What is the best lock?

Just thought I should share this. At east drinks last wednesday some people unconnected to us forumengers had their bikes attempted to be stolen by a couple of thieving little scumbag teenagers who live around the corner. Pyjamas spotted something amiss, yelled out and they ran off. The bikes in question were locked with an one of those ABUS ball-o-fix type locks.

They cut straight through it in seconds with a pair of shitty old bolt cutters, and on inspection of the lock afterwards it was clear what had happened. Do not buy one of these locks or trust your bike with it, they look tough but in reality are no better than any old rubbish cable.

Just thought I should share this. At east drinks last wednesday some people unconnected to us forumengers had their bikes attempted to be stolen by a couple of thieving little scumbag teenagers who live around the corner. Pyjamas spotted something amiss, yelled out and they ran off. The bikes in question were locked with an one of those ABUS ball-o-fix type locks.

They cut straight through it in seconds with a pair of shitty old bolt cutters, and on inspection of the lock afterwards it was clear what had happened. Do not buy one of these locks or trust your bike with it, they look tough but in reality are no better than any old rubbish cable.

WTF is an ABUS ball-o-fix? Could you give us the proper name or a pic please? Ta.

Steel-o-Flex - something like this: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/abus/abus-steel-o-flex-granit-x-plus-1050-lock-ec006263

I had mine snipped neatly back in October or so, lost my Fuji and have been telling all and sundry that they're shit ever since but no one listens whinge whinge moan moan ect ect.

The "hardened, overlapping steel jacket" is made up of things like large thimbles made of hardened steel maybe 2mm thick and the cable itself is no better than maybe 13mm thick steel braid. It'd probably resist a very small/cheap set of bolt croppers but certainly not the sort of kit one can reasonably expect London thieves to be carrying.

I'll leave you with this (I think it;s an older model of Steel-o-Flex but you get the idea):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFaLmVqQibo

NB the comments - the tool used cost less than the lock.

Just purchased a Fahgettaboutit from Parker International for £55
Cyclesurgery doing them for £89.99!!!

:) I'm quite chuffed!

@Ebenzo. Would you still be as chuffed if someone told you that CycleSurgery and Evans will price match to internet prices? ;)

I won't tell you if that upsets you. Excellent buy though, and it is the best U-Lock there is.

EDIT: Way to protect your new Condor Potenza. If only everyone was as careful as you and Scott, this thread would have no more than 3 entries.

i use this lock.

Is this safe enough.

nope.

@Ebenzo. Would you still be as chuffed if someone told you that CycleSurgery and Evans will price match to internet prices? ;)

I won't tell you if that upsets you. Excellent buy though, and it is the best U-Lock there is.

EDIT: Way to protect your new Condor Potenza. If only everyone was as careful as you and Scott, this thread would have no more than 3 entries.

Gutted!

Actually, got a call from them today saying something went wrong in the payment process...

I paid by debit solo right? The payment form asked for a starting date, as well as the expiry date so I guestimated a month, hoping it wouldn't make a difference.

How do I go about with this price-matching thing? Just had a look at both stores' T&Cs but I don't know about Parker's stock of this lock.

It's been a bit of a pain only being able to cycle to places where I can keep my bike in close proximity. I think I will still be worried about parts being stolen. Do any theives carry around 15mm wrenches or an allen key set? If so, my saddle and seatpost could get nicked easily, front wheel with a bit more time...

EDIT: on the Parker website - "**[B]Currently this product is not in stock. Expected delivery - EARLY JULY"

:( super gutted.**[/B]

Print out a webpage of the Parker site, and show it to them, that's how you go about doing those price-matching malarky.

This is great, this is what I want to do. But I don't really want to shell out for a fag chain then just use the lock! I found this page on the Kryptonite website:
https://www.kryptonitelock.com/Products/ProductDetail.aspx?cid=1000&scid=1003&pid=1198

It says the dimensions are 1.8" x 2.1" (48mm x 54mm). I'm not sure but I don't think that would be big enough?

I thought this all yellow version was the new version, but in the States they seem to be available in various colours including yellow, black and red.

For those concerned about the weight I reckon the small U lock at the end of the Fahgettaboudit chain make quite a nifty little solution. Just measured it on my kitchen scales and its 803 grammes.
They don't seem to sell these loose so it's only available to those bothered to buy the whole chain. Bikesyoulike.co.uk sell this thing though, but doesn't give size and I 'm not sure of the security level of that vs. the yellow ones.

Fox, that's far too small, a lots smaller than the U-lock in picture, it's not the same thing since it'd also be too small to use with chains, it's designed to slot into the hole of the disc brake for extra securi

Ah, yeah :(

That's kind of what I'd figured, having just grabbed a ruler it really is. This is the same one that locks up the standard New York chain, so it does seem to get the security I really want I need to buy a fag chain.

Anyone want to buy a fag chain without a lock? ;)

Hmm, seems they can be had on their own in the States:
http://www.google.co.uk/products?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&channel=s&hl=en&q=kryptonite+new+york+disc+lock&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=tdY4SvEVjqGMB56okKgN&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title

Might have a look on eBay.com

abus granite....

So I found this on US eBay - £40 delivered to the UK. It is the same as the one starfish and coffee uses, isn't it?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260413713266&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:MOTORS:1123

Looks like it, I was thinking about getting one of those tiny disk locks but defiantly too small to lock your rim to your frame. But the bigger disk locks defiantly fit... very tempting.

Another quick point is the rims; if it those deep section rims, then forget about using those small lock, there's no way it'll fit nicely with a Velocity Deep V (as a benchmark), let alone H+Son.

if you wanted you could get one of those 'alarmed disc locks' that GA2G once posted somewhere, and plonk it on your chainring, along with locking your rear when through the triangle with a granite xplus/fahgetaboudit.

would be interested on opinions on this mini mini D-lock
http://www.probikesecurity.co.uk/disclocks.html
third one down.
unsure of quality but I reckon this would work as a front wheel lock on a frame with fairly close clearances and a non deep section rim. Provided of course the rear section of the bike is locked securely. its apparently 95mmx95mm and cheap as chips.

@ Ed - Yes, good point. My new wheels I'm thinking about protecting will be open pros though, so I reckon this would work for me.

I've also thought about getting hold of a very short chain of very big strong links and using that with the NY disc to lock the back wheel - which would work for deeper rims, but I'm not sure where I'd be able to get this - anywhere which sells chains normally just chops them with bolt cutters, which defeats the point.

@ Dylan - am I being dim, how would this protect my front wheel from being nicked?

Another quick point is the rims; if it those deep section rims, then forget about using those small lock, there's no way it'll fit nicely with a Velocity Deep V (as a benchmark), let alone H+Son.

Looks about the same size as the NY disc but without measurements or being able to hold one in your hands no way of knowing really.

Also it's no name, personally I wouldn't trust a non-branded lock. Yes the Krptonite is a lot more expensive but I trust the yellow Kryptonite locks and I've seen a photo of it done with this lock so I know it's possible...

would be interested on opinions on this mini mini D-lock
http://www.probikesecurity.co.uk/disclocks.html
third one down.
unsure of quality but I reckon this would work as a front wheel lock on a frame with fairly close clearances and a non deep section rim. Provided of course the rear section of the bike is locked securely. its apparently 95mmx95mm and cheap as chips.

I'm hopeful that combining an evo mini-D and a Kryptonite New York chain will mean that my bike stays where I leave it.

However- any horror stories about either of these locks?

YouTube - Abrindo uma Kriptonite com uma BIC

@snob1, kryptonite no longer uses that key system. If you can open my 3000 with a pen you can have my bike.