Locks that work

One Abus Buffo 34 Lock, and one Kryptonite Kryptolok 2 Standard U-Lock. So not an argos special offer.

Whilst I'm sorry your bike was stolen, I would strongly urge you to check out this site for more suitable locks and, possibly, locking technique(s).

#notacriticismbyanymeans

One Abus Buffo 34 Lock, and one Kryptonite Kryptolok 2 Standard U-Lock. So not an argos special offer.

I can see that you're relatively new on this forum, however, a comment like Still wouldn't trust a U-lock, can only be seen as contrary on a thread that advocates them. I can only suggest you to look at the very first post of this thread, and you would probably learn that there IS a criteria for recommended U-locks. The locks you owned may have been suggested by salespersons, or maybe you were looking for value, but here we advise other choices, and indeed some at much less in price than you may have paid. And reassuringly, the locks in the first post, are highly recommended.

Hi lfgss community :)

Whoever made this informative thread, I thank you and the people who helped you from the bottom of my heart. I've spent countless hours online reading about bicycle security, locking techniques and possible good locks, this collection of working locks is by far the best I've come across.

I'm a student living in Estonia and last year, bought a city-cruiser type of bicycle that (when the winter is gone) I'll be using to travel between home > university, different lectures etc.

I am aware that there is no fool-proof locking method, but as I am trying to make stealing my bicycle as hard as possible, within a budget of lets say... 200€, I planned on using a combination of a alarmed U-lock + cable lock as secondary lock (read somewhere that using different types of locks gives a better chance of not being a victim of theft).

My question is:

1. would you recommend this setup for me or should I try something else?
   
2. any idea where I can buy a Xena xul series (alarmed u-lock) in Europe (online store hopefully)? I've contacted their reseller in Estonia, who seems to be out of business and the company xena itself has not replied my email asking about other resellers.
   
3. within a budget of 200€ roughly... which locking solution would you recommend?
   
   

Thank you and have a awesome and theftfree cycling experience! :)
J

MrTimberg, I'm glad you find the thread useful.

Your budget is large enough to cover most combinations of locks. But straight away I must tell you that a cable lock is no good. Please don't use a cable lock at all.

I will try to answer your question fully, but I need to know the amount of weight your are willing to carry, and how you wish to carry it. If you use a very strong courier bag or hiking bag, then all locks will be fine in those. But in my opinion, the best options would be:

A main U-lock (16mm-19mm thickness)
Kryptonite New York M18 (my recommendation)

A secondary U-lock (13mm-14mm thickness)
Krabus VL202

An Alarmed Disc-lock (through your chain ring or seat stays)
Oxford Boss Alarm (my recommendation)
Xena XZZ6L (second choice)

So, combine them this way:

A)
Kryptonite New York M18
Krabus VL202 (big gaps on road bikes, so not for those)

B)
Kryptonite New York M18
Oxford Boss Alarm (through rear wheel and seat stay, or downtube)

C)
Kryptonite New York M18
Kryptonite Evolution Mini
Xena XZZ6L (through chainring - see photos attached)

The photos are provided by clefty (on this site), who tested the Xena in this way.

And your country DOES sell Xena locks. This is your distributor:
O� Motokeskus - Mc
Paldiski mnt 80c, Tallinn
10617, Estonia
Tel : +372 656 7252
Fax : +372 656 7252
Web : www.motokeskus.ee
Contact : Raul Ebber

2 Attachments

MrTimberg, I'm glad you find the thread useful.

Your budget is large enough to cover most combinations of locks.

I need to know the amount of weight your are willing to carry, and how you wish to carry it.

Good evening,

Thanks for the swift reply. Indeed... come to think of it, that setup would indeed be better. So 2x U-lock and disclock it is.

Weight wise, I'm thinking that 3-5kg perhaps? Though, I do prefer things as light as possible. So if there are any options that are light and provide a reasonable amount of thief protection, I'm all ears.

As for carrying them around, I havent made any plans yet. I would prefer not to add any additional bags to the cruiser, On my old bicycle I just used one U-lock and had it locked to the handlebars while driving. Perhaps there are some better options? maybe while driving... have one u-lock attached to handlebars and the other to frame along with disclock?

Ps. Again, if anyone knows a reliable online store (within European union) where I can order the needed locks (primary/secondary u-locks and alarmed disclock), I'd be very happy to know them :)

Cheers

I've added to my answer above. I hope thats helpful. Locking via A), B), or C), will keep you secure. By the way, depending on clearances, it may by that the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Mini is the better option. Keeping gaps to a minimum is vitally important. Your choice.

These are all heavy options though. The best have to be.

What's the cheapest place to buy a mini evo at the moment? I just got paaaaaaiiid.

I think tredz are having a sale on locks, no idea if it's cheapest though.

Is £29.54 a good price? That seems like a good price...

#googleisfordicks

Google tells me that's about right, a few quid cheaper than elsewhere so thanks snottyotter, I think I'll go for it!

Ummmmm, why did I just buy a lock for a front wheel that is almost certainly worth less than the lock?

Because you lock the front wheel to the frame, and therefore one will not go without the other?

You might buy a more expensive wheel one day?

Taxis are expensive.

^, ^^ and^^^there is that, thankyou for justifying my drunken impulse buy, you guys are the best.

I've been thinking about it for a while, I'll be moving from Bournemouth which has a very low bike theft rate to probably a dodgy part of central/north London next month so I thought a secondary lock might be a good buy.

Good day,

So as it stands, I will get 2 u-locks and a disc lock.

I'll attach a picture of my bicycle. Would someone be kind enough to point out that if locking like this would work or should I do something differently?

Also - any ideas on how to make the battery (electric bicycle) more thief-proof? At the moment it is locked to the frame, can be unlocked with batteries key. Would there be any need to somehow make a modification to the frame to make battery more secure or add another lock? Ideas? :)

Thanks!

Also thank you for those lock recommendations. I'll try to find a store that sells all 3.

1 Attachment

For that type of bike, I'd suggest the Kryptonite M-18 at the back, and the Krabus VL202 securing the front wheel to railings/bike rack, and to your frame.

The battery creates a new concern for me, and possibly I'd look for an extra long good U-lock that would go through the frame and rear wheel, and also fit around the battery. From memory, I think the Xena XUL310 is longer, but difficult to source, and uber expensive. Consider also the Kryptonite Evolution-4 300mm and the Abus Granit Plus X 54 300mm as other longer versions.

So another solution would be: Abus Granit Plus X 54 300mm, at the rear, Kryptonite M18 at the front, and a disk alarm through the chainring. You could save money by getting a different lock to the M18, and for that I'd recommend the OnGuard Brute X4 (LS). Its nearly as strong as the M18, but less than half the price.

And your country DOES sell Xena locks. This is your distributor:
O� Motokeskus - Mc
Paldiski mnt 80c, Tallinn
10617, Estonia
Tel : +372 656 7252
Fax : +372 656 7252
Web : www.motokeskus.ee
Contact : Raul Ebber

I called them today. They dont have any Xena XUL series locks, they dont have any orders coming in from Xena and they dont plan on ordering. So yeah, I'm still looking for a store within Europe that sells xena xul series locks. Any ideas?

I figured that if I got the 2 u-lock way, I'd be able to eliminate the need for a disc lock (alarmed) if one of the u-locks is alarmed.

Mr.Timberg, first of all, I'd like to thank you very much for the challenge. Due to the nature of bike security, once the data and information is presented, it can be rather formulaic after that, with similar advice handed out time after time. But your challenge was good, and had me really think of how to supply a new solution for a new security situation.

As far as I know, your request is the first that includes a requirement for battery security, and is possibly the first electric bicycle dealt with in this thread. So, despite my answers before, it all comes down to this:

Lock rear frame and battery to railings/bike rack, with Abus Granit Plus X 54 300mm.
Lock front wheel to frame and railings/bike rack with OnGuard Brute X4 (LS) [save some money].
Disk alarm through chainring takes care of the required alarm.

My reason for rejecting the Krabus XL202, is that the most expensive part of your bike is at the back, so that would need a stronger lock than Krabus make. An alarm only draws attention to a theft, but if a person has got through a lock quickly, then the alarm was not enough of a deterrent.

I substituted the OnGuard for the Kryptonite, as the specifications are nearly identical, and indeed, the OnGuard Brute beat the Kryptonite Fahg Mini in a Maxim magazine test a while back, but its much cheaper.

Thats it. Whichever options you choose, I hope I was able to help.

By the way, the German Amazon site have the OnGuard Brute Mini (f*cking awesome lock) selling on their site, so hopefully, they stock a variation of locks, and you get what you ultimately need. As long as you choose locks from the first post of this thread, that are 16mm or thicker, you will be fine. Oh yes, the legendary Abus Grant Plus X 54 is allowed in, because though its bar is stated to be 13mm, the bar is squared, so its closer to 15mm at longest point of dissection.

The first post has been edited, not fully yet, but in part.

The problem is that if I edit something, and come back to edit something else, the whole post has disappeared, awaits moderation, then I have to wait hours to apply more edits. I don't know how this can be changed at all, but it's certainly a difficulty that I face, and it slows things down immensely.

anyone know what that measurement is?

Nice idea :)

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1054587410/the-bikespike

load of shite or alright?