Have you ever experienced the heart-sinking feeling of coming back to your bike after locking it up, to find its is not where you left it?
Sadly, even if you leave your bicycle unattended for a few minutes in this world you are leaving yourself open to the common practice of bicycle theft.
Thieves often steal your bike, repaint it, and call it their own. Even if you file a theft report, very few report ever finding their bike. This can be particularly upsetting if you have spent a few hundred to a few thousand dollars on a bike that you love.
The Xtreme Bright Illumilock Blade is a new patented technology for bike users. This is the first time that I came upon a LED light plus U-lock in one so I was excited and curious at the same time to test this out. You will get a lock and light for the price of one when you purchase this bike lock.
LED bicycle lock and high security U lock at the same times.
Bright headlight and taillight that can transform into a bike lock.
Cool looking, water and shock resistant
Fits all bikes and convenient to use.
U-Lock Style
Waterproof
Requires AA batteries
Resistant to picks, drills, and shock
Constructed of military grade steel and parts
LED headlight (300 lumens) and taillight (adjustable settings)
The bike lock reviews : U-Lock Mechanism
Security: The U-lock looks tough to break. It’s made of high grade military steel, so if that’s true then it should not be easily broken by a tool. It would be time consuming for the thief to break this lock. Just looking at it will discourage them. Unless they use high grade tools but then it will already draw attention. Locking mechanism works great. You can only remove the key once the lock has been secured. Check out others this Xtreme Bright lock with others U locks comparison.
Combination Cable Bicycle Lock bicycle theft is rampant in American cities. If you use your bicycle, there is always a chance it will get stolen. After all, it has some positive economic value and it is left unattended on the streets. That makes your bike an inviting target for a criminal.
The only line of defense against bike thieves is your bike lock. If you’re going to actively use your bicycle and leave it on the streets, you have to lock it properly otherwise it will get stolen. If you lock it, but not the right way, it will get stolen. If you lock it the right way, even still it could get stolen, but at least you tried your best.
Combination Cable Bicycle Lock
Combination Cable Bicycle Lock Set-your-own password combination cable lock. Resettable combination locking mechanisms for keyless convenience. Easy to set & reset. Ultra high cable performance. Braided steel cables for strong cut resistance. Protective vinyl coating helps prevent scratching
From the Manufacturer The Etronic® Security Lock M6 Self Coiling Resettable Combination Cable Lock with ultra high cable performance is a perfect solution for protecting your bicycle, ATV or other valuables against theft. And conveniently it comes with one handy solution, resettable combination locking mechanisms for keyless convenience. The protective coating helps prevent scratching and the flexible braided steel cable for strong cut resistance. The cable is 6′ (1.85m) long, large enough to lock up ladders, bikes, gates, fences, grills, tool boxes and other items that need to be secured.
What’s in the Box – Etronic® Security Lock M6 Self Coiling Resettable Combination Cable Lock – Mounting Bracket – User Instruction
Warranty The Etronic® Security Cable Lock is backed by manufacturer 1 year warranty. Please contact us via email if you have any questions.
Set-your-own password combination cable lock. Resettable combination locking mechanisms for keyless convenience. Easy to set & reset. Ultra high cable performance. Braided steel cables for strong cut resistance. Protective vinyl coating helps prevent scratching Ideal for bicycles, skateboards, sports equipment, gates & fences, grills & lawnmowers, tools, tool boxes & ladders 6′ (1.85m) long x 3/8″ (10mm) diameter. Mounting bracket included for easy transportation.
159 or £94 if you preorder or £146 if you wait until release
GPS tracking
Unlock using your smartphone (It senses when you are nearby)
Tamper alert
Battery recharged through solar panel
Can unlock without your phone
Share your bike with others
Out of the three, the SkyLock looks really promising for an area like London as it looks particularly hefty.
If you had a spare bike, you could rent it out to strangers for £10 to £20 per day using sites such as Spinlister. Thanks to these locks, you could simply authorise the person on your smartphone and they could rent your bike, returning it when they are done. As generally one lock isn’t enough in London, you could attach a second combination lock such as theKnog Party Combo.
Aside from the above GPS bike locks, item-trackers are also about to become much more common place.
Trackr is one such project that started with a crowd funding target of $20,000 USD. It broke all expectations, and has so far raised a total of $844,000 in crowd funding.
These coin sized item-trackers don’t have a built in GPS. Instead, they rely on a Crowd GPS network. If the device is within 100ft of any user, it will transmit its location back to you.
Obviously, this relies on enough people having these devices.
A single Trackr device costs 29 USD or around £17. You can attach it beneath your bike saddle, to your cat, dog, or your bag or anything else you can think of.
Out of all the above bike locks there’s only one that I trust when locking my bike. Can you guess which one?
Sure it might be expensive to buy at first (around £55) and sure it’s a heavy beast to carry around, but it beats buying a new bike any day!
As I can’t see myself having the income level to hire a guard to stand by my bike every time I leave it somewhere, I think I’ll keep using it.
Let me explain my choice:
I reviewed the Kryptonite New York 3000 back in 2009. Since then, I’ve used it on an almost daily basis and left my bike all over London. From Hackney, to Camden, to Angel. My bike has always been kept safe (touch wood!).
Various cycling magazines have reviewed the bike lock and deemed it to be one of the most resistant ones to attack. You’ll need a high end tool to beat it. Sold Secure have given it their Gold Standard rating.
There used to be a famous video circulating around, showing that you could open these locks with a bic pen. Since 2005 Kryptonite have switched to an I-key system which ended this vulnerability.
Whilst the bike lock isn’t wide enough to go around a lamppost, it will get around most objects I attach my bike to in London. It is also big enough to allow me to lock it through the rear triangle of my bike and the object meaning that my rear wheel is secured.
I’ve never had any issues with keys getting stuck. If you are having difficulty turning your key, don’t force it, you should lubricate the lock. You can use WD-40 but there are better lubricants out there that are less likely to gunk up your lock. Look for graphite powder lubricants that cost about £3.
The secondary bike lock
I think by now we’ve established I’m a fan of the Kryptonite New York 3000 bike lock. However, it’s fairly useless on its own. If you ride a bike in London, you need a secondary lock.
This doesn’t need to be as strong. Instead, just pop in to your local bike shop and buy a chain lock or cable lock that is sold by a reputable brand such as Abus, Kryptonite or On Guard.
This should never be used on its own.
Could this bike lock be better than the Kryptonite?
In many ways the Abus Granit X Plus 54 is better than the Kryptonite. Its the same price (around £55) but it weighs 22% less at 1.4kg. It is also cleverly engineered so that if a thief manages to cut the shackle, in most scenarios they’ll have to cut it again to release the bike as the lock maintains its integrity. However, it has a 13mm thick shackle which is 3mm less than the Kryptonite. In reality both locks do an excellent job.
The strongest bike lock of them all…
If you don’t care about the weight, then you can get the seriously hefty Kryptonite Fahgettaboutit lock. It weighs just over 2kg and has an 18mm steel shackle. The problem is that you won’t be able to get it around your rear wheel, which means a thief could pinch it, unless you have some other locking system in place.
I’m sure there’s even heftier locks than this one!
Skylock smart bike lock offers security, sharing. Velo Labs has come up with a bike lock that alerts owners to possible thefts, alerts emergency responders to possible crashes, and has a keyless entry that lets users share bikes Airbnb-style.
Is this this future of bicycle locks? The Skylock is a solar powered lock packed with technology, including Bluetooth and WiFi so you can lock and unlock it from your smartphone, and the ability to alert its owner if somebody is trying to steal your bike. It’s happened to far too many people — you lock up your bike, meet a friend or grab a bite, and come back only to find your ride stripped down or gone.
Well, Velo Labs has decided to do something about it. Drawing on its founders Boeing and Jawbone engineering expertise, this startup has invented the Skylock smart bike lock.
At first glance, Skylock just looks like a shiny U-lock, but a closer look reveals so much more. There’s a solar powered rechargeable battery, theft and crash alerts, keyless entry, and even the possibility of Airbnb-style bike sharing.
“As a former engineer at Boeing, I have spent years working on tanks, helicopters and aircrafts, and while these forms of transportation have made huge leaps in safety and connectivity the bike is still stuck in the 19th century,” Velo Labs co-founder Jack Al-Kahwati said in a statement. “We wanted to take on the challenge of bringing cycling into the future.”
Skylock works in conjunction with a smartphone app, either iOS or Android. Users can use their phones to lock and unlock their bikes, add other users, and toy with the settings to receive alerts if their bike is jostled while out-of-sight. The theft alert system works with either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. And, if the lock’s internal accelerometer senses a severe impact while a rider is on the bike, it has the ability to alert emergency responders.
Skylock you don’t need any keys or a good memory with this lock, Skylock uses Bluetooth 4.0 so you can use a smartphone app to lock and unlock it. You can even use Auto-Unlock so when you get close to your locked up bike it will automatically unlock, just like the latest cars with keyless entry. Don’t worry, if your phone battery goes flat because you’ve been playing Angry Birds too much, there is a backup combination lock.
Accelerometers are used to alert its owner if somebody is tampering with the lock. To do that you connect the Skylock to a local WiFi network, so you can stay connected to it at all times. Even if you’re 10 floors up in your office. The sensitivity of the accelerometer can be adjusted so the slightest movement doesn’t set it off.
The other neat trick the Accelerometers can be used for is to alert for help if you have a crash while riding. They respond to the impact and if you don’t do anything within a certain time period the Skylock can send for help.
Skylock And that’s why it’s solar powered, so the battery powering the Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity doesn’t go flat. The solar panel is arranged on the outside of the lock and charges the internal battery. According to their claims it only needs one hour of sunlight to power it for a week. Could be tricky in the British winter mind. Which is why it’s just as well they’ve thought about that, and added a USB port so you can charge it from the mains or your computer.
Sounds good doesn’t it? We’re impressed. You can’t buy it just yet though, they’re currently seeking crowd funding to the tune of $50,000, but provided they meet their goal they will be shipping in early 2015. You can pre-order one now for $139 for a limited time, after which it rises to $249. You’re going to have to factor in shipping costs of course.
Skylock solar powered lock seeks funding
As far as the solar powered battery goes, just one hour of sunlight gives users enough power to last a week. Velo Labs says a fully charged battery lasts a month for most users.
Skylock isn’t the first smart bike lock. Startup Mesh Motion unveiled the BitLock keyless bike lock during its Kickstarter campaign last October. BitLock also works with iOS and Android apps via Bluetooth. However, it doesn’t use Wi-Fi and its battery is lithium rather than solar.
Velo Labs launched its own crowdfunding campaign on its website on Thursday. Its goal is to raise $50,000 to release its first batch of Skylocks. The company is offering the discounted price of $159 to backers and ultimately the device will retail for $249. Velo Labs plans to start shipping Skylock by the end of the year.
What happens If your walking up to your bike it unlocks then some one next to it quickly grabs it and rides off ? Could you claim on insurance? your bike wasn’t locked up ? I suppose it depends on how close you need it to be to unlock it… Or could some just gently click the numbers round until it opens ? And the time you’ve gone to check your phone at lunch (because you green and cycled to work) your bike has gone….. But I suppose you can pick holes in any lock even the expensive key U locks you can open with a pen.
Woner how long before someone hacks that!
…then your iPhone battery runs out and you’re fucked.
do you even read, bro? “Should your phone run out of battery, there’s still a manual combination on the lock itself”
Every year millions of bikes are stolen. Police statistics show that only about ten percent of these cases are solved. It doesn’t have to be like that, as ABUS covers the whole range of bike security devices with high-quality U-shackle locks, lock-chain-combinations, steel-o-flex, cable, and frame locks. ABUS offers the right bike lock for every situation.
You can therefore thwart even the cleverest thieves without incurring significant cost!
The Cable locks has certain advantages when convenience and practicality are priorities. Light weight and surprising flexibility makes the cable lock a popular security solution in circumstances where basic protection is all that’s required. Quality cables from ABUS are designed in such a way that they are very difficult to hold with certain tools used for breaking locks. In addition, the thick cables have a deterrent effect on many petty thieves.
With the Bordo, ABUS has revolutionised the bicycle lock and established an entirely new type of lock – the folding lock. The bike locks of the Bordo family offer features that have not been provided by any other design to date. Light-weight flexibility in a compact design. These features are shared by all of the various folding locks in the extensive Bordo family. From the high security Bordo X Plus, through the classic Bordo, to the ultra-light Bordo Lite model. The variety is underlined by the numerous colours available and the different locking systems. And with the stylish carrying bag, a transport solution for the folding lock is included in the price.
Bike locks should not only be secure, but convenient too. Our holder solutions are extremely convenient, designed especially to be carried on a bike. ABUS has an extensive range of holders for its various bicycle locks, whether these are mounted to the bike frame or on the carrier and whether the tubes of your frame are circular or oval. At ABUS you will find the right holder for your Bike lock.
Securing your bicycle or motorbike against theft with a good lock is always extremely important. Of course, the same applies to bike helmets parts, accessories and garden furniture, for example. ABUS provides you with security solutions in these areas that are flexible and versatile.
The U-lock is classics when it comes to securing bikes, and for good reason. Solid materials and no moving parts outside the lock mechanism are an excellent starting point for the strongest resistance possible. Decades of experience with the U-lock have made us experts in combining the most resistant materials with unique technology, and consequently one of the leading U-locks manufacturers. By the way: the police and insurance companies recommend the use of an U-lock.
The Coil cable lock provides owner and his bikes with basic protection. The advantages of coil cable locks include convenience, simplicity of transport and the length of the cable. These features make it possible to attach bikes to fixed objects with ease.
TiGr Locks are secure, simple, lightweight, easy to use, easy on the eyes and hand crafted in the USA. TiGr® Locks set you free from cumbersome U-locks and heavy chains so you can enjoy your ride even more.
TiGr Bike Lock Locks are lightweight, strong titanium bike locks designed to work in harmony with you and your bike. Elegant, versatile and simple, TiGr®Locks protect your bike while freeing you to enjoy the ride.
Unobtrusive Security
TiGr Bike Locks
Tired of rigid U-shackle bike locks or clunky chain that clutter your ride? TiGr Bike Locks fit the clean, simple lines of your bike. The TiGr® titanium bow shackles can strap along the sides of your top tube, so it doesn’t displace your water bottle or pump. It’s so unobtrusive, you won’t be tempted to ride without your lock.
TiGr Bike Locks
Unparalleled Versatility
TiGr® Locks can secure any bike. Our revolutionary bow design comes in three lengths: Short, Standard and Long. No matter where you go, you can have titanium Bow-Lock™ security with you when you need it.
5 Best Bike Locks In 2016: Unbreakable, Secure, and Trustworthy
You want to know the strongest bike lock that will ensure that your precious cycle will not suffer the fate of theft right? I completely understand. I live in high populated college down and bicycle theft is a real problem.
Imagine for a moment that you just got finished with a hard test and walk outside to get on your cycle to go home and you cannot find it because it has been stolen. Just last year, my town caught a professional who had boosted over 600 bikes and resold them in a nearby state. Because people have become so good at stealing, you are more than likely not going to see your bike again if it gets taken. That is why you should get the best bike lock possible to prevent this from happening in the first place. Remember, it is easier to repair your bike than to replace it!
Bike locks on today’s market are great. They are lighter weight, close to unbreakable and foolproof if used correctly, and very effective. Get a good lock and protect your assets.
The next time you are walking around town and see a bike rack, if you take a glance you will notice that most of the locks are just cables that both you and I could cut off with a 5 dollar tool if we really wanted to. If these locks are easy to break in for you and I, imagine what a criminal would be able to do?
Below I am going to give you some bike lock reviews of some of the strongest material you can get your hands on. These are the best bike locks on the market and if you purchase one and learn to use it correctly, I can assure you that you stand a better chance against a potential bike thief.
Nearly Unbreakable Bike Locks And What You Should Look For
There are many types of bike locks out there on the market and almost all of them can work if you use them properly. However, there is one characteristic that you must pay the most attention to and that is the material of the lock itself.
Lets take the U Lock for example. There are many models of these and you will see them all over the place. Some are great, and some are absolute trash. The ones that are junk are the ones that can be cut through with any tool from a local hardware store. The ones you should be looking at are the ones made from the proper material.
What is the proper material you may ask. Well, that is going to be hardened steel. A lock made from normal material is easy to break through. If you get your lock in hardened steel, the thief will have a hell of a time breaking through. If you have ever tried to cut through this material, you will know that it is both time consuming, as well as extremely frustrating. Remember, thieves are going to be looking for easy targets. They do not want to waste their time on your bike if they can take others with ease.
Unfortunately, just about everyone has a story to tell about bike theft, whether it was their purple bike when they were seven years old or the heart-crushing memory of the seafoam green Bianchi with hand-chosen components that was left unattended on the porch for just a moment. With this in mind, we started our testing process by learning how these different bike locks performed in-transit; we shoved them in our panniers, bungeed them on trailers, placed in backpacks, installed brackets to stow them on the bike frame, wore them around our waists, and carried them in bike baskets. Next, we rode around town trying out the various styles by attaching them to racks, trees, parking meters, and fences to assess each one’s usability. During these test rides, we started the process of examining secured bikes from the eyes of a bike thief. Even if the frame was secured, could somebody steal the wheels or seat? In the last phase of testing, we went deep into the world of bike thievery. We contacted an expert lock pick and used an assortment of tools, brute strength and happenstance to break each one. Read on to find out how each product performed (or didn’t) in each phase of testing.
Bike locks should not be viewed not as an item separate from your bike, instead, you should think of them as a bicycle component, like the derailleur or handlebars. This means that even if you don’t ride very often or you rarely leave your bike outside, you should probably buy a lock if you own a bicycle. Leaning your unsecured bike on a rack outside a restaurant is analogous to leaving your driver’s side car door open with the engine running. You might do it once in awhile, but you wouldn’t do it in a big city, sketchy neighborhood, or for a prolonged period of time. This is especially true if your bike is expensive or carries a lot of sentimental value. That said, it doesn’t matter if you own a lock if you can’t be bothered to lug it around with you, or take the time to secure it to a solid bike rack. During the testing period, we wanted to find the perfect blend of security and user-friendliness.
Here are the bike locks we tested: (L to R) OnGuard’s Bulldog, Kryptonite’s KryptoLok Series 2, Krypotonite’s Fahgettaboudit Mini, Hiplok’s V1.50, OnGuard’s Akita Cable, KryptoFlex Cable, and Kryptonites’ New York Standard U-Lock.
Credit: Rylee Sweeney
We found that often these qualities were conflicting; lightweight cable locks like the Onguard Akita 8041 and Kryptonite KryptoFlex 1218 Combo Lock are easy to transport and use, but also extremely easy to chop in half. On the other end of the spectrum are the hard core, secure U-locks that weigh up to 5 lbs and are annoying to use because you have to take your front wheel off every time you want to secure your whole bicycle. Our Editors’ Choice winner, the Kryptonite New York Standard U-Lock, is a great example of high security that requires a little bit more work to secure both your wheels. Or, if you opt for a more compact option like the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit U-Lock Mini, you don’t even have the choice of securing both wheels due to the small diameter of the “U”, and either have to chance it or buy a secondary backup.
Our Top Pick for Commuting, the Hiplok V1.50 Chain Lock, seeks to address both of these criteria since you can wear it around your waist while commuting but still have a solid theft stopper. The New York Standard is burly and can also be clipped onto your bike frame while you’re riding. Likewise, mid-level security U-Locks like the [Kryptonite KryptoLok Series 2 Standard U-Lock]] and Onguard Bulldog DT U-Lock can also be clipped on. These awesome buys also come with a cable to ensure all of your bike (both wheels and frame) is secure.
As you can see, selecting the right product is much more complicated than choosing your desired level of security. Plus, the broad range of locks on the market can complicate matters further! Read on to learn more specifically how each of these products compare across our metrics. Or for more advice on how to choose the best model for your needs, read our buying advice article.
Nearly all bike locks can be categorized into these three types: U-locks, chains, and cables. Some security devices even combine two of these types. They differ primarily in terms of the level of security they provide, versatility, and ease of use and transport. Your choice will depend largely on what level of security is necessary to deter theft in the areas you’ll be leaving your wheels, but you should also consider how easy the lock is to use and whether you’ll actually lug it along with you.
Bike Locks are stolen every day in the UK alone – about 444,000 a year – so it’s essential to invest in a decent lock if you want to keep your prized ride safe. There are three main things to bear in mind when buying bike locks.
First, you get what you pay for. Bike Locks offer cheap security; most are little more than a visual deterrent. A cheap lock is still better than no lock, but if a dedicated bike thief takes an interest in your bike, say goodbye to it.
Second, cable locks that are light enough to be portable are also light enough to be broken – easily. Only use them in conjunction with a good U-lock to secure extra bits of the bike or stuff like your helmet.
Third, less is NOT more. Unlike most other bike accessories, the performance of a cycle security device increases in proportion to its weight. So when it comes to portable locks, it’s a trade-off between how much peace of mind you want and how much metal you are prepared to lug around.
Given enough time and the right tools, thieves will find a way to force pretty much any lock open. But the harder you can make it for them, the more likely they are to give up and move on to an easier target.
The D-shaped shackle lock (also known as a U-lock) is now a classic design. It was introduced by lock manufacturer Kryptonite in 1972 and widely copied soon after. In effect, it’s a scaled up padlock: your bike and a railing, lamp-post, etc, all fit inside the hoop.
Well-designed D-locks, with good lock mechanisms, armoured shackles and heat-treated U-sections, are tough enough that they will slow a thief down enough to make him think about picking an easier target.
However, their rigidity and bulk can make D-locks hard to carry and use. Some riders therefore prefer a loop of high-strength chain and a padlock. This combination is usually heavier than a D-lock and a little more vulnerable to attack as chain is generally easier to cut than solid bar.
Shackle
The U-shaped section of a D-lock that slots into the barrel. Examine a lock for weak points before you buy. If the machined slot the lock mechanisms slide into is square-cut it can be a potential weakness. Also check how much of the lock barrel swings into place when it’s locked – this should be more than 5mm. If not, this could potentially be prised open.
