Locks that work

billysan, get in touch with the retailer, or the manufacturer, and ask if its possible that you may have got an overly-sensitive model, and if you may exchange it, or have it recalibrated?

GA2G - sorry to ask a stupid question, but what does:

• "WARNING: Issued key combinations are too few.***" actualy mean/ what is real risk? *
  Going to getan Onguard Brute **for my GF and just wanted to check.
  
  

Also does anyone have any experience of these?

*DISCLAIMER: I'm not knocking the list I think its awesome - just unsure of meaning

Has anyone else got one of those Xena alarmed disc locks and having issues with it? Mine seems to be a bit oversensitive. The security guard in the car park where I leave my bike during the day had a proper whinge at me yesterday afternoon as it kept going off apparently.

Mine's fine, only goes off when someone moves my bike, or a bike that is locked next to it, and it jars it a little. I've had a few instances of it 'arming' in my bag - but thats generally because something metal has got inside the clasp section (which I believe has a magnetic sensor) - always much hilarity when my bag starts going off at the pub.

Sofar I havent found it to be too sensitve to wind/rain - although winter will be a truer test. As GA2G says, I would get it swapped out.

hugo7, there's been some anecdotal discussion on here by forum members, that some OnGuard Brutes, seem to be able to be opened by the keys of some other OnGuard Brutes. I would assume these would be either from the same immediate batch, which for security, would be split up for international distribution. However, if same-locked devices become available in the same country, then I could see a problem with this.

I've guessed that all lock companies say that their locks have 100,000 possible key combinations. But the cost of cutting 000,000's of different keys, would be hugely expensive. Cost savings for such a company would come from producing only a few 1,000 key types. Therefore, it would be possible to unlock other locks in the same range/batch, if lucky enough to find one.

Trelock are German, and the "Chermans" don't muck about with serious things.

Personally, I would buy the Brute for myself, but would make sure I had 2 locks on the bike - both being different, and from differing manaufacturers also.

^ thanks allot for clearing that up, really helpful.

Going to take the risk and have ordered one for my GF. I'm sure there are easier ways to break them than carrying a jailer-style batch of keys, but we'll see...

.. if it gets stolen I'll report back... and then blame you;)

Any one familiar with the Oxford Magnum 2000?

Just picked one up and seems good and strong.

Richard

Any one familiar with the Oxford Magnum 2000?

Just picked one up and seems good and strong.

Richard

"Richard", why not look at the list on the very first page of this thread?

Its listed, but the retailers have not included the "2000" in the title. But, it is the same lock.

Sorry - my bad.

Richard

Just found and unbelievably priced 18mm U-Lock. At just under £15.oo, yes, FIFTEEN POUNDS!!
Its the GRP Superdeal** U-Lock **(18mm). I bought one immediately. Is it any good you ask? Well I certainly think so.

The design is copied from the ABUS Granit 59 (their ultimate lock), and is a square-tubed affair. Heavy as expected, and I think the weak point may be the barrel, if at all. Its double locking also.

Get down to Peckham, and straight into Wilson Cycles [32 Peckham High Street, SE15 5DP / 0207-639-1338]. I still can't believe the price for the spec. He says, if he hasn't got them in, he can get them in within a day or so from an order. Good bloke, and an excellent example, of the can-do attitude that shows the small, family run LBS, at its best.

The attached photo has a Oyster Card holder with the lock, for scale.

1 Attachment

That looks honky as fuck! Maybe run some basic tests (twist/pick the lock/throw it at a wall) and if all is well add that motherfucker to the list of lists!

I'd been a little nervous to endorse products that arn't a well known brand, especially in security products, just incase they have some weird defect that makes them shite (and thus cheap)

............Maybe run some basic tests (twist/pick the lock/throw it at a wall) and if all is well add that motherfucker to the list of lists!

I'd been a little nervous to endorse products that arn't a well known brand, especially in security products, just incase they have some weird defect that makes them shite (and thus cheap)

Mechamorgan, thanks for the advice.

The GRP Superdeal U-Lock (18mm) that I just bought, is a tough lock. But being a mass-produced, cheap Chinese effort, it won't be as tough allround as an Abus for example.

I am easily aware of its plus points and its shortcomings.

Plus Points:
18mm, so won't be defeated by hand-cutting tools
Double-locking
Square-shaped, making it even harder to crop

Detriments:
Weak point would be the barrel/case, as its not as tight as it could be.
Attacks here would be more successful than against the u-shackle itself

Solution: Lock bike with keyhole facing away from easiest attack points, and exposing the very tough U-shackle.
Twin this method with an alarm lock.

This is how a £14.50 lock, can provide £200.oo worth of protection.

I did do my homework before buying. Its not a perfect lock, but the good part of it, is more than a match for the detrimental part. A bit of nous is called for though.

In fact, I would wager, that careful and thoughtful locking with this lock, would provide more and better protection, than almost any other lock in the list.

The only way we can find out if it is indeed tough is to cut it.

I smell a forum donation to purchase the lock to cut it?

I think that's a pretty sound idea, just incase the weaker barrel is a lot weaker than even G2AG's considered thinking.

If it is secure, however, hooray! I smell a third lock in the purchasing.

I'm just picking up on this thread and saw the message about evans and cycle surgery price matching against online sites. do they price match on sale items though?

This is a great deal i think : http://www.parker-international.co.uk/6772/Kryptonite-New-York-Fahgettaboudit-Mini-Lock.html but would rather be able to pick it up in store.

Anyone been able to get this price in a store ?

30 people donated 50p to buy that lock, then Fred (I think he got the tools) will have a butcher at cutting that.

You guys can use mine. Seriously. But, I think the tests need to be standardised before beginning. That way we can compare our tests to other tests that have been done elsewhere. Theye should be roughly similar, but we would test more?

If we used a recognised format:

Test 1 - 5 minutes with handtools
Test 2- 5 minutes with portable cutting tools.

I'm all for LFGSS being a place people come to, to have a laugh, or to pick up some really good information.

battery powered angle grinder would be the perfect tools, I think this is what the theft tend to carry if they're serious about stealing bicycle.

if a test can withstand an angle grinder reasonably well, I'm sure it can deal with handtools.

A hammer can knock an iffy base away from the shackle. Thats how the Trelock BS610 was defeated.
It was designed to be superior to the BS510, but was exposed to be a lesser lock.

Test 1........ Hammer, Crowbar, Boltcroppers (handpowered), any other suggestions?

Test 2........Angle grinder, battery powered hydraulic bolt croppers, any other suggestions?

Pipe/scaffolding pole for the bend test?

Lighter into the barrel to see what the mechanism's made of?

Yes, not on this lock personally, on the fagh chain, but just print this off, take it in.

I'm just picking up on this thread and saw the message about evans and cycle surgery price matching against online sites. do they price match on sale items though?

This is a great deal i think : http://www.parker-international.co.uk/6772/Kryptonite-New-York-Fahgettaboudit-Mini-Lock.html but would rather be able to pick it up in store.

Anyone been able to get this price in a store ?

This may be innacurate but I have heard tell that the most common way to steal a bike secured with a cheap D-lock is just to pick the bike up and rotate it- the leverage caused by the frame turning in the lock is enough to pop the cheap ones off.

With that previously (unknown to me) information, I shall now embark upon a life of crime!

Mwah ha ha ha ha!