chicagoamdream

I'm pretty sure I understand the merits of each. Just kinda interested in what you guys think.

I'm (hopefully) just a few hours away from having a set of wheels worth stealin (deep Vs, Phil double fixed rear, Surly front). Right now I just put a Krypto mini through the rear wheel within the stays, Sheldon-style, and I've got this weird skewer in front that I got at Performance that takes an allen wrench on one side and a crescent on the other to stabilize it. Fine for the crappy front wheel now, but the new one's worth the minimal effort it would take to defeat that.

So, I'm kind of down to either getting another Mini, and locking the front wheel to something as well as the back (best case) or the frame (less-good case). Or, I can get the big ol' Krypto belt-chain for about $60, which everyone says fits through the frame and both wheels. Which would you do?

hyperRevue

2 minis is a lot lighter.

absntr

I'd do two mini's over a chain anyday. I just can't deal with the weight or putting it around my waist.

I have a mini with a cable for quick stops and for long stops, I have a mini, the cable and a NY u-lock.

I am certainly paranoid about my gear.

chicagoamdream

If it keeps those wheels on your bike, it's good enough for mine.

Anyone have any experience getting a Mini keyed to another one? I know that Krypto does this, but all I've found online is "contact your retailer" or something along those lines.

ostro

I have a mini and cable. Used to just carry the mini, but its gotten worse and you cant not lock everything up. I know the cable will not stop'em but its better then no cable.

chicagoamdream

And for the record, we all think that this is a better idea than the Onguard locking skewer in the front, right?

Jamtastic

i do. who has the best price on the krypto mini's eh?

chicagoamdream

I got mine from this place, bicyclesource.us. They seemed totally crazy and disorganized, and you have to leave a message and get called back (days later) if you want any kind of customer service. But, what can I say, they've got 'em for $45.

https://bicyclesource.us/site/itemdetails.cfm?ID=2717

It's the round key in the pic, but they did send the new flat key model.

I bet I'm going to have to go through the company and pay whatever ridiculous list price it is to get them keyed alike. And that would take forever. I'll probably just flex the Chicagoland Bike Fed discount somewhere and deal with the inelegance of two keys.

gorn

https://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...ory_rn=4500826
It's the onguard mini not the kryptonite, but it's only $18

teiaperigosa

wouldn't it be relatively easy to get a hub stolen by someone just clipping all of the spokes with a bolt cutter ??

seasponge

actually you don't even need bolt cutters to do it. sidecutters or even most needle nose pliers would do it fine. this is assuming you don't have some fancy roadie rims with like 6 of those thick bladed spokes

LóFarkas

That's a wee bit paranoid

eyefloater

Paranoia (and reason) goes out the window once you see a bike get its stem peeled apart with a crowbar so the thief can make off with the handlebar setup.

- eyefloater

3niktac

I'm pretty sure that this is what spoke fluid is designed to prevent.
C

BlindRobert

does anyone know if you can buy two minis that are keyed alike?

abe1x

paranoid yeah, but I have heard stories of it happening. unconfirmed friend of a friend type stories, but stories of it happening none the less. Obviously not common, bike thieves like speed.

my own personal paranoia, developed after numerous bike thefts, has be using both a krypto chain and onguard mini. Two different manufactures if they try to pick the locks (although I've never actually heard of this happening) and two different styles of locks so they can't use the same attack. Might switch to mini + big cable, but I've actually gotten to the point where I don't even notice the chain at all, put it on and forget about it.

that and I might be the only person out there who cares about locked bike aesthetics. A mini solo obviously looks great. But two minis? that looks sort of clunky. Any ulock front to frame looks bad by me actually. Mini + cable looks good though, and chain through both wheels plus a mini is pretty elegant and about as safe as it gets.

tink20seven

i've been looking at the handcuff locks.
they seem gimmicky at first, but in fact are actually pretty sturdy.

how about a mini and the cuffs?
thats a good one two combo, neh?

adamkell

yes, I think you are.

But as long as you're stuff isn't getting jacked, +1 to you and your stuff for looking good in the process.

lemurhouse

I like to carry a small street urchin around in my oversized and stylish mess bag, and pay him to watch my bike while I'm inside having a couple of beers, or whatever. Lighter and cheaper than a chain, etc.

wangster

I've heard bad things about the cuffs, they are heavy as hell for the size and are fairly easy to break.
I use a kryto chain and a cheap cable for the front. My bike is locked outside all day long so I'm just not sure if a kryptomini would hold up. I still have to theft-proof my bolts so the rest doesn't get stolen.

sashae

On-Guard chain + American bodega lock for front wheel/frame. Old chain in an innertube for the seat. Krypto NY lock for rear wheel/frame/through the chainring.

So funny having a 17-18lb bike and more than that in devices to keep it from getting stolen.

nightfly

How are these on guard locks? What's that little switch looking thingy? Half the price of a krypto but not really where you want to cut corners.

Anyone have one of these?

absntr

OnGuard are founded from former employees of Kryptonite, or so I'm told.

Their popularity arose post-Krytonite-Bicopalypse. They're ART rated, which is a great thing, seem really sturdy, use flat keys and are a lot cheaper. Even though I use Krypto's (got all three of mine replaced), I wouldn't hesitate to pick one up at that price point.

The only thing I've heard of concern is their key weakness. A while ago, it was apparently quite easy to snap one of the keys they gave you -- and they have you FIVE.

I'm not sure if this is still a problem or not.

From talks with people though, it would seem that people still prefer Kryptonite over an OnGuard even when they have an OnGuard - the brand and name, despite the Bicopalypse, still runs deep.

monkey

I have 2 of those OnGuard mini's. I think they work fine. I lock my ride everywhere
and don't worry much about it (knocks on wood...)

brunning

if you want to be this paranoid about things, then you shouldn't be locking your bike up anywhere.

unless they can build wheels or are looking to hock high-end hubs on ebay, a stand-alone hub is not worth much to most bike thieves.

i hear of stems, bars and seatposts getting jacked, but i've never heard of someone's hub being cut out. not saying it hasn't happened, it's just not something i'd ever worry about.


cutting tensioned spokes off a wheel with a small cutter or needle nose pliers is extremely difficult (trust me!). you need big cutters with some leverage.