Frame lock. Is it a valid option?
 

I think that my bike would fit in this category. It's something between a mountain bike and a city bike. Not so sporty as a mountain bike, not so heavy as a city bike.

So far I have been using it to get from one safe place to another. But I want to take the big leap and try to do my shopping for example using it. I gathered that two locks: one forward and one behind could be a good solution. I ordered a Ulock because I have read somewhere that a lower quality Ulock beats a higher quality chain lock both in price and effect.

I've seen the youtube videos about how fast a bike can be stolen. I've seen the ease of breaking into a circular key lock. I have settled for Abus. It can be opened, but it requires more skill and also the materials they use make the reviewers agree: they are strong.

Now my dilemma was two Ulocks? Both heavy and not so nice to carry around. Mine came with a plastic piece to fix it to the frame while riding. Some say the plastic attachment is fragile and they use velcro. That's good enough for me. But I don't see myself stacking two locks of this type on the frame. Also, my bike has no holding area. Given the weight of the locking systems I will probably never get something either in front or behind just to save some of the effort while riding.

So I was wondering what can you tell me from your experience about frame locks? In theory it looks wonderful. Easy to use: an excellent protection for turning your back. Also less heavy than the Ulock. Also cheaper. Also you fix it in one place and there it is. From what I can gather it also has a major drawback: it can lock the rear wheel with the frame and stop the wheel from turning, but it does not anchor the bike. And, to compensate for that, Abus comes up with some steel wires which seem to me like a waste of time to install and, finally, a waste of money.

What can you advise me?

I do not trust my bike to any lock. I carry a cable lock and lock my bike to something substantial when I need to take a bathroom break. I figure it will prevent a kid from jumping on it and riding away; but that's about all. It's a sad state of affairs; but I never leave my bike where I can't see it, for more than a few minutes. And it's always locked.

So nobody is using them? Weird.

Here in Japan maybe 95% of bikes use them, but we don't have the theft problems you guys have. They are basically useless because the bike can be tilted onto the front wheel and wheeled off. So many people loose there locks here and it's too common to see people wheeling their bikes home. I'd doubt anyone there in the States would blink an eyelid if they saw someone wheeling a bike down the street as they'd assume the same as us...the person lost their lock.

The only they are good for, is to stop drunks from riding your bike home because they don't have taxi money.

Get a decent lock and lock the bike to something.

But I don't live in the States. Worse: for me it's an investment. Safety and hopefully I am going to migrate the locks to the next bike when this breaks down. I asked about the frame lock as an alternative to some light wires. It's a kilogram and 30€ instead of 300grams and 12€, but it does look more impressive once you see it. The area where I live people leave the gates open over night. Probably some still don't lock the doors, I don't most of the time. Cars are left unlocked and, in the Summer, the parking lot where I practice riding the new bike had quite a few cars with side windows down so the car will not stink when the driver comes back at the end of the day. I've seen bikes left overnight with quick release for both wheels and seat and only a cheap chain and lock linking the frame to a streetlight. Why, next to my place there is a school. In front of that school there was locked a bike with a twisted front wheel and locked to a bike stand with a, I guess, 10mm wire lock with cipher. It stand there about 2 months unmoved till it started showing signs of vandalism. At the end of the Summer holliday, another two months later it was only the frame locked and I assume somebody from the school asked the frame removed because I haven't seen it since.

I also have a big mean ulock, but the frame is particularly large so I either turn it into another frame lock or just link the frame with some bike stand. Right now, my front wheel is still unlocked.

Where do you live?

Personally, I generally carry a u-lock as well as a cable to secure my wheels. That said, I never leave my bike for more than a few minutes. I also have an Abus frame lock on it. The main reason for that is that they're relatively unknown here, so prospective thieves may not be too familiar with them. I only ever use the frame lock together with a cable so I can secure the bike to a solid object though.

Obviously you live in a low crime area as I do. In that case, the frame lock is most probably all you need. I use just a cable and lock tucked away in a tool bottle which fits in my water bottle holder. I have never locked my front wheel and rarely my back depending on the situation. ie. nothing to lock to, the frame and back wheel. Something to lock to, just the frame to whatever.

This isn't my bike, but you migh t get a kick out of this 'locked' bike a few doors down from my house. I don't think the u lock is supposed to be used this way.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...2/DSC_0045.jpg

Yes, but as a matter of confort, I would like to invest more in security instead of a more expensive bike. The reason is like this: I am going to move to a smaller village which does not have more than 3 buses a day. Sure, most people seem to be trying to guard their bought goods. My purpose is to guard my ride home as I do not plan to return by foot. For turning your back to the bike the frame lock seems to me the best idea by far. For leaving the bike unattended a Ulock must be a better idea.

Although I live in an area where vandalism is more of a problem than theft, I might as well move forward and reach a large city where things are different. Now I have to sort out changing the quick release from the wheels and seat.

The bike in the picture reminds me of those safety wires found on some scooter and motorbike locks, designed to remind you the wheel is locked. Which means the area is as safe as here. I lived most of my life in a low crime metropolis, yet the opportunistic thief was everywhere. Meaning you can put a bike in a locked lobby and go upstairs for less than half an hour and turn back to discover someone from the building or who knows the door code has entered to took off with the bike. Here people amaze me. In the basement there are at least ten bikes stored, not counting mine and a few kid bikes as well. All without protection or with the locks hanging on the seat or something. The reason I don't put my locks is that I feel bad about showing distrust, yet I do have a feeling of unease each time I leave it there. Old habits die hard, right?

Very very simple and cheap to do.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=26621

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=71960

I was thinking of a more complicated thing like this one: http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...m=300586902602 and I was pondering about the ease of losing that particular bit and be stuck with the same broken seat, till I read here on Bikeforums about getting an ordinary hex bolt and nut locks and just use superglue or nailpolish with a metal sphere that goes in. Now where do I find the balls for ballbearings this size?

Sorry. The link did not work. This should be it.

Speaking of which, see https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...cycle7082A.jpg a picture in Wikipedia that shows a secured quadcycle, something more expensive than almost any bike, no matter how wonderful. I think this is dangerous as some people might take example.