Locks that work

Yeah i was wondering about trying to pour/spray some sort of solvent in... would be a reet ball ache though if this happened.

Dedicated Abus Granit lock pick/decoder.
£130 and with some skills you could easily just start collecting/reselling Abus Granit locks, probably the bike that they were formally securing too.

I take it you don't own an Abus then BrickMan? Could you take down the link please because I do.

:o

taking the link down isn't going to solve anything. If someone wants one, they'll be able to find it. I'd much rather be aware that these tools exist.
I'm very interested in knowing how difficult these tools are to use, owning and using two abus granit locks.
Pretty sure bike insurance often requires proof of theft in the form of a broken lock, so if it's picked and taken away you might have trouble.
A good general security principle is defence in depth, not relying on a single item or process to protect you. So, use multiple security devices, be it multiple locks from different manufacturers, choosing your locking site, choosing which bits of the bike to lock, making your bike seem or actually be less valuable, changing locations etc.
I think I'l be getting a second, seriously chunky lock to leave on the stand near work alongside the granit. It won't be abus just in case this tool's easy to use or the special metal turns out to not be so specal after all.

Brickman please remove the link that you've posted. It works against the security of members of this forum and the wider cycling community. The topic can be widely discussed without the link.

For the sake of our fellow cyclists, please consider this.

Sure is- Evolution Mini-5
Nice holster, how makes the pants?

is this the evo mini?

Sure is- Evolution Mini-5
Nice holster, how makes the pants?

Wiz mashines and sudge

taking the link down isn't going to solve anything. If someone wants one, they'll be able to find it. I'd much rather be aware that these tools exist.
I'm very interested in knowing how difficult these tools are to use, owning and using two abus granit locks.
Pretty sure bike insurance often requires proof of theft in the form of a broken lock, so if it's picked and taken away you might have trouble.
A good general security principle is defence in depth, not relying on a single item or process to protect you. So, use multiple security devices, be it multiple locks from different manufacturers, choosing your locking site, choosing which bits of the bike to lock, making your bike seem or actually be less valuable, changing locations etc.
I think I'l be getting a second, seriously chunky lock to leave on the stand near work alongside the granit. It won't be abus just in case this tool's easy to use or the special metal turns out to not be so specal after all.

^this

Link sorted.
It just amazes me that abus will freely sell the pick device to anyone that wants one. Makes my mind up clearly on which locks to avoid.
The two parts of the lock needed when claiming on manufacturers anti theft claims is a pain too, since most broken locks are taken away.

Sure is- Evolution Mini-5
Nice holster, how makes the pants?
Jean shorts from Creux Cycling Velowear.

Well the bar's been raised to a 3 word google search. Nice one.

Also, according to one page I saw which seems to have the same decoded available for £150, it only works on the older granit mechanism.

Interestingly:

A skilled user should be able to open a lock in under 3 minutes plus a further 45 seconds to determine the code. As the discs are not spring loaded this time period can be interrupted.

So you can in theory keep going back and having another go until you've cracked it.

As a result of selling this tool commercially Abus have made changes to the design of their locks. The new lock has a modified bottom disc that cannot be used to apply torque to the mechanism. These new locks cannot be decoded with this system.

And the world is temporarily a more secure place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyRoWphwCy4

Dedicated Abus Granit lock pick/decoder.
£130 and with some skills you could easily just start collecting/reselling Abus Granit locks, probably the bike that they were formally securing too.

OMG !

I presume this is more than just the D-Locks. The lock on my SteelOFlex looks the same as the one on my Granit PlusX D-lock.

That will teach me for buying two locks from the same maker. :-(

If Abus have fixed it with new locks are they going to recall all the existing ones out there.. I bet not. Bet they don't even distinguish it on the packaging.

Pretty much all locks can be picked with the right tools and skills. Right now there is probably one single small disk-tumbler available worldwide that can not readily be picked or bypassed.
The locking mechanisms of bike locks are usually nowhere near the cutting edge of lock technology.
Kryptonite and Onguard locking mechanisms are even more primitive then the abus system. Squire 6-pin might be a bit better but i have no reliable information about that one.

But keep in mind that this is not a very serious problem. Even the most highly skilled (competition) lockpickers need 2 minutes to open a decent disk-style tumbler. So a semi-skilled crook under real-life conditions (dark, wet, bad positioning, etc.) will take 5-30 minutes. That would be a full pass in any lock test.

problem!

I have just got me hands on the evo mini 5 pictured above. Now either I'm being completely retarded or the product is faulty. I cannot close the thing! The bar cannot go through the hole, it doesn't clear the protruding silver metal bit inside. Is this a common problem?

The lock came locked, unlocked it with ease and now cannot for the life of me lock it back up again. Help much appreciated..

Lock picking is not the main threat from my totally unscientific analysis(*). If it were in the same league as the old bic pen Kryptonite flaw where any chancer could do it in minimal time then it would be much more serious.

Still, it is useful I think to point out that locks can be picked and that if someone were to pick the lock, it doesn't matter how much metal is in the shackle. I'm not sure what the best defence against lockpicks is - a good lock mechanism (hard to judge), several locks with different mechanisms, parking up in a visible place where anyone picking is more likely to be disturbed or not using a lock.

It's obviously a good idea anyway, but is a well lubed lock mechanism harder to pick than a corroded one, I wonder?

• Reading the stolen bikes thread
  

problem!

I have just got me hands on the evo mini 5 pictured above. Now either I'm being completely retarded or the product is faulty. I cannot close the thing! The bar cannot go through the hole, it doesn't clear the protruding silver metal bit inside. Is this a common problem?

The lock came locked, unlocked it with ease and now cannot for the life of me lock it back up again. Help much appreciated..

Either you have the 'D' the wrong way round, or you have left the lock engaged; try turning the key.

Lock picking is not the main threat from my totally unscientific analysis(*). If it were in the same league as the old bic pen Kryptonite flaw where any chancer could do it in minimal time then it would be much more serious.

Still, it is useful I think to point out that locks can be picked and that if someone were to pick the lock, it doesn't matter how much metal is in the shackle. I'm not sure what the best defence against lockpicks is - a good lock mechanism (hard to judge), several locks with different mechanisms, parking up in a visible place where anyone picking is more likely to be disturbed or not using a lock.

Agreed. I can not see someone hanging around in public trying to do this with some form of alarm screaming (I use an additional alarm padlock with mine). I could see this being more of a threat of them using it on my bikes in the shed, if they have targeted me.

Easy to carry some pick devices and a torch, than a portable angle-grinder.

As ever, prob me just being paranoid.

... which prompted me, after reading this thread a few weeks ago, to buy some 19mm chain - dooh' I should have realised how heavy it is. LOL. Feck me, locking my bikes up with 3m of that is a right old exercise work out. Like dragging the Titanic out by the anchor chain.

I'd forgotten about alarm locks - I imagine that so long as they're not too easy to disable (syringe full of salt water?) they would provide quite a deterrent to a picker who disturbed them.

OMG !

I presume this is more than just the D-Locks. The lock on my SteelOFlex looks the same as the one on my Granit PlusX D-lock.

If you're using a Steel-O-Flex the least of you worries is some tool with a lock-pick. These cable locks are a piece of piss to cut with bolt croppers. And many people on this very forum have lost their pride and joy while it was 'secured' with a Steel-O-Flex. I do wish people would stop buying them as security devices. In the real world they are not.

If you're using a Steel-O-Flex the least of you worries is some tool with a lock-pick. These cable locks are a piece of piss to cut with bolt croppers. And many people on this very forum have lost their pride and joy while it was 'secured' with a Steel-O-Flex. I do wish people would stop buying them as security devices. In the real world they are not.

Sadly I bought before reading any of the real world reviews on forums. Fell for the usual Sold Secure and Manufacture ratings. :-(

It only gets used in low-risk situations now. We learn...

It's obviously a good idea anyway, but is a well lubed lock mechanism harder to pick than a corroded one, I wonder?

From what i heard from the people at SSD, some corroded pin tumblers are harder to pick then fresh ones. Corroded ones are also harder to key-bump. I do not know if this is true for disk tumblers as well.
Still, i wouldn't let my lock corrode on purpose, the risk of it getting stuck is far too high.

... which prompted me, after reading this thread a few weeks ago, to buy some 19mm chain - dooh' I should have realised how heavy it is. LOL. Feck me, locking my bikes up with 3m of that is a right old exercise work out. Like dragging the Titanic out by the anchor chain.

One of the manufacturers for 19mm chains actively discourages the use of those beasts on bicycles. Reason being that a few dropped links can damage the bike and on some bikes the chain won't fit trough the spokes if you want to lock a wheel.
I think pragmasis will trade down to 16mm if the 19mm won't fit. Almax might do that as well if asked nicely.

Hey, I'm live nearby Frankfurt, Germany. I found this thread while searching for a second lock but before I should replace my current primary lock, I guess. In about 3 oder 4 weeks I'll have to lock it every day at trade school in Frankfurt. By the way my current lock is an Abus Bordo Granit X-Plus and I read the bad review on road.cc.

I'm really not sure about which locks I should buy. My first choice was a Krypto Fahg, but I think it's too small for my old road frame.
My other choices are the Abus Extreme 59 u-lock, the Kryptonite New York M18 and Abus Granit X54.

The X54 is the cheapest, but it's secure though and a lightweight compared to the Extreme 59 and the Krypto M18. The Abus Extreme 59 is very expensive otherwise it'd already be mine. So the M18 seems to be my choice? But which second lock should I buy? Any ideas?

And I've got one question left: Why exactly is the Abus Extreme 59 more recommended than the M18?

If you are going to use your Abus as a secondary lock, you should buy the Kryptonite, as if the thief has a method for breaking an Abus, it may not work on the Kryptonite, and vice versa.

I bought one of these http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Safety+Security/Security+Cables+Chains/Hardened+Hex+Link+Security+Chain+12mm+x+15m/d200/sd2949/p85267
and one of these
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Safety+Security/Padlocks/Steel+Padlock+70mm+Closed+Shackle/d200/sd2540/p99537
when i moved to bristol, locked my bike in some shitty spots and the lock and chain have already received some 'attention' and it's held up well. A cheap alternative to an expensive Kryptonite chain (also used with an insurance approved D-lock).

I have just read all 29 pages on this thread. It’s been a huge help. Thanks GA2G and everybody else.

Earlier this week I ordered my first new bike, a Bianchi Pista steel, and I ordered the Fahg to secure it. Currently, to secure my beater I’ve been naively using a Series 2 Kryptolock and cable. Having read this thread – I think I’ll bin that lock.

I’m pleased I went for the Fahg (I’ll use “the edscoble method”) but I've since learnt that I’ll need a secondary u-lock from another brand, accompanied by an alarm lock.

As a secondary lock I’m thinking of going for the 23cm Abus Granit X-Plus 54. I know it'll be a pretty heavy pair weighing just over 4kg but I think I’d rather that than something smaller and croppable like the Mini Evo. The Abus should provide a little more convenience than the Fahg too.

Would anyone recommend an alternative setup to accompany my Fahg?