get through the fahgettaboutit with a hacksaw. You need an angle grinder for that. Sadly all good thieves have angle grinders. They are noisy though so they don't want to use them if they don't have to. I doubt bolt cutters can get through tge u-lock.

Getting a cable to accompany the ulock is a lightweight solution. Two fahgettaboutits is going to weigh as much as your bike...

You need to understand that bike thieves are opportunists. They take the easy prey and move on with the well locked stuff. Of course if you take an expensive full sus carbon fatbike to town it is going to get stolen. Even if you store it inside an armoured van they will steal the van.

Best security is to have cruddy looking but functional bike for leaving and locking and a hobby bike for fun which remains inside the apartment when not in use. The crudbuster still needst to be locked really well so the opportunist thieves will move on.

CompleteStreets

For maximum security I recommend all of the following:

-Two NY Fahgettaboudit U-locks
-Locking skewers for your wheels and seat. Here's what I mean: Amazon.com : Pinhead Bicycle Locking Skewer Set, 3 Pack : Bike Wheel Skewers : Sports & Outdoors [I'm not sure these are compatible with all types of wheels, so check with your bike shop]
-Feed a bicycle chain through your seat and frame like so: How to keep your bike seat from getting stolen.
-Epoxy a ball bearing in the allen key hole that bolts the handlebars to the head tube [in one of Hal's other videos]

Watch the video below on bike theft, taken in the world's bicycle theft capitol NYC, to get a better idea of why two u-locks is a bit overkill (and to get a good laugh!). Briefly, thieves can't get much money for a wheel, and there are plenty of unlocked wheels on any street block, so it's not worth it for a thief to use bolt cutters just to get a wheel when the bike next to yours requires no tools (quick-release wheels) or a 15 mm wrench if bolted. I've never heard of someone having a wheel stolen when it's locked with a cable.

Hal Grades Your Bike Locking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTA3JsZWiec

Another key factor is locking the bike to a secure bike rack or pole. If it's a bike rack, make sure it is securely bolted into the ground. For street signs, make sure the sign is cemented into a sidewalk and does not have bolts at ankle height. If you leave a valuable bike locked to a street sign, it is possible for a thief to unbolt the signs and lift the bike 10-ft up. I recommend locking up to highly visible racks, not ones that are hidden from the public eye.

The London video you showed is a bit extreme. They're basically highlighting horror stories that, while they do happen, are not all that likely. Any bike lock can now be broken with an angle grinder. Pipe cutters can be used to cut through most bike racks. Even "maximum security" solutions are not 100% foolproof.

FWIW I've locked my bike up in Washington, DC hundreds of times over the last couple years using a mini kryptonite U-lock for the frame. For the wheels and seat I only use locking skewers. Nothing has been stolen.

Final recommendation: get home owners or renters insurance that will cover your bike if it's stolen. Ask questions about deductibles and limitations. Try to get the deductible lowered even if it means paying a bit more.

Mr. Tuff Dandy

Thanks for the great information, everyone.

That seems like a job that requires far more technical expertise than I possess, so I'd rather have it done professionally than try to do it myself. Do LBS's typically render that service? If so, what instruction do I give them so that they will understand that I want them to perform the task you have described?

I have the same question also regarding this task:

CompleteStreets

Most LBS's will be willing to lock your seat to the frame using a bicycle chain. I would show them the photo from my link above. It's basically a bicycle chain (i.e. the chain that wraps around the gears of the bike to make it move as you pedal). Tell them to cut an inner tube to encase the chain. This will prevent the chain from rusting and makes the job look less junky. The only bicycle tool required to do this installation is a chain tool aka chain breaker.

Regarding epoxying a ball bearing for the handlebars, I don't know the exact name for the "epoxy." It's something I learned from one of Hal's bike theft videos. Alternatively, you could use superglue. Check out this link for super glue recommendation: Eight Solutions to Fight Bicycle Part Theft - BikeHacks

Good luck!

MikeDVB

If I'm going to leave the bike out of sight I won't be riding my nice bike. I also ride a motorcycle and thieves around here will just pick the whole damn thing up and put it in the back of a pickup/van and it's gone.

Locks will generally be an inconvenience more than anything to a serious thief. We live in a sad world anymore.

I suppose the more sturdy locks you put on it the safer it will be in the sense that if you put enough on it you may have a big enough deterrent that another target looks better... That said - that may just attract a thief more because if you put that many locks on it - it must be valuable.

Northwestrider

IMO the best security is to use a cheap bike with your fahgetaboutit lock if your going to leave it unattended for more than a few minutes. For saddle security, don't clamp the seat post with a quick release lever, use the old fashioned bolt with nut, if you don't wish to carry your saddle with you. Again use a cheap saddle.

CompleteStreets

I think it's fair to say that NYC is one of the worst, if not THEEE worst city for bike theft. An NYC news broadcast did a bike theft "sting" in which they locked up a bike with a cable lock and waited in an unmarked cop car to try to catch bike thieves. Guess how long it took for the bike to get stolen. 16 MINUTES!!!!

WELL GUESS WHAT! Hal Ruzal, the guy in the video I posted in my first link, has been biking in NYC since at least the 1980s. HE HAS NOT HAD ANY OF HIS BIKES STOLEN! He said so in one of his videos. He does ride bikes that look somewhat crappy, but I read that his main ride is a $900 bike, and it gets him to and from his bike shop every day. I believe his commute is more than ten miles long. Scroll back up, read my advice and lock up with confidence.

Yes, you will need to spend a couple hours fiddling around online to pick the right lock and locking skewers for your bike, and yes, you will have to install those locking skewers, or pay a bike shop to install anti-theft devices for you, but after that you're set and free!!!

Go the extra mile, give yourself piece of mind and enjoy the freedom of locking your bike up just about anywhere knowing that you've done all you could to protect your bike.

Again, what I personally do is this:

-Kryptonite Evo mini u-lock locks my frame
-Locking skewers for wheels and seat
-Only lock to bike racks and street signs that are securely bolted or cemented into the ground
-Have a utility bike that isn't worth thousands of dollars. Get a quality bike for $400 to $900 and live a free life.
-I have renters insurance that covers ALL of my personal possessions (computer, TVs, bicycles). My insurance covers my bikes if they are stolen anywhere in the world. That's right, if I decide to bring my bike overseas and it is stolen, I'm covered.

I've been using this approach for over three years. I've locked my bike up over one thousand times throughout Washington, DC as well as occasions in NYC. I even kept my bike locked up outdoors every night on the sidewalk for six straight months. I used the bike every day and confidently kept it locked outside. None of my bikes have been stolen!

CompleteStreets

The old fashioned bolt with nut is not enough for a saddle. Lock the saddle to the frame using a bicycle chain. Use this approach and you can feel comfortable using a $100+ leather Brooks saddle. For those who are truly paranoid, use a locking skewer for the seat post in addition to chaining the saddle to the frame.

Do these things and you can lock a bike ANYWHERE. The chances of anything getting stolen are very, very minimal. Use only a bolt or hex nut and your seat will be gone!

WestPablo

While I agree with most everything else you've stated here, I do beg to differ with you on this single point. An angle grinder is the same thing as a hacksaw that makes 8,500 revolutions per minute. Given the proper blade and enough time, a hacksaw can laboriously hack thru a NY Fahgettaboudit U-Lock, eventually....


+1 ^ This +

Always try to lock your bike up next to a better bike, that has a stupid lock!

CompleteStreets

Earlier I mentioned locking skewers for the wheels and seat. The amazon link I provided was for pinhead locking skewers. Since you're looking for maximum security, I'm going to revise my recommendation to the Pitlock locking skewers. These are about twice as expensive, but are even higher security than the pinhead skewers. The maker of the Pitlock makes 256 unique keys. The Pitlocks are the Hercules of locking skewers.

Check it out: Pitlock locking skewers