Secondary Locks

Looking forward to the Magnum 3103 coming to market.

Has anyone been using the above for a period of time and care to comment on durability, need a back-pocket lock for short trips and this seems to fit the bill

I'm doing my best to find comparative reviews using an Evo Mini as a benchmark. It's not easy.

An Evo Mini can be broken with just a lever as best I can work out by looking at the user submitted pictures on Amazon. It is also thin enough to be bolt cropped (probably). And AFAIK, you only have to cut 1 side and then rotate it rather than cutting both sides. All in all, ***the Evo Mini is not good enough as a primary lock ***as it can be broken with hand tools.

By that standard, is there anything to show how the Futura 64 falls short? The road.cc review showed it can't be bolt cropped that easily at least... http://road.cc/content/review/34832-abus-granit-futura-mini-u-lock. Saying it was not broken in 5 minutes with "the big bolt cutters" and "with the help of a 2 ton bottle jack". If it was tough enough to resist all hand tool attacks, it would be for the "Locks that work" thread ;).

MrDuck, I am hoping that you are the designer of the Abus Futura 64 Mini, and you get a percentage for each of the sales, otherwise your extraordinary efforts seem to be somewhat in vain.

The Evo Mini is the best of the secondary locks. Other locks in its sector come close but do not surpass it. The Evo Mini isn't described anywhere on this forum (as far as I know) as a primary lock. Also, I trust the Bike Radar test of the Futura 64, because they have a set pattern for the tests, and if a lock fails at a certain stage or a certain time, the other locks tested before it and after would have had the same test, so the results are very comparable.

However, it is an 11mm thick lock, and not 13mm-14mm as the rest of the locks in this section are. The Futura 64 could only really compete with the 2 Krabus locks, and the Masterlock in the list. The others are superior mainly because the steel is thicker, and of similarly good quality.

Cheaper?!? A single QR skewer alone costs about the same as a Fahg Mini!

These locking nuts and skewers are not really an alternative, they are more of an extra. For people with lots of money, and probably a bike that's too expensive for it to be left on the streets as it is.

i reached an eventual quotation (chucking in a random spec.) of £49 for A22's Guard Dog Skewer, as featured in this graphic; have suggested to A22 that showing a price range would be a good idea as its frustrating to plough through specification just to arrive at having a rough idea of how much their solution costs..

MrDuck, I am hoping that you are the designer of the Abus Futura 64 Mini, and you get a percentage for each of the sales, otherwise your extraordinary efforts seem to be somewhat in vain.

The Evo Mini is the best of the secondary locks. Other locks in its sector come close but do not surpass it. The Evo Mini isn't described anywhere on this forum (as far as I know) as a primary lock. Also, I trust the Bike Radar test of the Futura 64, because they have a set pattern for the tests, and if a lock fails at a certain stage or a certain time, the other locks tested before it and after would have had the same test, so the results are very comparable.

However, it is an 11mm thick lock, and not 13mm-14mm as the rest of the locks in this section are. The Futura 64 could only really compete with the 2 Krabus locks, and the Masterlock in the list. The others are superior mainly because the steel is thicker, and of similarly good quality.

Oh no, you missunderstand me. I'm saying the Futura 64 is not good enough as a primary lock. Just like the Evo Mini.

• Evo Mini = broken with hand tools (e.g. large bolt croppers and/or lever attack)
  
• Futura 64 = broken with hand tools (e.g. large bolt croppers and/or lever attack)
  
  

The problem with that Bikeradar review of the Futura 64, is that there is no test for the Evo Mini that I can find to compare it with. So you say the results are very comparable... assuming the testing procedure is the same for each lock (which I doubt, explained below), can you show me the review for the Evo Mini? I can't seem to find it.

The testing procedure is kept secret (assuming they have a testing procedure). For example, what size bolt croppers do they use? Do they even use the same person and force on each lock? Do they maintain or sharpen the bolt croppers before each test so it's the same? The best example of their less-than-ideal testing procedure is to show you their review of the Abus Steel-O-Flex. It "passed our five-minute first round with minimal cosmetic damage". They gave it 5 out of 5 stars, which is more than they gave the Fahg Mini!! But we all know the Steel-O-Flex can easily be sliced through with bolt croppers. Even if it takes more than 1 go because the cable is too thick to fit in the jaws.

However, it is an 11mm thick lock, and not 13mm-14mm as the rest of the locks in this section are. The Futura 64 could only really compete with the 2 Krabus locks, and the Masterlock in the list. The others are superior mainly because the steel is thicker, and of similarly good quality.

Yeh, I know this is true. What I am basically trying to argue/ask is that it doesn't really matter that much, because all these locks can be broken with hand tools anyway (otherwise they would be on the "locks that work" thread). It's just got to be decent enough to withstand all but the biggest of bolt croppers attack. I thought the Futura 64 would meet that standard. Although I admit I don't have a tonne of evidence to support it.

i reached an eventual quotation (chucking in a random spec.) of £49 for A22's Guard Dog Skewer, as featured in this graphic; have suggested to A22 that showing a price range would be a good idea as its frustrating to plough through specification just to arrive at having a rough idea of how much their solution costs..

I was using this price list. £64 for a single front skewer. £153 for the full set of 2 skewers, a topcap and a seatpost clamp. Not exactly cheap I thought.

So it seems 2 U locks are advised as being more secure than a U and a chain?

I'll hopefully be locking up a much nicer bike than my current beater in a few weeks, outside my work. It's a busy area, but may be a bit less so in the winter when the tourists go away. I currently use an Oxford Magnum with a crappy cable lock. I'll probably continue using the Oxford for a bit, but may upgrade to a Krypto Fahg mini if there is loads too much space around the new frame (going from an old ali MTB to an Audax steel frame) For the secondary locks, I'll probably go for the Krypto Evo Mini or Magnum LK 3103 and one of those cheap padlock alarms from Maplin. I can see the bike from my desk so will be able to shout at anyone fucking with it.

The only chains recommended on this forum are those that are 16mm or thicker. These are impossible to carry as they weigh more than the bike. Any other chains are not recommended. These 16mm chains can be used if left overnight at the point of daily locking. So they can be used, but not carried around.

Good security requires at least one 16mm lock (shackle or chain) and a secondary lock of 13mm or thicker. The best option is a main lock of 18mm or equivalent and the best secondary lock possible. These don't have to be the most expensive options, just the strongest options within the price range.

Is that 16mm across the bar that each link is made from? I have a couple of Oxford HD chains at home I was thinking of using, but they don't meet that criteria and have a pretty fast break time looking at one of the links you posted on the main locks page.

Yes. :-)
16mm thickness of each link, measured at any point.

Although I could add chains of 13-14mm thickness for this thread, but I think it would give a false sense of security. Better to have a tightly fitting u-lock of those dimensions with no gaps for thieves to manoeuvre in.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/mini-abus-u-lock-yellow-id_8203082.html

And Evans sells it for £70...

Unfortunately its not the same lock. It looks exactly the same so its highly confusing.

See this discussion in the Locks That Works thread - posts 2221-2226.

Do you know of any secondary locks of about 170mm internal diameter? I'm looking at commuting on my tourer which has massive clearances and all the locks on here are either a bit too short, or way too long.

Does anyone have any wisdom to share on the merits of the Magnum 3103 vs. the bulldog mini onguard? And does anyone know if the Magnum is at all weatherproof, if the bulldog isn't?

EDITED:

The Magnum 3103 has to be an improvement over the Bulldog Mini, at least in terms of weather-proofing. No tests exist for it yet though.

I generally carry a heavyish chain as my secondary, but have been trying out the Evo Mini because of the comments here. I don't find it satisfactory. The lock is so small that I can only fit it round wheel, frame and stand if the stand is precisely the right length compared to my bike, so that the vertical pillar is ideally positioned ; otherwise, I can only lock my rear wheel (FAHG as main lock) properly and have to settle for locking the front wheel to the stand or the bike but not both (usually to the bike).

Sometimes, I can lift the front of the frame up so that the front wheel and frame can be locked to a higher part of the stand, but that is often not possible, either because there's another bike locked to the stand - blocking this manoeuvre - or because the FAHG on the rear wheel/frame/stand is so snug that it doesn't allow it. Also, I worry about the damage that might be done if somebody knocks the bike while it's in that position.

In fact, because the presence of another bike on the stand can often mean only one end of your bike can be placed directly adjacent to the stand, I often find I can't use the Evo Mini on stands that are the right length relative to my bike frame; if only one part of my bike can be snug to the stand, it'll be the rear seat stays so the FAHG can lock properly.

So I'm ditching the Evo Mini and going back to my chain.

By the way, my bikes are lightweight vintage road conversions with narrow tubes, not lumbering alu beasts.

Some half decent locks available from Revolution in edinburgh

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-secure-chain-lock? 10.5mm chain + 15mm mini-D padlock, now £12.74

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-secure-d-lock?bct=browse%2frevolution-products%2frevolution-accessories generic 16mm d-lock, £16

Both would be +3.50 delivery but if you're buying something anyway

I can clarify a misunderstanding about the Abus Granit Futura 64 and the Abus Granit Futura 64 Mini. These are locks with varying shackle length.

The Bike Radar test of the Futura 64 refers to a shackle length of 230 mm. Therefore it can´t resist twisting forces very well.

The road.cc test of the Futura 64 Mini refers to a shackle length of 150 mm. This lock can resist twisting forces.

I can highly recommend the Futura 64 Mini with a shackle length of 150 mm as a secondary lock or for short duration stops. I use it almost every day.

However I know that it has a shackle diameter of 11 mm and therefore it can`t make it in the list of "secondary locks". :-)

Good review, and thanks for the clarification.

New secondary locks from Kryptonite:
Evolution Lite Mini-6
Messenger Mini
Messenger Mini +
The only "problem" is that the shackles have only a diameter of 11 mm, however Kryptonite states that the "11mm hardened MAX-Performance steel shackle with same strength as Evolution Mini-5...".

IMO the Evolution Lite Mini-6 is interesting with a weight of merely 747 g!

the Mini+ is one of the stupidest ideas i've seen in locks

i agree. useful in so very very few situations

New Abus Granit Plus 640/12mm Shackle/Made in Germany, is much better(double shackle locking) choise and more visually attractive U-Lock.

http://www.abus.com/eng/Mobile-Security/Bike-Safety-and-Security/Locks/U-locks/GRANIT-Plus-6402

http://www.abus.com/eng/Mobile-Security/Bike-Safety-and-Security/Locks/U-locks/GRANIT-Plus-640

Abus Granit Plus 640(black-gray color) in 23cm version weighs only 900g.

23 x 8.3cm

15 x 8.3cm

As far as I remember, I have not seen before(Magnum/OnGuard X4P it's a different shackle-cut orientation) this classic but double-cut shackle end/ locking design.;)

The Abus Granit Plus 640 comes with a Sold Secure silver rating. And a secure "Plus" disc style cylinder.

You ´re right, it´s probably the better choice compared to Krypto Evo Lite Mini or Messenger.

Saw a Abus Granit plus 640 in a shop. IMHO very good build quality, much better than Kryptonite .

What do you think of infiniti 3D security from atomic22? Can it replace a second D-lock? Is it more secure than Pitlock?

I own a Rohloff speedhub and intend to secure it with a locking skewer from atomic22.