Secondary Locks

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.

As I told you the Abus Granit Futura is better rated than the Abus u-mini 40.
Sometimes a lock with a smaller bar diameter is still better because the quality of steel is better.
IMO the bar of the U-Mini 40 is weak, the lock is crap.

After it being requested/suggested several times, I have decided to give the option to those who want it, for a secondary locks section.

These locks will mostly be 13mm/14mm, as that is certainly acceptable for securing a front wheel-to-frame situation.
Its not as good as the 16-19mm u-locks listed in the Locks That Work thread, but its much better than cables, and armoured cables.

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U-Locks of 13mm-14mm thickness (average):.

...
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.

As I told you the Abus Granit Futura is better rated than the Abus u-mini 40....

Is this the comedy hour? As I told you.......oh really? Look, if you don't like, or agree with the list, please feel free to start your own thread. There is no restriction on that, and since this thread stipulated 13-14 mm locks from the outset, its a rule that shall remain; even if only useful in parts, it still useful to some people.

Oh yes, who exactly rated the Abus Granit Futura, was it not Abus themselves? So, essentially they are saying that a less substantial lock also they make, is better (higher rated, by themselves) than a thicker lock? Thats fine, but if one were to be ever so sceptical, one could say that asking the public to pay more for less steel, when the price of metal is rising and rising, could be a marketing ruse, and a rather cunning sales tactic.

For now, this thread will deal with 13mm-14mm locks.

I'm not wishing to fuel the fire here but there is something of a contradiction to the statement you're making when you incliude the following in the locks that work thread:
**
16mm/17mm** *(or equivalent strength)*:
..
Abus Granit X-Plus 54 [13mm]

So in that case you say it is as strong and in this one you say it's not. I can't say I like the tone of the post by wapiti but I can see how confusion might occur.

The Abus Granit X 54 is the exception to the rule, and partially because the lock is of the squared type and not rounded like most others. It is mentioned as such from the very beginning of the LOCKS THAT WORK thread. It's might truly belies its size. But since a basic rule needs to be applied, then the dimensions are the guideline.

Is this the comedy hour? As I told you.......oh really?

Sorry, I didn´t want to insult you with my "tone". As you know I´m not a native speaker.
But you rate locks just by the thickness of their bar diameter and I say you can´t really because some steel is better than another. That´s my opinion but feel free to go on as you like.

It was more the rant about Abus and the less substantial lock side of things when there was precedent for this in the form of the X54. If they can do it for one then surely they could do it for another and as bike riders we all appreciate that there can be huge variation in performance with different material. As with anything though I do appreciate the need for solid testing to confirm this but Abus have shown that, in some cases, less high quality metal can do the same job as more low quality metal. I do take you point that as a general guide bigger normally equal better.

@Wapiti - Your English was good enough that I'd not considered that it was not your first language.

I think this onguard is the same as as the magnum x4 fro halfords. But isntead of £55 is costs just £23

I was under the impression that the Pitbull had a 120mm/12cm width?

Did anyone else struggle with the bracket of the Pitbull Mini DT? Mine won't lie vertically went mounted, the furthest it seems to go is around 160 degrees.

Hi All,

Just wanted to post a quick thank you for all the constructive advice on primary/secondary locks. I arrived here from BikeRadar after googling 'best bike locks' and have gone with a 'fahg' mini and an 'evo' after spending most of the evening reading everyone's opinions. Really helpful.

You're very welcome. You'll find there's a huge knowledge base on here, so welcome aboard and I hope you find other things of interest here also.

New stylish locks for your list:
Abus U-lock 501 ,13 mm, level 10 out of 15.
Knog Strongman ,13 mm, Sold Secure Gold.

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

Aren't these normally much more expensive? Seems like a good deal

Wapiti I'll add those if they become available in the UK.

B0N0R, that seems interesting. I'll pop into Decathlon and have a look at it.

I've bought two abus 401's from decathlon this week. Couldn't get it for 19, but at 25 quid, but at 25 I still think its pretty good value. This is the silver secure version btw. Quite randomly saw that Evans were selling the gold rated one 60+ quid - I don't know what's under the hood, but from comparing size weight and feel, I could not tell the difference between the two. Though abus's packaging and the higher price certainly do suggest superior performance from the gold one, it wasn't obvious to me what was providing that. I've also seen both colour options available in silver and gold, so I wouldn't take this as a guide. Is it possible that the different gold and silver secure versions are the same lock marketed differently... there is no proof unless anyone's seen some independent testing on them(?)

Is yours the yellow or the red one? From what i've gathered the yellow one is gold rated while the red one is slightly less

Onguard mini pitbulls are great great little locks. Used one for 4 odd years, not a lick of trouble. Cheaper than the Kryptonite and probably better. You used to be able to get 'em on eBay for £14.99, £19.99 for the longer version, if I remember correctly.

I got mine for 20 of amazon with a cable but it is starting to get a little stiff no matter how much i lube it

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

Aren't these normally much more expensive? Seems like a good deal

I've bought two abus 401's from decathlon this week. Couldn't get it for 19, but at 25 quid, but at 25 I still think its pretty good value. This is the silver secure version btw. Quite randomly saw that Evans were selling the gold rated one 60+ quid - I don't know what's under the hood, but from comparing size weight and feel, I could not tell the difference between the two. Though abus's packaging and the higher price certainly do suggest superior performance from the gold one, it wasn't obvious to me what was providing that. I've also seen both colour options available in silver and gold, so I wouldn't take this as a guide. Is it possible that the different gold and silver secure versions are the same lock marketed differently... there is no proof unless anyone's seen some independent testing on them(?)

Is yours the yellow or the red one? From what i've gathered the yellow one is gold rated while the red one is slightly less

Ok, I've just got one of these from Decathlon, it cost me £28.98 inc. postage. Here's the deal from what I can see:

The Decathlon lock is a yellow Abus U-mini 40, it's rated 10/15 by Abus and Sold Secure Silver rated. It has a 14mm round shank (16.5mm with the plastic coating). The shank is bolted on both sides with an extra flattened section that fits into the lock body so presumably it has to be cut twice (can't be cut just once and twisted round). I've not put this on the scales yet but I can do so if anyone's interested (980g according to Abus). This is different from the Abus U-mini 401, which is Sold Secure Gold rated and may be superior in some other ways (I don't know).

I'm posting this because I was under the impression that the 40 only came in red and the 401 only came in yellow. My purchase seems to have confirmed what muchbunch313 said i.e., that the colour is no guide to the rating. This is actually confirmed by Abus here, where, even though they call it the U-mini red, they show it in red and yellow!

All in all I reckon that £29 is not a bad price for this lock, but it's not quite such a bargain as it would have been if it were a 401.One extra note, I got 4 keys, but no key card with which to get replacements from Abus. Unless you're really careless with keys this shouldn't make a difference, but it may be worth knowing.

Thanks for the info. Very useful to know.

A recent purchase:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Masterlock-Street-Fortum-4-Combination-Bike-D-U-Lock-with-LED-Light-Up-Numbers-/221156903836?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Cycling_BikeLocks_SR&hash=item337dfa8b9c

Pros:
Very small/light --> portable. 400g.
Supposedly 14mm shackle (see below)
don't need to remember key. quick spring loaded locking mechanism
can't be bottle jacked cos tiny as
Cons:
Probably more fragile at locking end rather than shackle
Not much room
Quite hard to see when fitted --> no psychological deterrent --> they will kick your wheels in

I wasn't sure where to post this but it could be useful secondary (even a light D is surely better than a scissor-defeatable cable), or as I have recently been using it - a very portable option for low risk situations.

PICS
http://i45.tinypic.com/2n7pj45.jpg (will just fit around stays, rim, and a pole). NB On the only nearby sheffield I tried it was a real pain to do this, although you could very easily go through two stays + the pole which presumably secures the wheel just as well.
http://i49.tinypic.com/sv3p1l.jpg - Why do manufacturers lie about specs? Its not like 13mm is terrible at this price point.

Onguard mini pitbulls are great great little locks. Used one for 4 odd years, not a lick of trouble. Cheaper than the Kryptonite and probably better. You used to be able to get 'em on eBay for £14.99, £19.99 for the longer version, if I remember correctly.

Anyone got any experience of the pitbull mini vs. bulldog mini. The pitbull looks like an odd shape, does it make locking difficult?

I know they're not particularly recommended, but does anyone know of a relatively light chain that stands out from the crowd? I'm thinking of something around the size of the Onguard Mastiff or Hiplok Lite

Looking forward to the Magnum 3103 coming to market.

And it finally has! Adding to the list.
http://www.woollyhatshop.com/Locks-Security/Magnum-LK3103-Steel-Shackle-U-Lock-Series-Lock-90-x-140-x-13mm/prod_5542.html

I know they're not particularly recommended, but does anyone know of a relatively light chain that stands out from the crowd? I'm thinking of something around the size of the Onguard Mastiff or Hiplok Lite

I apologise, I hadn't seen this. Neither can be recommended.