Locks that work

you can just lock the front wheel and frame together only, while locking the main lock with the rear wheel/frame/bike rack.

Very interesting discussion. I'm now checking out everyones bike locking technique. A popular (but crap) method is to use a chunky D-lock as nothing more than a padlock, with a crappy cable wrapped around the railings!

I ride an old 98 Reynolds 525(?) mountain bike, all rigid, smooth tyres, which i love dearly.

I've been lugging around a Kryptonite M18 that Kryptonite sent me as a replacement after the Bic pen fiasco made my previous RokLok rather pointless.

I recently wanted a lock that's a little bit more every day (and so i can leave the M18 at work), and the M18 didn't come with a bracket, probably intentionally, so I bought one and it's broken two EZ Mounts! Too heavy? Too much leverage, maybe?

For now I've gone for the Evo Mini, just for when I'm in cafés etc. It arrived today from Amazon and it's got a Silver Sold Secure sticker on the box. The copyright on the packaging says 2005, but companies often use the same packaging for years, yet this sticker had been added for the UK market.

Ideally I'll get a Fahg soon too, so that and the Evo Mini will make a good Hackney set-up. And all compatible with the same bracket. I've got Pitlocks on wheels and seatpost too. Maybe headset lock next too.

For what it's worth there's a stripped down Merlin MTB frame in Bloomsbury secured with an Evo Mini. Looks like it's been there for a while, and while the wheels and seat have gone, the very nice frame remains, so that must be some credit to the lock.

Forgive me i'm new to this, whats the deal with armour cable locks?? i've a Magnum Plus 110cm Armoured Cable Bike Lock got it after learning the hard way with an old bike, bike not been stolen since. got a new bike now.... is this lock no good??

Let just says cable lock can be cut with household tools.

cable lock act nothing more than a deterrant, as the name suggest, it's just a brunch of thin cable wrapped around, making it's a lots easier to cut than a one piece lock.

Rosstheboss, the best way to carry them is to have a rear rack, do you have any mount for such thing on your bicycle?

cheers edscoble,
so my current fat cable lock is just stopping lazy thieves from stealing my bike. if they really wanted my bike they could get. interesting to know as i've just bought a new bike... me thinks a change is needed

A couple of d-lock will be fine, if you're using your bike for commuting to/from work, you could always leave the main lock at work and carry the smaller one.

I've just bought a new bike and it looks pretty flashy so I want maximum security (sort of) all day every day as I commute on it to and from work.

I've bought a Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Mini Lock that I plan to use as my main lock (trought rear wheel, seat post and bike rack) and then I thought about buying a Kryptonite New York 3000 Lock to lock the front wheel to the bike frame. This will weight about 4 kg but it looks like I'm gonna have to live with that.

Good? Bad? Unnecessary? Suggestions?

Depends on how strong you are.

It's an excellent set-up, but how often would you need maximum security? Are you commuting to and from work/university? Wouldn't it be possible to leave one of the locks in place where you lock it up most?

You do get 10/10 for security, but I think a more useful option, might be an alarm........as is in the list. Calls for a different approach though.

Depends on how strong you are.

It's an excellent set-up, but how often would you need maximum security? Are you commuting to and from work/university? Wouldn't it be possible to leave one of the locks in place where you lock it up most?

You do get 10/10 for security, but I think a more useful option, might be an alarm........as is in the list. Calls for a different approach though.

I might just be paranoid but I'd rather not worry about my bike. 4 kilos is a bit on the heavy side I agree but as you mentioned, I might be able to leave one of the two locks at work from time to time. The things is I often work from different locations in London so whatever combination I use it need to be secure and somewhat portable.

It varies on your bike, have you though about leaving your main lock at work? and use the smaller lock for everyday lock-up?

It varies on your bike, have you though about leaving your main lock at work? and use the smaller lock for everyday lock-up?

Would you say the "Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Mini Lock" would be enough as my only everyday lock when I pop in to stores or the pub etc?

What kind of bike you have? like I said, it varies on the bike you have.

I know there are some people who commute on highly expensive road bike and use it as a daily run.

What kind of bike you have?

I know there are some people who commute on highly expensive road bike and use it as a daily run.

I ride a white Marin Dominican with flashy green rims. I'm looking to buy two locks and I've already bought the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Mini Lock. Not sure what I need next though but I'm thinking a D-lock to lock the front wheel to the frame...

Look fine, the wheel will attract thieves, but you can leave your main lock at your place of work.

plus you only need a small light lock to lock the front wheel to the frame, rather than to the railing, use your main lock for that.

Look fine, the wheel will attract thieves, but you can leave your main lock at your place of work.

plus you only need a small light lock to lock the front wheel to the frame, rather than to the railing, use your main lock for that.

Any suggestions? Should it be another D-lock? I know there's a really helpful list on the first page but I'm unsure of what size would be appropriate etc.

Like the Evolution Mini, it's enough to deterred thieves from taking the front wheel and a lots lighter than an Fah Mini.

here's the size difference;

and this is my method of locking the bike up;

Nice, that's exactly what I need. Thanks for the help edscoble, I appreciate it!

I've just put together a review of the:
Abus Bordo Granit XPlus Lock

It's a folding bike lock that costs £100. My advice: Stay away from it. It's clunky, way over priced and provides little benefit other than comes with a cool carrying case to put it on your frame. I think is more of the mainstream bike shops started carrying it then the price would drop but currently its a niche item to find.

There is a thread called LOCKS. It would have suited your post better. The locks normally discussed on this thread, are those listed in the first post, or those people think have a chance of making the grade. Most people that visit this thread would have laughed at that lock. Sorry.

I've just put together a review of the:
Abus Bordo Granit XPlus Lock

It's a folding bike lock that costs £100. My advice: Stay away from it. It's clunky, way over priced and provides little benefit other than comes with a cool carrying case to put it on your frame. I think is more of the mainstream bike shops started carrying it then the price would drop but currently its a niche item to find.

As a main source of security though, it’s not quite so good. We were able to pop one of the rivets out of the Bordo in just over 46 seconds. Br.
As a main source of security though, it’s not quite so good. We were able to pop one of the rivets out of the Bordo in just over 46 seconds. Oh and it costs £85! And weighs 1.5 Kg!

Forgive me i'm new to this, whats the deal with armour cable locks?? i've a Magnum Plus 110cm Armoured Cable Bike Lock got it after learning the hard way with an old bike, bike not been stolen since. got a new bike now.... is this lock no good??

Even among cable locks this is considered a poor model:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories/locks/product/plus-110cm-armoured-cable-16469
Funnily enough it is rated class A,B,C for Endsleigh insurance, i.e. their highest rating.

Ideally I'll get a Fahg soon too, so that and the Evo Mini will make a good Hackney set-up. And all compatible with the same bracket. I've got Pitlocks on wheels and seatpost too. Maybe headset lock next too.

I use the Fahg mini and Evo mini the same way as edscoble, it's a good setup. But the Fahg Mini won't fit on the Evo bracket. You are better off ordering a Fabric Horse holster.

"Completely unrelaible bike cable" (copied ofF bike radar, they can spell) - sh#t! well now i know at least... FAHG MINI OFF AMAZON £53.99

Even among cable locks this is considered a poor model:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/catego...ed-cable-16469
Funnily enough it is rated class A,B,C for Endsleigh insurance, i.e. their highest rating.

Thanks for compiling all of this GA2G, makes a very interesting and pragmatic read.
I'm not sure if this has been posted; not currently willing to browse through all 14 pages, but today I saw someone near Angel Islington that had a lock up including a pair of handcuffs. Looked quite an interesting lock-up and just the connotations of handcuffs would have deterred me if I were a thief. Shows how lame and gullible I am.
Has anyone had experience of using handcuffs as a lock?

They're next to useless, the key is the word 'handcuff', designed to cuff your hand together on your back giving you very restrictive manoeuvre making it easier for the police to handle you.

but they still can be cut open with a bolt cutter in second, easy to snap if you twist it using the bike as leverage, etc. too much flaw to be used as a bicycle lock.

now as for the security rating, they're purely for instance and only certain tools has been used to try and cut those lock, but they didn't use bolt cutter or angle grinder otherwise it'll break within second, or minutes if you're lucky.

get a decent D-lock, the original design is still the best, and there's almost no weak point that make it easier for thieves to cut them.

I didn't think they'd be very good. Just looked interesting. From my first google search I learn that apparently all handcuffs share the same lock. Odd. They might be good for locking your seat to the frame if you had to.