irwin7638

I am writing a review of a new Abus Lock for my blog, but was wondering how many people are using Abus or Axa ring locks and where did you get them. I only know of two places online VO and Clever cycles, now a local LBS in Kalamazoo, Zoo City Cycles is carrying them,
Personally, I use them on three of my bikes and have found that is all I need 80% of the time.

Marc

surlycue

I have never purchased one after market but a front ring lock came standard on my Madsen and a rear one on my Batavus. I live in the city of Chicago so I always carry a Kryptonite u-lock or Abus 6500 lock with me in addition to a long cable lock to tether everything together. It might be over kill but if a thief has to choose between a bike with a single cheap lock and mine with three on it I have a feeling that mine would still be waiting for me when I come back to it.

I have solely used the ring lock on the big bucket bike when I'm at the beach or farmer's market where the bike is still in my field of view. It's not easy to lift an 80lb bike with a locked wheel over ones head to cart off with it after all.

irwin7638

I agree, the ring locks are great for short stops when the bike is in view, and they provide a great secondary lock. I like the idea of having a second lock if I'm carrying a cable or chain, plugging into the AXA defender with the optional chain just provides visual deterrent, no real extra security.

2_i 

In Japan every in practice city bike offered commercially will be equipped with a ring lock, just as the fenders, basket and a block dynamo.

Nightshade

Ring locks are can be bought here.........

https://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...ring-lock.html

Gareth

ring locks can be eaisly picked: See here

However, I do like the concept of this ring locking device; See here

tatfiend 

Gareth;

In the US I have never read of a bicycle lock actually being picked. Maybe we have less talented bike thieves than in GB. The common techniques here rely on bad locks and brute force tools for lock removal. BTW the high end Abus and Axa ring locks use proprietary design lock cylinders and keys which appear to be designed for picking resistance.

Gareth

Bike theft is big business here in the UK. The thieves go armed with cordless angle grinders and 30 inch long bolt croppers. On the cycle chat forums the Abus locks are coming under a fair bit of flak.


Ironically, I have the contract for clearing the abandoned bikes from the North Norwich community areas. These I have to log with the Police, and then I have to store them for 30 days before they are signed over to me. 2/3rds of the bikes are knackered BSO's that have been dumped rather than disposed of, 1/3rd of them are obviously stolen .... with one particular place being a Saturday night favourite of one thief; and always decent or classic bikes. Over the last 3 months I have recovered from that one spot: Landrover Visalia xover (now on my fleet), 70's Raleigh Rapid, Claud Butler Pagan D2, 2 X Mongoose MTB, Falcon Nomad (now on my fleet), Fuji MTB (now my Polo bike), A trek MTB, Bromptom folder, a really good BMX, a Kentex trike, a 1960's ladies Raleigh Carmen, and today: the Mans version of the Carman, a 1960's Raleigh Courier. It is almost heartbreaking for me knowing that someone has had their bike stolen, recovered, and then disposed of by me. However, the BSO's are taken to the Pimp my Ride teenager & special needs charity project here in Norwich, some of the ride-ables go next door to the ex-offenders Community Service Project and the rest I use to fulfil my wants and needs, or I sell on to cover my costs.

wahoonc

That is near the bottom of the line ring lock. The AXA Defender uses a much different style of key way and I don't think it could be picked that easily. FWIW the key on mine closely resembles the current key being used by Volkswagen.

As pointed out, here in the US it is usually brute force used to break the locks.

Aaron