Recommend a damn good bike lock. Experience preferred.

[ericj]

Oh, and, yes, you can defeat barrel locks with a bic pen.

I didn't believe it at first. So i got out my pen and tried.

Took me about 10 minutes the first time. After that i could do it in about 20 seconds flat.

I hear that the trick with regular key locks is to freeze them with a can of compressed air and then hit 'em good and hard with a hammer.

 

[Pixel Pusher]

If cost is not an issue, I would highly recommend the “Stocks Lock” (http://www.stocksmfg.on.ca). It's made of stainless steel with integrated flexible cables, allowing the lock to bend away from leveraging or hammering forces.

IMHO it's one of the best on the market and I commute in Toronto which is apparently the bike theft capital of North America. I would imagine NYC is worst but it's probably so bad there that NO ONE leaves their bikes outside, so the stats are lower!

Otherwise I would suggest getting a basic U-Lock, preferably still a “Kryptonite” and reinforcing it with a plumber's t-pipe as shown below. The t-pipe will reinforce against leveraging but not the “Bic” pen trick if that still works.

Just wanted to add, as many have already pointed out that no lock is theft proof. A reputable quality lock really acts more as deterrent for thieves to pass on your bike for an easier mark.

 

[ls20]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericj /img/forum/go_quote.gif Oh, and, yes, you can defeat barrel locks with a bic pen. I didn't believe it at first. So i got out my pen and tried. Took me about 10 minutes the first time. After that i could do it in about 20 seconds flat. I hear that the trick with regular key locks is to freeze them with a can of compressed air and then hit 'em good and hard with a hammer.

kryptonite has changed their locking mechanism to non-barrel
i figure other manufacturers should have moved away from it too.. but maybe
i do not think a can of compress air can adequate freeze alloy locks to the point of fragility

 

[DanT]

Or you can get a folding bike and keep it with you all the time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hYAvB7jkyA

 

[subfocus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ls20 /img/forum/go_quote.gif kryptonite has changed their locking mechanism to non-barrel i figure other manufacturers should have moved away from it too.. but maybe i do not think a can of compress air can adequate freeze alloy locks to the point of fragility

I've also heard of a freezing method being used to help shatter bike-locks. Perhaps not compressed air , but something anyway.

 

[uzziah]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ls20 /img/forum/go_quote.gif in any city, any u-lock will do. not one is better than the other. anybody with the proper tools can cut it off in a matter of seconds (literally). (in college, i was working building maintenance and we actually did have to do this for abandoned bikes) IN NEW YORK CITY, the lock to use is a big hardened CHAIN (krypto New York chain) with their padlock or any other padlock it is almost absolutely critical. want proof it works? check out all the bikes IN the city of new york. in most cases, these locks cost more than the bikes themselves.

or.............you could save some money and just buy some good chain at home depot and a good padlock

 

[uzziah]

honestly, when it's all said and done, i really do think the best, most enjoyable thing to do is just pick up a cheap beater bike on craigslist or something, scratched and rusty, forget the lock, and if it gets stolen, buy another; course i HATE bothering to lock up all the time, so that's just me; just find someone selling an old road bike or whatever and pick them up for $50 or less locally

 

[raymondlin]

If someone wants to steal your bike, they will.

A good lock will only slow them down, at least the pros. And all you can do is prevent the opportunist bike thiefs.

Best thing is get the bike insured, get a lock that's approved by the insurance company. Then replace the bike if it get stolen.

This is my lock

 

[bundee1]

I just want something that I can ride to the supermarket with or maybe go to the movies with. I think a couple of those bulldogs will do. The times my bike were stolen were actually stick ups so the locks werent an issue.

 

[Illah]

Quote:

Originally Posted by uzziah /img/forum/go_quote.gif or.............you could save some money and just buy some good chain at home depot and a good padlock

Notice how the guys at Home Depot cut you a length of chain without much effort? Yeah...so do thieves

The Kryto Fughettaboutit chain is extremely hardened using a process similar to that used in military armor making it much harder to cut. For example, even a fat steel lock can be cut amazingly quickly with a battery powered Dremel...like under 30 seconds! Those are pocket sized. Dremel, mini-crowbar, and a hammer can all fit in a coat or backpack without anyone knowing the difference.

When you get the expensive locks they're all super-hardened so cutting becomes really tough (metal harder than the cutting tool = broken tool). It's not impossible cut, but only super-pro thieves will have heavy duty tools like jigsaws or mini-circular saws.

--Illah

 

[oicdn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbriant /img/forum/go_quote.gif Surely there's more to this than just that. They must have elaborated as to why the claim was being denied, didn't they? I find it hard to imagine that that's all they would say in response to a claim.

Actually no. They were blunt about it and said "if you want to persue this claim, you will have to talk with our lawyers". When I asked why, they doubted that the theives would leave the carbide blades there (actually in a bush accross the sidewalk)....but it was obvious that it was cut by hand cause the cuts weren't even, and the blades were handsaw blades...

OnGuard = FU

If a company believes thier locks or chains are indestructable....chances are, they're easy to get into. The thieves didn't even cut the chain, they cut THE LOCK....I guess they figured it was softer or easier to cut....I dunno, but in any case, the bikes were stolen.

If you're wondering why I had two bikes? Well, the marina is actually the place where we ride while we wait for verybody to show up. Some people like to try out other peoples bikes and what not, so I brought BOTH out. I figured, it's much harder to cut the lock than it is to break a car window and unlock a door.

Well, later that night, after we went riding we met a guy who lived on a dece nice yaht, conversed and ended up having a few drinks. So I decided to get the locks out of my carand lock the bikes up RIGHT IN FRONT of his boat, to the large wooden posts. I didn't want to bring the bikes on his boat because well...it seemed like impeding, and also, that's why I had these ginourmous locks....in the end, I wish I woulda impeded and brought the bikes onto this guys boat...