how safe is it.

delcol

sorry if this is a repost.

after reading a few threads and watching that link to the gone in sixty seconds programe it got me thinking how safe is my bike,.

now i am lucky that my commute bike is locked up in work in view of the cameras and in veiw of ppl.

i own three bikes in total worth enough money i wont go into detail on the net with,

but watching this program then doing some quick research threw up some rather worrying finds about how safe the so called sold secure rated locks are,.

my brother came across this webste who make their own chains and also test others,.

ok they are primarley motorbike locks but watch the vid to see just how strong they actually are compared to well known often more expensive brands that fail misserbly some of which i have bought and use my self,.

i will be purchasing a couple of these so will comment on their quality and customer services at a later date.....

if this has been posted before then i do appologise.

http://www.almax-security-chains.co.uk/index.asp?pg=1

http://www.almax-security-chains.co.uk/index.asp?pg=19 vids

Jhonbus

Any lock can be broken, if you have an appropriate tool and enough time. You just have to rely on the fact that most thieves will go for the easiest targets, ie bikes locked up with those crappy £4.99 1/8" cable locks that they can cut with a pair of tin snips. If somebody really wants your bike, you can lock it with the best lock out there but a huge pair of bolt croppers or an angle grinder will get through anything.

overmars

Get a lock that looks tough! Or one with an alarm on it.

The most secure thing you can do is to not leave it out in public! Thieves are too well sussed about the cost of a bike these days.

Chriscommuter

When i was in New York recently i saw a notice on a bike saying "From where i work i can see my bike. If you touch it or attempt to steal it i will phone the NYPD immediately"

As the NYPD are carry guns and are reasonably trigger happy, i suspect the impact is greater than if you do something similar re: calling the local Bobby

But you never know, worth a try?

RufusA

delcol wrote:

...and watching that link to the gone in sixty seconds....

...but watching this program then doing some quick research threw up some rather worrying finds about how safe the so called sold secure rated locks are....

my brother came across this webste who make their own chains and also test others,.
...

http://www.alxxx-security-chains.co.uk/index.asp?pg=1

Firstly I should warn you that there has been some debate, a lot of which got quite heated on other forums about the television programme, Almax and links between the two.

If nothing else, the way that company has acted on various cycling internet forums would prevent me from buying their chains, and would have them blackballed on most other internet forums.

Shinanigans aside, my personal take on this is.

*Any* lock, chain etc. is breakable within 60 seconds with the right tools.

Most good / certified locks if *CORRECTLY FITTED* will create sufficient noise, or require bulky or expensie enough equipment to break to deter 99% of bike thieves.

A determined bike thief will get your bike regardless, or destroy it in trying. Personally I'd prefer to claim on a stolen bike than a vandalised bike!

On any given day there are at leat 5 bikes which are as good as mine at my local station which have incorrectly fitted locks. I know which ones a chance thief would take!

I recon my changes of my bike getting stolen are pretty low, and wouldn't change if I spent an additional £100 on a heavy motorbike chain.

YMMV - Rufus.

mercurykev

I go with the view that if someone really wants to take my bike they will. That's why I think that decent insurance is so important - even though it won't fully compensate for the loss of a favourite bike.
I also don't use my best bike for rides which would require it to be locked up for any amount of time.