Locks that work

After reading through the thread, picked up a Krypto Fahgettaboudit Mini to go alongside the mini evo I've been using for a couple of years. Really pleased with it. Going to feel a lot better about locking up even my polo bike when nipping to the shops.

Just got to find a more comfortable way of carrying it, Carrandice + Bagman works great on the Crosscheck, wearing it on my belt, not so much!

^^Thanks, the Abus is the top of my budget really so if i went Kryptonite it would probably be the evo 4 standard rather than the fahg.

By cover I'm assuming you mean its protection against the weather, as I was leaning towards the Abus from reading reviews but I don't want it rusting up and jamming on my bike leaving it stranded.

^^Thanks, the Abus is the top of my budget really so if i went Kryptonite it would probably be the evo 4 standard rather than the fahg.

By cover I'm assuming you mean its protection against the weather, as I was leaning towards the Abus from reading reviews but I don't want it rusting up and jamming on my bike leaving it stranded.

Cover = insurance in this case.
I have a Abus Granit and think its just fine, one of the best things about it is how smooth and easy locking and unlocking and stowing the lock are.
Oil the lock occasionally and it wont rust up.

abus Granit in smaller size here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ABUS-GRANIT-X-PLUS-MAX-SECURE-LEVEL-15-BIKE-LOCK-Brand-New-R-R-P-79-/150991169300?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Cycling_BikeLocks_SR&hash=item2327c66714 for £47 delivered.

Aha should definitely have realised that.

That seems a very good price, better than I have seen elsewhere, thanks.

Amazon is doing Abus Granit Futura Mini for £36 .. tempted as I don;t have a mini-D lock, how is it? I am assuming not as solid/strong as Krypto fagh?

Good secondary lock (for the security minded). As main lock, its only 12mm thick, so I'd be sceptical to it standing up to heavy attacks. Have a look in the Secondary Locks thread for some nearer comparisons.

What about the Abus U Mini 401

Look in the Secondary Locks thread. First post.

Hi,

This is Steve from Pragmasis, manufacturer of the Protector chains and Torc ground anchor etc.

Could I suggest it would be helpful to identify the gauge of our chains that are being described in your entries, please? I don't have any complaint about anything that has been said and continue to be pleased that you've taken the time to put this list together and to maintain it, but we produce a range of chains and describe them all honestly, so we would not suggest our 13mm or 11mm chains should be included in this topic as we can't guarantee either of them to be impossible to bolt-crop with 42" croppers. However, both our 16mm and 19mm chains are impossible to crop and are equivalent to the 16mm and 19mm Almax chains in our opinion. We do suggest that the 19mm is often too heavy to use with bicycles but we do have a small number of customers using it where they have extreme requirements and don't mind the awkwardness of manhandling a really heavy chain. The 16mm, however, is a more sensible solution for high end bikes and we have a lot of customers using it as such. Even that, though, at 4.5kg per metre length, is a heavy thing in long lengths and must be handled carefully to avoid damaging a precious bike.

We are always happy to answer questions plainly and honestly. I'm the one that checks the lab test results on every batch of our chain as well as the one that has designed all of our products to date and am happy to give 'engineer' advice rather than be a pushy salesman (which I'm not!).

I hope that helps,

Steve.

Cheers for the honest info.

I'm very happy with my Pragmasis 11mm chain. Use it for locking up outside whilst at work and i have no trouble with the weight when carried around my waist.

I'm very happy with my Pragmasis 11mm chain. Use it for locking up outside whilst at work and i have no trouble with the weight when carried around my waist.

I'm glad you are happy. I honestly think the 11mm is a very good compromise for a carry chain and is a lot more versatile than a D-lock, and the 13mm is a very good option for a wide range of bikes for home security. Sure, we can't say it's impossible to bolt-crop the 13mm with 42" croppers, but I certainly can't cut it with them and I'd say the vast majority of bicycle thieves are a) not carrying croppers of that size anyway, and b) not big enough/fat enough/strong enough to get through it even if they do have croppers that big, especially if the chain is used properly (notably away from the floor).

I do wonder about the basis behind this thread as it is favouring thicker D-locks that supposedly can't be cropped, but they are all likely to be vulnerable to jacking attacks unless the 'D' is very well filled. That is often very difficult to do as you often don't have the ideal thing to lock the bike to when you're out and about. I do think there is a role for D-locks for portable security, but they are very limiting in what you can lock them onto and the jacking and twisting attacks are a worry. That is why we've stopped selling them ourselves. We used to sell a Squire 'Urban Paramount 230' D-lock (which is the smaller variant of those, so it was less likely to have spaces left for attackers to exploit), but that was never as tough as the top D-locks. However, it was a much better compromise, in our opinion, between security level, weight (especially) and cost. Squire have withdrawn that one in favour of a Chinese-made one that is heavier and that uses an inferior cylinder, so we dropped it from our range. To be fair, it is cheaper than the Urban Paramount, but the weight is the killer if you are aiming it at portable security.

I'm interested in other people's opinions about this?

Something like an 11mm chain that is likely to stop boltcroppers up to/around 36" long (which is double the size of croppers most bicycle thieves tend to use), can give more options for locking to real-world objects whilst avoiding the risk of jacking/twisting attacks and still being a sensible weight. However, D-locks are often supplied with brackets that can make them a bit easier to carry on the bike's frame. We do offer a small frame bag that will take an 11mm chain but it maxes out at 1.0m length and the lock is a squeeze in that combination. I don't think there are any 'perfect' solutions and your best option may depend on what you are locking to and how predictable/reliable that is from day to day.

For home security, which is where most of the thefts happen, that is where a thicker chain (and D-lock if you've got one - might as well use it too) come in and where the more serious deterrent is required. Even that needs to be practical IMHO so it actually gets used every time, rather than something so heavy and awkward that it is occasionally left lying on the floor.

Of course, nothing is totally infallible but getting the balance right in terms of the level of deterrent versus the level of risk/'nickability' of the item, is what we are trying to do and what hopefully flips the advantage in your favour rather than the scrote's.

I hope that helps,

Steve.

most of us know to fill as much of the available space in a d-lock to prevent jacking

I think a chain would come in fairly handy for locking to things other than bike stands, like lamp posts etc but I find my mini fahg so handy, it just slips in a bag and although fairly heavy you don't really notice it too much. I think a decent length of heavy chain and a meaty padlock would be harder to transport so I only use one for locking up at home (in combination with the mini fahg).

if safest place at work is near the back door but i can only use a chain lock as i have to lock around a large pole, is there any point in putting a D lock around tire and frame but not around a object, or is this just a waste of time as the bike can just be carried away

Could you just leave a massively hench chain at work/around the lamppost? Then transportability isn't an issue and you can get something really heavy and beefy.

yeah i should be able to, what i was asking tho was is a D lock through the wheel and around the frame going to create any extra security if it is not locked to a stationary object

It'd help prevent those parts getting stolen if they're not locked up by a chain already.

This is a great thread, and many thanks to those who have contributed to it. I have a Dawes Ultra Galaxy that is also my commuting bike to work. Overkill I know, but it is a great bike that gets plenty of use. Is the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Mini big enough to lock my bike up with? Of the lockes that are recommneded in this thread, which are an unsuitable size for my bike? Thanks in advance.

Oh god, I'm embarrassed at my poor spelling!

It should be fine. as long as you don't have super deep rims you should be able to get the mini fahg around the rear wheel, frame and a stand fairly easily.

a circular saw can cut through a kryptonite chain in 30 seconds apparently

my fagh chain is hexagonal (or somethingelseagonal if not hex) so that is probably one of the lower end ones.

^^^^ a kryptonite m18 might be better for the dawes. A fahg might be a bit tight with the lager clearances.

^^^If it comes to power tools surely any lock can be cut, admittedly 30 seconds isn't that long