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@morgan_
Oh Shoot. I did have a faint sense of déjà vu.
After carefully re-reading the last page, a recap:
Yes, using the Fagh Mini as your only bike-to-object lock does invalidate most common UK insurance policies.
As far as UK users of "mini" U-locks go, the Kryptonite Fahgettaboudit Mini and Evolution Mini are not on the Sold Secure list, only the Kryptolok Series 2 Mini (which is nearly 4cm longer, and has a lower security rating).
As far as I can see, this leaves 3 options:
**(1) **Comply with Sold Secure insurers: use the Fagh Mini with the Series 2 Mini, instead of the Evo Mini, to approximate the recommended setup (you'll need to park where there are both front and back points to lock to, good practice but somewhat limiting). Of course, you can use the Evo Series 4 Standard, or the more brutish NY Standard (which are listed), and forget about using two Minis. Or, if you can bear the weight, diversify, swallow, and use the Fagh Mini + Fagh chain (which is listed). Chains, as we know, are not recommended (not least by your chiropractor).
(2) Call your insurers and ask why the Fagh Mini isn't listed. Ask if they can make an exception.
(3) Move insurers. Possibly try ones that accept Thatcham, and use a Thatcham approved lock (GA2G suggests the Motrax Viper disc-lock/U-lock).
Failing that: (4) Ignore insurance altogether. Put £100 a year into a savings account, load up with Fagh Minis and alarms (and possibly a rifle, or some sort of highly trained skunk), cross your fingers and wait it out, hopefully for as many years as your bike costs.
As for my original question, the answers from the previous page seem to be "Sure, the Fagh Mini and the Evo Mini are the best combination, if you love your bike, but you can't really use them in the UK, certainly not with most common insurance policies." If that's the answer, why does a London centric forum recommend them? I realise this thread is only about "locks that work", and not strictly about insurance, but surely it's hard to separate these things out - if a lock just buys me time, and the inevitable happens, part of the criteria for a lock "working" must surely be that it also lets me get my bike back.
Perhaps we should band together and start some sort of petition? You've recommended some great locks, we really should have them accepted by insurance companies. Start a people's Sold Secure. Even the London Cycling Campaign's default insurer doesn't accept the Fagh Mini. That's just silly.