Just got a coil lock

spasypaddy

My mum bought me a coil lock as an early xmas present, its a bronze secure one. Is it good enough do we reckon or should i get a d-lock instead?

I have 30 mins to decide as i need to go to the bike shop at 11.30

alfablue

A coil lock should be good for up to 5 seconds protection to someone with a bolt cutter, something that thieves regularly go equipped with. A cheap D lock may do 30 seconds, a good D-Lock (Abus Granit-X Plus, Kryptonite New York) may last more than 5 minutes with power tools.

craker

Depends where you leave your bike, no lock is completely secure.

I lost the key to my coil lock (bike locked at train station), borrowed some old cable cutters off a mate and I was through in 30 seconds or so.

I prefer D-Locks now but no doubt someone knows a quick way of getting one of those to pieces.

spasypaddy

ok cool, ill go up and see what they've got. Try and change it for a good d-lock i would prefer something thats silver secure at least i think

artaxerxes

Get a Kryptonite mini D-Lock
http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/2301.html
Its easier to carry and also too small for those bottle jacks they use to break larger D-locks. Use that and your coil lock together.

prj45

It'll stop a casual thief or vandal taking the wheels off your bike, but I wouldn't use it to secure the frame.

spasypaddy

yeah but those mini-locks are going to be too small to get around frame, rear wheel and whatever im attempting to attach it to

spasypaddy

prj45 wrote:

It'll stop a casual thief or vandal taking the wheels off your bike, but I wouldn't use it to secure the frame.

nothing on my bike is quick release, they are only getting the wheels if they carry a spanner (which i wouldnt rule out).

my bike will not be left locked very often and if anyone does steal it they better know how to ride fixed...

alfablue

The Kryptonite New York and Abus Granit-X plus are not mini-locks, but they can be fitted so they are full of frame so bottle jacks can't be used. Also secure them well off the ground so that 30" bolt croppers can't be used. I think spending anything less than the price of one of these two is a waste of money.

spasypaddy

right im going to the bike shop and then the job centre.

Thanks for the advice people.

Happy Hannukah (and Merry Christmas for those that celebrate it)

simon_e

spasypaddy wrote:

yeah but those mini-locks are going to be too small to get around frame, rear wheel and whatever im attempting to attach it to

That's why they make a LS (long shackle) version, 9.5" vs 5.5" for the standard Mini. I'm looking at this or the slightly cheaper Series 2 locks as the Mini shackle may not be long enough for the times when I can only find a lamp post to which I can lock the bike.

Dimensions:
Mini LS - 3.25 x 9.5"
Mini - 3.25 x 5.5"
Series 2 Std - 4 x 9"
Series 2 ATB - 5 x 9"
Series 2 LS (4 x 11.5")

tardington

But it still a mofo to have a safe bike - a friend at work had his bike locked up all Abus and with kryptonite cables and everything, but cos it was a regular park some guy showed up with the exact tools and removed it in 2 minutes... this is on the 2nd busiest street in Edinburgh btw!

I take mine INTO the house when I'm doing community visits...

System_1

spasypaddy wrote:

yeah but those mini-locks are going to be too small to get around frame, rear wheel and whatever im attempting to attach it to

You don't need to get the frame in the lock as well. As long as you lock the rear wheel within the rear triangle the frame is then unknickable. Take a look at Sheldon to see what I mean.

Keep your cable lock too and use it to secure the front wheel and frame to an immovable object by making a lasso and using the d lock as a padlock on the other end. If a thief wants it bad enough they'll have it, and if they are any good there's nothing on the market that will last more than 5 minutes, but the above method will put off most thieves who are likely to move onto something less secure.