any recommendations for bike locks?

summerspring

I'm looking to get a bicycle and was wondering if anyone can recommend any decent D-locks or chain locks?

I said to my friend that one lock is probably the same as any other, but he thinks not, so I wanted to ask around in case there are some which are better than others.

I was thinking of a good D-lock to secure the bike to the bike-stand or fence, and then maybe a chain to chain the wheels together?

It wouldn't be a mega-expensive bike, but I'd like to TRY and prevent it getting pinched as far as possible.

brightonman123

TWO locks are better, to put off would be thieves.. Halfords or local bike shop should have a range.


Lock frame and either wheel, then the other wheel, to something solid. and ideally in view of any cctv!


D locks, or a thick covered cable.

dandelionclock30

Any D lock can be taken off with power tools, ie an angle grinder. the cable locks can be snipped off with a bolt cropper.
The best D lock are the Gold secure ones, Like Abus Gold secure etc. Even these you can get off in 5-10 minutes.
Thats the reality. What I do with mine is have the back wheel and frame locked with the D lock and the front wheel with a cable. I only lock it to an Iron railing etc in my view and I'm less than 10 minutes. e.g I'll run in a shop and out.
Also dont leave it in a garage/shed at night if you want to keep it.

daivid

Unless your bike is very expensive the main thing is making it more awkward to steal than the next bike. Any lock can be removed but a quality d-lock coupled with a decent cable or chain to secure the wheels is a good start. As above make sure it is locked to something secure, in a place you are allowed to lock bikes (don't want the council comming round with an anglegrinder...) and ideally covered by CCTV.

Cheap cables can be cut in a second or two with bolt cutters hidden in a jacket and riden off within a few more like nothing ever happend - except the lock on the floor. If its going to take time and two locks need cutting your bike is likely to be passed by.

Also having not bought your bike yet it may be worth considering desirability to thieves: in general mountain bikes/bmx high, road bikes/hybrids/shoppers low. When I lived in a big city I rode an old road bike worth about £100 using a combination of a kryptonite d-lock and kryptonite cable with padlock, for what its worth my bike was never touched and was ideal for what I wanted it for.

summerspring

Thankyou

I notice there's quite a difference in prices for the D-locks, I'm guessing the pricier ones are sturdier? I wouldn't be looking to buy an expensive bike. Possibly a town bike, though it's quite hilly here (I'm not far from Brightonman) so it will need to have gears!

armyknife

What gets me is if you follow the sensible advice given on websites and here, to protect an expensive bike,you're gonna end up carrying around a fair old weight of locks/security devices.

daivid

armyknife wrote: »

What gets me is if you follow the sensible advice given on websites and here, to protect an expensive bike,you're gonna end up carrying around a fair old weight of locks/security devices.

I agree which is why I never leave my expensive bike (£2000) unattended except in the home where it is fully insured old-for-new. Much more sensible to have a cheap run around that attracts little interest from thieves in my case a 30 year old road bike. Its a shame thats the way the world is (perceived) then again I do enjoy the luxury Of having a bike I keep for best.

As for what lock to go for I would suggest a D-lock from a recognised brand (abus, kryptonite...) I wouldn't think you need a top end one though - most of those seem to be about meeting insurance requirements for expensive bikes, and yes are rather heavy. Mine was £30 IIRC and so far as I can tell would require quite a bit of effort or noise to remove which I dont see any thieves going to for the bike I lock up.

Hedgehog99

They used to say you should spend one tenth of the value of your bike on the lock. Agree with other posters - two or more locks are better. Even if the second lock is less substantial, it still takes time and draws attention which the thief will not want. To avoid carrying the weight, can you keep a lock a work? Police advised me to get a heavy chain from a hardware store & buy a really good padlock, i.e. a DIY combo thieves cannot go prepared for compared to a particular brand they carry the tools for. You could get two chains to keep at work/home, but just take the padlock with you in between?

Weird_Nev

Hedgehog99 wrote: »

They used to say you should spend one tenth of the value of your bike on the lock. Agree with other posters - two or more locks are better. Even if the second lock is less substantial, it still takes time and draws attention which the thief will not want. To avoid carrying the weight, can you keep a lock a work? Police advised me to get a heavy chain from a hardware store & buy a really good padlock, i.e. a DIY combo thieves cannot go prepared for compared to a particular brand they carry the tools for. You could get two chains to keep at work/home, but just take the padlock with you in between?

I'd say down to about £30 minimum and £40 ideally. Cheap locks are very weak and easy to exploit.

D-Lock with gold secure rating from Abus, Oxford or Kryptonite, With a key not a combination. Plus a cable lock if you're being super cautious, but I just swapped out the quick release squewer for a 'security' one and the same with the seat bolt, saves a couple of minutes looking a cable through everything when locking and unlocking the bike.

Whilst every lock can be broken, decent D-Locks really aren't as easy as people make out to break. I've never seen evidence of 'freeze spray' being used by bike thieves, heavy duty bolt croppers or angle grinerds perhaps, but by that time you're dealing with organised thieves who will take your bike regardless. Most thefts are opportunist, and with a decent lock you can prevent those.