Secondary Locks

Has any one got one of these. I have a problem with my lock. One of the double bolts doesn't open completely sometimes and the lock won't open you have to turn the lock around and use gravity to push the mechanism open completely.
When the lock is locked to the bike you can't flip it and I am left banging the lock scratching my bike until it opens.
Don't know if it just my lock or a design flaw.

I've been using mine for a few months with no problems.

Have you tried WD40? A quick squirt can do wonders.

Onguard Bulldog mini is great value, and doesn't weigh a ton like some. (also you get up to £500 should you get bike stolen if lock gets cut/broken by non-power tools).

EDIT:
Very strange. The specification seems the same, and yet there is a clear difference in security rating and price. I'll therefore change the version listed to the yellow one.

What I've done is leave both in, so people can choose based on their budgets, or their insurance concerns.

I have been trying to get a bit more information about the Abus mini from german websites, but it is still confusing. Abus themselves don't list it on their website at all.
Some vendors sell the red one for about half the price of the yellow one. Others treat both as the same item, same price, choose your color to taste.
There is also conflicting information about the shackle thickness: 14mm for red, 16mm for red, 14mm for yellow, 16mm for yellow.

I might call abus germany directly and ask them what the actual specs are for both.

The information I originally found implied that the yellow is a thicker shackle, hence why it is gold rated and the red is only silver rated.
I also found weights that showed the yellow being heavier which would support that information.

I have yellow Abus Mini - Gold rated. 1034 grams according to my kitchen scales.

Have you thought about moving the other secondary security stuff (skewers, alarms etc) over from the first post of the Locks that Work thread?

Good point, but I think I will leave them in that thread, as they are locks that work. I may copy them over though......which seems appropriate.

Why is the krypto better than the onguard? Krypto's only have a locking mechanism on one side, but the onguard claims to have two.

I have used the Evo Mini and two different onguard locks (Brute and Beast) so far. Personally i would take the equivalent Krypto over the Onguard any time.
But only because the Krypto locks are more resistant to weather and have far better long term reliability. The Onguard i left outside started rusting very quickly. My evo mini has been outside for a year with hardly any rust. Also the Krypto keys are made from a stronger material, possibly steel. Onguard keys are made from what i suppose is brass and i managed to bend one with normal use.

I have yellow Abus Mini - Gold rated. 1034 grams according to my kitchen scales.

Do you know the shackle thickness of your yellow one? Would be very much appreciated if you could provide the world with an accurate measurement. ;)

Very good points Timer.

Mini evo currently just £28.70 from Amazon, free delivery: http://amzn.to/pqrru0

Kyrpto lock with 4ft steel cable

It seems that some lock prices have actually come down. The Kryptonite has come down by not far off £2, and the Onguard has has a massive £5 price drop. Must be Xmas.

EDIT:
Bought one of these today (02-Dec-11) online. Will report back with my findings after I've received and used it.

It seems that some lock prices have actually come down. The Kryptonite has come down by not far off £2, and the Onguard has has a massive £5 price drop. Must be Xmas.

EDIT:
Bought one of these today (02-Dec-11) online. Will report back with my findings after I've received and used it.

Thoughts on the Bulldog Mini? I've read a few reviews on the net whereby people found their keys getting stuck after a couple of weeks use, but at £12 or whatever they cost I think I might just take a punt anyway.

To be honest I'm yet even to use it, as my bike is either locked inside my flat, or securely underground at work.

Wouldn't recommend the On-Guard. I'm on my second one in 6 weeks, both jammed for reasons I don't understand. Used every day so have got a bit wet but I'm pretty conscientious about using wd4o on almost a weekly basis, having been caught out with a jammed lock in the past. First lock jammed whilst stuffed in my pocket, key would go in and out but wouldn't turn. To be fair to the uk distro guys they replaced it without batting a lash. Unfortunately the second lock has jammed in exactly the same way after only being used for about a week, this time looped on the frame. I'm pretty sure that I've just been unlucky having two locks go wrong on the trot, but as above a quick look on-line soon tells you that the random jamming is a bit of an issue. Just ordered a Fagh... won't be skimping on the cost of a lock again!

Just bought a mini evo only to find it was a hair too short for what i needed. I need something more like 160mm, care to recommend anything?

Has anyone had any experience with the Atomic 22 nuts? Do we know how much they cost direct?

Personally I always carry my krypto chain and lock. Your bike will always be pinched when you use your second best lock

Personally I always carry my krypto chain and lock. Your bike will always be pinched when you use your second best lock

Secondary locks are meant to be used in addition to, not instead of, the primary lock.

GA2G,
there`s another lock for your list of secondary locks, it´s better than the Abus U-Mini 40 and perhaps could beat even Krypto´s Evo Mini: Abus Granit Futura Mini.
It´s rated 11 out of 15 from Abus and has a disc style cylinder. The Abus U-Mini 40 is rated only 10 out of 15.

wapiti

Good find. Thanks, I'll add it.

EDIT:
Sorry, on further investigation, I've found that the bar diameter is only 11mm, so below the 13mm-14mm required for this list. Still, it is a good option, just not as good as the 2 Abus locks listed already. Pricey for a 11mm lock.

Wouldn't recommend the On-Guard. I'm on my second one in 6 weeks, both jammed for reasons I don't understand. Used every day so have got a bit wet but I'm pretty conscientious about using wd4o on almost a weekly basis, having been caught out with a jammed lock in the past. First lock jammed whilst stuffed in my pocket, key would go in and out but wouldn't turn. To be fair to the uk distro guys they replaced it without batting a lash. Unfortunately the second lock has jammed in exactly the same way after only being used for about a week, this time looped on the frame. I'm pretty sure that I've just been unlucky having two locks go wrong on the trot, but as above a quick look on-line soon tells you that the random jamming is a bit of an issue. Just ordered a Fagh... won't be skimping on the cost of a lock again!

It might be the WD40. I've used GT85 on lock mechanisms without any problems but have recently heard it's best to use a dry graphite lubricant.

Also I have a little gift for GA2G. I saw this and thought of you.

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