Locks that work

...cut off the plastic cover ...

Ed, this is terrible advice!

the plastic cover is there for a reason. it provides an insulation against thermal / chemical attacks (ie freezing). PM me if you wanna know how exactly - and how easy it is to defeat a serious lock, I'm not gonna post it up here.

Most of the time it takes longer and is more difficult / risky to remove the plastic than it does to break the lock. to remove plastic you need to carry a stanley knife, and a thief is more likely to think twice about that than carrying the right chemicals to break a D lock.

So do NOT remove the plastic cover, especially if you wanna rely on the guarantee from your lock manufacturer.

I currently own on a Krp mini, and am having difficulties sometimes when the locking conditions are less than ideal - ie, I can't seem to find something small enough all the time.

What are my alternative options? I don't really want to just buy a bigger lock if I can avoid it.

Moon

Smaller bike?

Smaller bike?

I meant the things I am trying to attach it to are too big.

Or were you trying to make a joke?

You're right - shit gag.

You're right - shit gag.

I read that initially as 'shit gag'.

Shit rag, I mean, ie, an insult.

Shit rag.
This has widely been promoted by Tynan, as being a particularly effective anti-theft method.

Cheap too.

This has widely been promoted by Tynan, as being a particularly effective anti-theft method.

Cheap too.

Cheap, effective and good for the environment.

Save the Earth
Shit on your Bike.

T-Shirt list anyone ?

last year some sh*theads tried to rob my dads bike. they broke into our shed and carried the bike over our back wall into the lane where they used tools to break his d lock and a chain. they were well prepared and seemed to make light work of the first two locks (my dad is paranoid) but they couldn't get through this
http://www.trelock.de/trelock/t2/en/produktdetails.php?id=rs440&pfad=schliess
they had torn it to pieces but couldn't get it off so they left the bike in the lane. they're way strongert than i thought.

im considering buying a fahgetaboudit chain and mini d (wosting £120) but cant seem to find it in the listing. any reviews ladies and gents?

The shackle's heavy but it leaves a person with a pretty secure feeling... really nice to have when locking up someplace sketchy with few places you can secure with a conventional u-lock. I'm not in the UK though.

my best bet? Fah Mini and cheap chain, I use the cheap chain to lock the front wheel and frame to the post, and the Fah Mini to lock the rear wheel (through frame) to the post.

im considering buying a fahgetaboudit chain and mini d (wosting £120) but cant seem to find it in the listing. any reviews ladies and gents?

I have both. The chain is ridiculously heavy but what's a few kilos for peace of mind? That said, I still wouldn't leave my bike locked up, unattended and out of sight for a few hours. Especially in certain (I won't name names) parts of London. It's amazing what some thieving pricks try to nick. I once came back to my bike and one of my double straps were undone. I'm pretty certain someone tried nicking it but gave up. It's days like that you're glad it was such a bitch getting them on in the first place as taking them off is obviously quite a task!

Anyhoo, I use the mini for locking the front wheel to the frame and the chain to go through my rear wheel (through the rear traingle) onto whatever post or street furniture you want to secure to and also through the rails of my saddle (you can't be too careful). The Fah chain links fit through the rails on a Brooks saddle (you have a Brooks, right?) just fine.

Hey GA2G - how come the Fahgedaboudit chain isn't on the list? Is it not so good anymore?

out of curiously, what kind of bike do you have wools?

chains are generally no good. much easier target for croppers, which they succumb to.

The only chains I have included, are those of 16mm (links) thickness . These are nearly impossible to carry, and that's the point - no compromise. Really to be left overnight, where you intend to lock them during the day, and so forth.

The Fahgettaboudit Chain has 11mm thick links.
The New York Noose has 10mm thick links.

The 2 Kryptonite chains listed above, are excellent, because they're made of specially hardened steel, but 10-11mm isn't 16mm.

they were well prepared and seemed to make light work of the first two locks (my dad is paranoid) but they couldn't get through this
http://www.trelock.de/trelock/t2/en/produktdetails.php?id=rs440&pfad=schliess
they had torn it to pieces but couldn't get it off so they left the bike in the lane. they're way strongert than i thought.

irish mick, I had a look at this, but since Trelock themselves only give this a level 4 rating (6 is best rating), I won't include it. I have found a new lock from Trelock, and I added that (MB600).

out of curiously, what kind of bike do you have wools?

Bob Jackson Vigorelli. Not one of them tarty fluted seat tube jobbies. :p

Why are Hublox recommended above Pit Locks?

Unlike pitlocks they use a generic key - one Hublox can open any. Thats nowhere near as good as Pitlock's unique one.

Or am I missing something?

Also, Almax IV are better than III - I am trying to find out from them at the moment how heavy they are as I'm thinking of getting one.

I have an Almax III - you don't want anything heavier, believe me.

Don't Abus do a lightweight (relatively speaking) but very tough D-lock? I saw one in Edwardes the other day and for the life of me can't remember the exact product name to google. It was £74.99 IIRC. On picking it up off the rack I was pleasantly surprised at how light it was in comparison to things like a Fah or other uber-beefy D-locks.

Abus do a huge range of D-locks, of which I suspect only the large and heavy ones are likely to be secure, what with Abus being subject to the laws of physics like everyone else. I've certainly seen Abus locks lying around in the past that have clearly been snapped with scaff pole or a jack. IIRC someone on MT actually witnessed some kids doing this (Abus mentioned by name) and rescued the bike.

Why are Hublox recommended above Pit Locks?
Unlike pitlocks they use a generic key - one Hublox can open any. Thats nowhere near as good as Pitlock's unique one.
Or am I missing something?

Good point, but I replaced the Pit Lock recommendation, after seeing the posted photo of the Pit Lock ruined, by simply squeezing the end. But you're right, and I may need to re-examine this recommendation.

Don't Abus do a lightweight (relatively speaking) but very tough D-lock? I saw one in Edwardes the other day and for the life of me can't remember the exact product name to google. It was £74.99 IIRC. On picking it up off the rack I was pleasantly surprised at how light it was in comparison to things like a Fah or other uber-beefy D-locks.

I think its the Abus Granit 54. I was in there myself and had a look at the same lock, I believe.