bike locks review

7/29/2019 bike locks review

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February 2004WhatMountainBike 53

Locks group test

Lockitloseit

ow secure is your bike right

now? One of the worst things

that can happen to a cyclist is

that sickening feeling when you

return to find your lock on the floor,

and your bike nowhere in sight.

Most bike thefts are opportunist

crimes.You pop into a shop for less

than a minute and when you return

your bikes gone.That might not

have happened for less than a

tenner and ten seconds of your time.

Likewise, locking your bike up for a

whole day while youre at work with

just one lock is asking for trouble.

No matter how good the lock is, if

someone has the time and the

inclination they can get around it.

A good quality lock or locks might

cost you about 100 if you also buy

a nice anchor to lock your bike to at

home.It might take you 30 seconds

to lock your bike up properly. But

thats a tiny price to pay, considering

your bike could be gone in seconds.

Weve tested 16 locks of various

shapes, sizes, and strengths to help

you choose your security device.

Bike crime is a constant threat, but with asolid and secure lock you can stop thieves

from stealing your steed. Here are 16 of thetop locks to help you keep your MTB safe

Words: Paul Smith Photo: Joby Sessions

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Only the very best productson test get theWhat MountainBike seal of approval

VALUEMountainBikeWhat

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GOLDMountainBikeWhat

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Awarded to kit thatreceives a combinedperformance andvalue score of 18out of 20 or higher

This representsexcellent valuefor money

Our pick of thebunch and simplythe best on test,regardless of cost

LOOK OUTFOR THESE

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WMB27.gt_locks 15/12/2003 12:45 PM Page 53


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LOCKS

54WhatMountainBike February 2004

SQUIRE PARAMOUNT PLUS43 Squire 01922 476711One of the real heavyweights in the test. With a 16mm thick hardened boron steel shackle that

locks into a hardened steel lock body, the Paramount Plus is one super tough lock. The six-tumbler

lock takes a flat key,and is shielded by a sliding dust cover. The lock

mechanism has around 120,000 different combinations, making it

virtually pickproof. The shackle fits deeply into the lock body and is

a blind entry system that withstood all attempts at opening with

high-pressure car jacks and bars up to six feet long. By itself this is

a stunningly good U-lock; add to it a cable lock of good quality and

you have the makings of fundamental security for your bike.

AXA SECU CITY40 AXA 01584 841051

Right up there with the best of them and excellent value for money. No matter what we

did we couldnt break open the Secu City.The lock design is classic and simple,but the

materials used are fantastically tough.Although the lock

comes with a bracket to attach to your frame its not as

good as some,such as the Kryptonite NY. But were just

nitpicking here really,as there is very little else to let the

lock down. Theres no dust or waterproof cover on the

lock hole, so keep the keyhole lubed from time to time to

prevent possible sticky-lock problems. Other than

that, this is a belter.

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ABUS GRANIT X-PLUS 54

SHACKLE LOCK 230MM60 Zyro 01423 325325Put simply, this is a great lock. The first factor of importance is that the shackle itself is not

made from a round bar, its square, and the U-section does not feature a round bend, its

more parabolic then semi circular. These two details coupled with the slippery cover make

it a difficult lock to physically break open.The lock unit itself is massively strong and also

has some neat and innovative features.Abus uses what it calls Powercells to enclose each

end of the shackle,so even if one end of the shackle is burst or cut through, the other end

remains locked and because its square it cannot be rotated

to open the lock. Add these features together with one of the

toughest lock mechanisms around (not only physically tough

but nobody we contacted had ever seen one picked) and you

have a stunner of a U-lock. Also available in 300mm version

for an extra 2 and comes complete with easy-to-use frame

mounting bracket.

WMBVERDICT

One of the three bestU-locks with anincredibly tough shacklePERFOR MANCE 9

VALUE 7

WMBVERDICT

Very heavy, but very,very strong.One of thebest U-locks availablePERFORMANCE 9

VALUE 8

WMBVERDICT

Massively strong, highquality lock, stunningvalue for moneyPERFORMANCE 9

VALUE 9

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SQUIRE URBAN PROTECTOR30 Squire 01922 476711If the huge robustness of the Paramount Plus (above) isnt your idea of something youd like to

carry or have fitted to your bike bracket, then the Urban Protector is an ideal lock,offering a nice

balance between weight and strength. Our test model was 230mm

long with a 13mm diameter hardened steel shackle, double locking

mechanism,a keyhole dust cover and a new improved mounting bracket

to fit it to your bike when not in use. The lock is a four-tumbler unit not

quite as secure as the six-tumbler unit found in the Paramount, but still

virtually pick proof. Designed to be easy to live with day to day, but not

sold as being the ultimate in security, its a great lock that wed happily

use in conjunction with another.

WMBVERDICT

Strong and secure forits weight and ease ofday to day usePERFOR MANCE 7

VALUE 8



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KRYPTONITENEW YORK 300060 Madison www.ultimatepursuits.co.ukWith a 16mm diameter hardened Kryptonium steel shackle and a host of improvements, the

New York is back at the top of the U-lock pile.A new Piksafe disc-style cylinder lock would

take even a master locksmith an absolute age to try and pick,and the lock bar itself has been

further strengthened with a steel sleeve completely covering it.

The lock is a double-deadbolt design, making twisting the shackle

out of the lock body more or less impossible with any bar that

can be carried undetected (under a jacket/coat for example).

Comes complete with three keys, one of which features a handy

little light to see the lock at night and it also has one of the best

and most universal brackets available. All in all the New York 3000

has just become the best U-lock currently available.

BASTA CLICK30 Basta 01584 841051Costing more than the AXA SL 7 (over the page) youd expect the Basta Click to bebetter, but it isnt. Fitting as it does on the brake bosses,it would be a silly thing to use

this device by itself, as you could just unscrew the

bolts and leave the wheel behind with the lock still

attached. When its on the bike it doesnt fair well

against a regular hammer either. But... used in

conjunction with another device,such as a good

quality U-lock, its a further deterrent, and something

the thief will have to deal with thus spending more

time on your bike which is not something they want

to do. Its also easy to fit and simple to use.

SPECIALIZED WEDLOCK50 Specialized UK 020 8391 3500Six hardened steel plates are linked together with hardened steel orbital rivets in this lock

to form a strange looking loop which folds down small to fit in its own rubber case.

Although the design means its not the toughest

lock around its quite tricky to get enough

leverage on it once its fitted to a bike, although if

you do manage to get enough leverage it doesnt

stand up to abuse for too long. But, as a mid-level

bit of security it works fine, and added to a

U-lock it offers a very different challenge to a thief

who has come armed to attack a U-lock. Its not

too heavy, packs down small,and is easy to use.

WMBVERDICT

Busted with a hammerquite quickly, idealas a secondarydevice thoughPERFOR MANCE 5

VALUE 6

WMBVERDICT

The benchmark bywhich all other locksshould be judgedPERFORMANCE 9

VALUE 7

WMBVERDICT

Mid level only, usewith somethingmore substantial ifleaving your bikefor longer periodsPERFORMANCE 6

VALUE 6

MAGNUMULTIMATE ATB20 Moore Large & Co 01332 274200Made from square section hardened steel, the Ultimate ATB is similar to the Abus

Granite X-Plus 54 in the way it has a square section shackle, but its not parabolic

in shape at the loop and so it wont be strong as the

X-Plus 54. Coming complete with a whopping five keys

and its own two-way fitting bracket, the Magnum is a

great lock for the money.The construction is first rate,

and the lock stood up to all the abuse we could throw at

it with normal thief tools.A Sold Secure rating would be

nice,but as it is, this is one very tough lock indeed.

WMBVERDICT

Top quality features,nice and weatherproof,very toughPERFORMANCE 8

VALUE 10

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56WhatMountainBike February 2004

AXA SL 720 plus SD cable 17 AXA 01584 841051Although most of you will be thinking an immobiliser is a rather stupid thing to fit to

a bike, when used in conjunction with a good U-lock or

cable lock theyre actually a smart idea. It gives the thief

something else to have to work around in order to ride off on

your bike rather than carry it. The SL 7 is a very neat unit indeed,

and we tested it here with the optional SD cable that plugs into the top and measures a

handy 1.8m. Our initial reservations were soon brushed aside though, and the Sold Secure

Silver rating is indeed true its a bugger to try and beat. With the addition of the SD cable its

options are greatly expanded, making it a good addition to other primary security devices.

SPECIALIZED RAPPER30 Specialized UK 020 8391 3500

A Kevlar-core is wrapped around with braided steel cable,andsurrounding this is a series of interlocking hardened steel cups

that are articulated.The weak part of any cable lock is always

the part where the cable ends and the locking stub is fitted.

After quite a lot of abuse with a regular hammer the Rapper was

still in one piece, although more determined attempts did

eventually break it and separate it from the lock body.The lock

body itself is pretty tough, though, and stood up to a hammer

attack nicely. As a secondary security device this is ideal,but by

itself its not a lock to rely on.

WMBVERDICT

A great addition to agood primary lock, easyto use and a neat LED inone key for night timeunlockingPERFORMANCE 6

VALUE 7

OXFORD CABLE LOCK12 www.oxprod.com 0870 990 9620Despite claming a diameter of 12mm, the actual wire inside the plastic shroud is only 6mm.

Considering the price of the lock, though, this is no bad thing, just a little misleading.With a

handy 1.8m length and coming complete with two different brackets for mounting to your

bike it all seems good. But... we broke this lock in seconds with a

normal everyday hammer. The problem lies in the very thin lock

barrel casing. It appears to be made from 1mm thick cheese like

alloy, and it burst open and let us rip the lock apart in less than

seven seconds. Basically, turn your back on your bike locked with

this, and itll be gone.Fine as a deterrent, but even a thief with a

simple house brick could smash it off your bike in an instant.

WMBVERDICT

Poor. Only acts as adeterrent,and can besmashed in secondsPERFORMANCE 2

VALUE 7

LOCKS

WMBVERDICT

Surprisingly tough, easyto use and fit muchbetter with the optionalcable thoughPERFORMANCE 7

VALUE 7

MAGNUM PRO TITAN16 Moore Large & Co 01332 274200The Pro Titan is 15mm braided steel cable measuring a handy 1.8m long. The cable is wound to be

self-coiling,which can be a pain sometimes as its fiddly to pull it

out straight, which is made even harder once you have cold

hands.Despite the strong cable and very well made endings,we

managed to bust the lock open in a few seconds using a hammer.

Again, this is one of those locks that should be used in

conjunction with a good quality U-lock and not relied on to secure

your bike by itself.The mounting it comes with is neat though, and

will fit almost any bike, thanks to its dual position system.

WMBVERDICT

Well made, but a littletoo weak whenattacked witha hammerPERFORMANCE 6

VALUE 8



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GROUP TEST

MAGNUM CHAIN +ULTIMATE PADLOCK50 Moore Large & Co 01332 274200This is a bit of a bargain really. A hardened steel chain with links made from 12mm thick

rod, it comes complete with its own well-secured cover and a bomb-proof padlock. Like all

the Magnum products which use a key, it comes complete

with five of the buggers. The chain and padlock are designed

to work together to give next to no room for a bar to be put

between any of the links to enable twisting.Although we did

manage to get a bar in there, it was so small in diameter that

the bar bent and nothing happened to the chain. The padlock

is really tough too, and withstood all kinds of abuse, including

a high-speed drill.

WMBVERDICT

Brilliant value, anddamn tough tooPERFORMANCE 9

VALUE 10

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KRYPTONITE

FAHGETTABOUDIT99 Madison www.ultimatepursuits.co.ukQuite possibly the toughest bit of security you could put on a bicycle and would

even be suitable for motorbikes.The chain itself is made up of six-sided 11mm

diameter hexagonal links made of triple heat-treated boron manganese steel (which

even angle grinders struggle to cut). The chain is made

so the space inside the links is insufficient to get

anything, such as a crow bar, inside to apply leverage, and

even if this were possible its so strong its doubtful one thief

could exert enough force to burst a link open. With a 13mm steel

shackle and the Picksafe lock mechanism this has all the features

of the New York 3000 lock ut in a smaller padlock shape. If you

really dont want your bike to be stolen, then you should have one

of these and attach it to something suitably tough like a proper

ground anchor.

ABUS COMBIFLEX 20213 Zyro 01423 325325Small and light enough to be taken with you on any ride, and thats the whole

idea here.This lock is not for securing your bike when its going to be left

unattended for long periods of time: its for locking it to something, or your

mates bikes when you stop at the caff for a cuppa and cake. Using a 90cm long

2.5mm diameter plastic coated cable, its long enough to lock quite a few bikes

together, or to go through your own frame wheels and through something

secure.The reset-able three-digit combi lock unit cant be put under tension and

picked easily, just remember to keep it out of sight of prying eyes when you use

it. For the money, this is a must-have item.

ABUS WBA100GROUND/WALL ANCHOR50 Zyro 01423 325325

Its no good having a great lock and then having nothing secure to use it on when you get home.Too many bike thefts

happen when bikes are locked up together in a simple wooden garden shed. To counter this youre best off using a

properly designed anchor system. This offering from ABUS has a massive 16mm

hardened steel shackle, which has an opening large enough for any lock or chain

system currently available. It comes complete with four extra long bolts which

need a 16mm masonry drill bit and a good quality hammer drill to fit. With the

right tools its a simple anchor to install properly, and thats the key right there.

Take your time fitting it properly and itll deter even the most determined

thieving scumbag.

WMBVERDICT

One of the best anchorsavailable, simple as thatPERFORMANCE 8

VALUE 7

WMBVERDICT

Heavy, but surprisinglyeasy to carry over yourshoulder. Tough as abloody tough thingP ER FOR MANC E 10

VALUE 7

WMBVERDICT

Perfectly strong andmobile for the pub/shopstop, but not for lockingbikes all dayPERFORMANCE 8

VALUE 9




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What you need to knowWhat were trying to persuade you

to do is run two different kinds of

locks on your bike. Although this

might be heavy and cumbersome

at times, it will secure your bike

from all but the most determined

and professional thief. Of the U-

locks tested wed say the AXA

Secu City is the overall winner its as good as the Kryptonite New

York 3000 and the ABUS Granit X-

Plus, but much cheaper. For the

ultimate, though, the Kryptonite

New York 3000, Squire Paramount

Plus and the ABUS Granit X-Plus

are the best U-locks, with the

Magnum Ultimate ATB a very close

runner up, but with no Sold Secure

rating its unproven despite being

very good in our tests.For

permanently mounted security the

AXA SL-7 is a neat bit of kit, and

the SD cable makes it even better.

The new Abus compact retractablewire lock is a great idea, plus its

compact, tough and affordable.For

the ultimate lock, though, you need

the Kryptonite Fahgettaboudit

chain, with the Magnum chain and

padlock close behind.

WMB OVERALL VERDICTANCHORSA lock is only as good as the thing you

fasten it to.There are a whole bunch of

anchors available on the market, such as

the Excellent ABUS and Kryptonite offerings

and most are available in either cement-

in-place or bolt-in-place versions. Although

these are expensive they are very good. On

the budget side, though, Squire have just

released a real bargain into the shops with

the 6 wall or floor mounted anchor.

Although not as complex as the other

offerings, when fitted properly using thesecurity bolts its a great bit of kit.

Remember, though, that an anchor is

only as good as your workmanship in fitting

it. If you make a bodge of drilling holes then

it can be ripped out of the ground. If you

mix your concrete so its too sandy

then it can be broken up quickly

and easily. Take your time and

use your common sense,

read the instructions

carefully and youll end

up with a highly

secure place to

lock your bike(s).

Our top lock choices, what makes a good lock and some hot tips to beat the thieves

LOCKS

The Axa SecuCity U-lock isour all-roundbest buy

CHOICEMountainBike

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but thisKryptoniteanchor isseriouslyheavyduty

Squires 6 anchorwill do the job

SOLD SECURENorthumbria and Essex Police

established Sold Secure in 1992 with

the help and backing of the Home

Office. Sold Secure is now administered

by the Master Locksmiths Association

and works from purpose built

laboratories in Daventry, where it liases

with insurance companies to collate the

latest information on criminal methods.

Information gathered in these labs ispassed on to security manufacturers to

enable them to produce more effective

products and only the best locks

manufactured then get the Sold

Secure seal of approval.

If you have your bike insured then

contact the insurance company to see

what locks they approve. If you use a

lock that is not approved by your

insurance company (even though it

might be a great lock) then your

insurance could be classed as null and

void. Theres a complete listing of all

Sold Secure cycle locks on the Sold

Secure website, (www.soldsecure.com)

complete with the relevant ratings and

contact details.

QUICK TIPSFit two different kinds of locks (such as a U-lock and a cable lock), and the seasoned

bike thief will realise itll take far too long to steal your bike and move on to the next.

Also use two locks which have two different types of key. Pay attention to what you

lock your bike to. Its no use locking it to something which can easily be

snapped/cut/pulled out etc. Write down your key numbers and keep those numbers

somewhere safe along with contact details for your lock manufacturer. Try to

change where you lock your bike once in a while, and use sensible, well lit

places which are usually busy all the time, not just in the

morning, lunchtime, and in the evening. If you lock your

bike in a shed/garage then make sure that thisplace is secure too, and try not to

leave tools that a thief can use (to

break your lock) in the same place

that you leave your bike.

DONT LEAVE ITIf you lock your bike up in a regular

spot and you dont want to be

carrying your heavy lock home every night

then do not leave it locked to the bars where you lock

your bike. If a thief wants to practise picking a lock then

he/she wont have to buy a lock, they can just sit overnight and

practise on yours.Then when theyve learned to pick the lock

guess whos bike isnt secure the next day? If at all possible

leave it inside where you work, or carry it with you. Sure it might

be heavy, but taking it definitely beats losing your bike

Carry locks withyou at all times as

leaving them behindgives thieves ideas


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