My University Bike Lock Design - Youtube Video

Hey folks, I've recently finished my final year BSc Product Design university project, designing a bike lock, and have put it together in a little video.

Any feedback good or bad would be great.

The HENCH Bicycle Lock - YouTube

Thanks!

That's pretty neat.

Nothing stopping you making a cloth case for existing locks that enables pretty much the same top tube carry mechanism. Though you'd have to pad it a bit to protect the paint from chipping, etc.

The sacrificial material to jam up tools is a good idea, but you might want to run some metal wire through the sheath. Otherwise you could just take a stanley knife/scissors to the sheath and then hacksaw/croppers/anglegrinder/bottlejack/scaffold pole to the chain. Also, if you used that exact setup the padlock is probably pretty breakable.

I like the idea of being able to wrap it round the frame tubes though. I do something similar with my chain.

Single speed with no back brake.

they use that material for lumberjack jackets
clogs up a chainsaw before they can get to deep into your flesh
great idea

they use that material for lumberjack jackets
clogs up a chainsaw before they can get to deep into your flesh
great idea

Yeah, it is a good idea. But what do they use to cut it to size when they're making the jackets?

Thanks folks

Yeah, it is a good idea. But what do they use to cut it to size when they're making the jackets?

You can cut it with a blade, however it means you need to use several different tools to break the lock, and even then it's pretty hard!

Yeah, it is a good idea. But what do they use to cut it to size when they're making the jackets?

Garden sheers or similar sheer type industrial scissor things.

Impressive still, if you made a cover to fit around a mini D lock it would be cool. The D lock alone can't be easily bolt cuttered and something that withstands a grinder or just ruins grinder blades to make it that much harder I'm all for.

Thanks folks
You can cut it with a blade, however it means you need to use several different tools to break the lock, and even then it's pretty hard!

Making a thief need several tools is definitely a good thing. If the two tools required were an angle grinder and a huge boltcutter then that would be great, but what you seem to have is some fabric that can be cut with a blade or scissors (not exactly hard to find) and a chain that can be cut moderately sized cutter (there's a reason chains of that size aren't recommended on the Locks that Work thread). Unless you've invented a new alloy that (8mm?) chain could well be cut with croppers.

Probably a big guillotine.

Gah - too slow. Great idea though. I agree that custom wraps/covers for existing locks would be a good idea.

I wanted to integrate the locking mechanism into the lock itself, making it faster and easier to lock up. However I didn't have the facilities to create something like that at university, so I went for the padlock for now, as I'd rather have a working prototype as I do now, rather than a good idea but nothing to show for it. So at the moment, the padlock is indeed the weak point.

I'd avoid letting the ASA or hse see that video...

I'd avoid letting the ASA or hse see that video...

Why?

The asa recently got arsey about depicting cyclists without helmets. let alone one brake ss and pavement riding! and destruction tests with power tools and no gloves?
Other than that I liked the idea, locks only buy you time in my opinion and or make the thief take the bike next to yours with a worse lock...

This looks like a cost effective way of doing both.

nice work mate, there's no unbeatable bike lock but it's commendable that you're trying to make it, and you clearly have made something very difficult to get through. anything that makes a thieves job harder is close to make it not worth his time.

The idea of combining different materials with different characteristics is really nice. A D-Lock Cover made from that material could sell quite well on here ;). Imagine your Fahg wrapped in this stuff...

I'd avoid letting the ASA or hse see that video...

I agree.

They shouldn't have got Mr. Puniverse to handle the big bolt cutters. The poor bugger looks like he's about to have a hernia!

Keep it to less than a minute, as I lost interest by then.

Seriously, I hope it works for you. Seems neat that the potential thief needs several tools to get through it. ;-)

+1 for a D-lock cover made of that stuff

I agree.

They shouldn't have got Mr. Puniverse to handle the big bolt cutters. The poor bugger looks like he's about to have a hernia!

Keep it to less than a minute, as I lost interest by then.

Seriously, I hope it works for you. Seems neat that the potential thief needs several tools to get through it. ;-)

Haha "Mr Puniverse"?

I am 6'5" and 13 stone, I'm stronger than most short-arses.

But thanks for your words of encouragement lol

Smart...

Would buy one of these covers on my Kryptonite Dlock, which I use daily...

Im a shortarse 5ft3 11stone 44inch chest.. me and a set of 36" or 48" croppers would go through that ,great idea about putting it on the top tube though.chunkier chain like 10 or 12 mm would be better

But there are actually 2 chains in there, which is how it gets its flat shape. So it's 2 cuts with the bolt cutters. And they're small enough chains that you either have to cut both sides of a link at the same time, needing more force, or else only cut one side of the link, moving the cutting point to the very edge of the blade, and again, needing more force.

This all adds to the time and difficulty of getting through it. And the best lock is deterrence.

+1 for a D-lock cover made of that stuff

This! If you got the dimensions right you could even sell it as an aftermarket cover.

Which I would most certainly buy!

Ahh but with a d lock cover, how could you attach it?

If it slides on, what's to stop the thief just sliding it up and attacking the metal underneath?