Locks that work

^ Get an M18 from Amazon. Cheap (about £64) and arrives fast.

I'm not sure why you should specifically avoid the Abus Granit London more than any other lock at the same price. I picked one up when I was in the same situation (vouchers to spend at a local bike shop, and it was on offer). It seems like a perfectly decent mid-range lock to me and is Gold rated, which is important for insurance I think.

TBF it's not as good as the Grant X-Plus 54, the locking unit seems very similar but the shackle's not as good, since it's round, rather than square. anyway I'm perfectly happy using mine for mid-value, mid-risk situations but if I were to go back I might spend a bit extra (£10 ish) on the X-Plus 54 because it's a bit better and not a minging red colour.

Sorted. Got cyclesurgery to price match the evans sale. So, reduced price + my vouchers = an Abus Granit 54 x-plus for £20 of my own money. excellent.

Thread gets a recommendation in the comments

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2012/oct/05/bike-theft-insurance-cover

it's a great resource this thread. I'm currently using 2 evo-minis, have been for years now, they've served me well, love how snug you can get them. However, am thinking of upgrading one to a fahg mini...

I've had a search, couldn't find anything - have there been instances on this forum of people locking up properly (not to a wooden railing) with evo mins and them failing? Just trying to work out how necessary this upgrade is...

Hey, is anybody using one of these 'limited edition' Evolution Mini's?

Can't find better pictures / can't figure out what material it is where the 'normal' ones have the bracket fitted..

I have one of those. That orange bit you speak of is made of some kind of rubber/plastic material....

...you think it's vulnerable (should I rather buy a 'normal' one because it's harder to cut through)?
Somehow looks like an achilles' heel...

No. The lock isn't compromised in any way. The orange part is just covering the narrow part where the mounting bracket usually is.

http://shop.mashsf.com/products/kryptonite-40th-anniversary-evolution-mini-5-u-lock-limited-edition-ruby-red-3-25-x-5

And it's cheaper than the normal one.

No. The lock isn't compromised in any way. The orange part is just covering the narrow part where the mounting bracket usually is.

Yea, and I was thinking that this rubber/plastic material is easier to cut through than the (metal) mounting bracket!

And it's cheaper than the normal one.

Ah, good for people in the states - over here it's €40 for the 'normal' one and €50 for the red one...

Yea, and I was thinking that this rubber/plastic material is easier to cut through than the (metal) mounting bracket!

Ah, good for people in the states - over here it's €40 for the 'normal' one and €50 for the red one...

Ah, I got mine for about £25 from http://www.veloecosse.com/ but I can't see them there any more. I just posted the other picture because it had a clear view of the orange bit.

There's an outer layer on the lock and the orange bit just fills the gap where there would normally be a mounting bracket. The actual steel isn't any narrower. But if the normal one is cheaper for you, why aren't you buying that one?!

Because I like the look of the red one.

Well, as a locking device, it's no different....

Good deals on Abus locks at sportpursuit.com

I've had the mini fahg for about 5 months. Recently it has started getting really stiff when trying to unlock. Is there a particular reason for this? It's rarely in the rain so I don't think it's rust.
I've dripped a bit of wet lube into it. Will this help or was that an awful idea for the internal lock mechanics?

Nah, lube that badboy up, treat him nice.

Is it when you turn the key in the barrel or when you actually try to pull the bar of the end? Either way I've had mine for a while and periodically both the lock barrel and the cams that actually hold it all together when locked.

I've had the mini fahg for about 5 months. Recently it has started getting really stiff when trying to unlock. Is there a particular reason for this? It's rarely in the rain so I don't think it's rust.
I've dripped a bit of wet lube into it. Will this help or was that an awful idea for the internal lock mechanics?

Chung. Just like a car, you need to change the oil, so for a lock it sounds like its time ot change the oil. If you do not have some in your tool kit, go get Finish Line DRY Teflon Lube in the black/red bottle and give the lock some new life. This Finish Line DRY Teflon Lube is going to make that Mini Fahgettaboudit sing. First be sure you clean with a rag any of the old lube dirt and grime off the shackle and inside the deadbolt area. Then lube. Follow up with this every 3 months or so and the lock is going ot function perfectly- Don

Anyone have any experience of these chain locks from Decathlon?

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/chain-bike-lock-id_8168162.html#anchor_ComponentProductMoreInfos

Pretty cheap, but no idea about the quality or thickness of the chain, or how sturdy the mini-U at the end is. Have been in-store and it weighs a ton (if that means anything), but would be interesting to know whether anyone has come back to the space where their bike used to be, to find a broken pair of nail clippers, a chain sheared in half, and no bike

I didn't even know they manufactured that model.
Still, Decathlon is a really serious company. I guess if they say it's solid, it is. They usually say, on a scale from x to y, how secure it is.

edit : holy fuck that is one attractive price

Bare in mind that if a thief actually starts working on your bike, that usually means he has the proper tools for it, and nothing will stop him if he has time on his hands. Even when it's a Krypto NY Chain.

Thanks for the mini fahg advice guys.
Don - I didn't have any dry lube so I cleaned it up and threw a small bucket of wet lube at it. Very satisfying mechanics now.
Ta.

noticed this is asda earlier, looks like a rebranded On guard for cheaps?

^It does but the keys don't look right - maybe a cheaper locking mechanism?

For my money the Onguard Brute beats the New York stuff hands down - save yourself £30. It is very heavy but unbelievably solid!

Here - [ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Onguard-Brute-Shackle-Lock-111mmx202mm/dp/B0010VLO4E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1350760107&sr=8-2"]Onguard Brute Shackle Lock 111mmx202mm: Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors[/ame]

^It does but the keys don't look right - maybe a cheaper locking mechanism?

Keys look the same as my pitbull

Thanks for the mini fahg advice guys.
Don - I didn't have any dry lube so I cleaned it up and threw a small bucket of wet lube at it. Very satisfying mechanics now.
Ta.

OK that will help for sure !!. If you get the chance on the next re-lube and have the ability to use the Teflon DRY, let me know what you think. FYI...All Kryptonite locks will come from the factory with Finish Line Teflon DRY coated inside starting this fall!

noticed this is asda earlier, looks like a rebranded On guard for cheaps?

This is not made by OnGuard, This is a Bell USA model that they sold into MASS Mkt stores [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Bell-Catalyst-Security-System-Black/dp/B003OB7DUM"]Amazon.com: Bell Catalyst U Lock Bike Security System (Black): Sports & Outdoors[/ame]