Dodgy Kryptonite Evolution Series 4 Locks

berrya

Hi Guys,

Not really sure where to report this, but thought you and your readers may like to know about what I have to say.

I rocked up to work on my new CDale Six 105 and parked it in my usual spot. I opened a lock, but realised it wasnt my evolution lock, it was someone's who worked in th office below mine.My lock was still attached to the railings.

Turns out my key works with his lock. This is pretty crap for a £50 lock, and im not happy my Cdale was left vulnerable all day.

To prove it I filmed a little vid on my Ipod Nano. not too clear as i had to hold it in my mouth at one point, but you will get the jist.......

Any opinions?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvyEEeJxNL4

verylonglegs

Sounds pretty poor for any lock £50 quid or not. Has a google search turned up anyone else discovering this?

berrya

I did have a brief look, but not seen anything. Unless by accident, why would you even discover this?

Kryptonite says there are 1million combinations, multiply this by the geographic area they sell locks and the random chance that a lock next to my lock has the same key, and the chance that I had to open the wrong lock by accident, and it worked.....id have better odds playing the lottery!

I have posted this on Madison and Kryptonite facebook site....lets see what they have to say....if this has happened to me, then how many other users are at risk?

martinwitnam

What was interesting was that I watched your video and was then offered a video showing how to open a D-lock with a bic pen! So forget about the key, just carry a Bic pen at all times.

alfablue

martinwitnam wrote:

What was interesting was that I watched your video and was then offered a video showing how to open a D-lock with a bic pen! So forget about the key, just carry a Bic pen at all times.

The Bic pen thing was years ago, all Kryptonite's locks have been redesigned and they replaced the locks for customers that asked (Kryptonite were not the only manufacturer, just probably the highest profile. You may still find some other cheap locks with this circular key).

berrya

Yes agreed, the bic pen thing is old hat, but what i have discovered is something different. These two locks seen in the video are Kryptonites latest model "series 4"........they should have resolved issues like this a long long long time ago

White Line

I spy two Kryptonite keys on that keyring. Explain!

berrya

Well spotted.....that i because I have two of these locks! I have one at home for the shed, and one t work....saves me lugging the heavy thing to the office every day!

Kryptonite have alled m from th USA now offering to replace my lock and the other persons lock with New York locks. Shoud be gettin them this week.

Result......

Alex

Mr_Cellophane

Is anyone going to steal a bike with a pink bottle cage. :?

White Line

Mr_Cellophane wrote:

Is anyone going to steal a bike with a pink bottle cage. :?

I never even noticed that!

Scrumple

just buy an almax lock and a squire padlock....

and have a car to carry it for you.

Far better than the protection you are getting from some hardened wire.

berrya

A bloody van pulled out on me and i went straight over the bonnet.....you should see the bruise on my thigh, its like 2 cricket balls!

djrock

Did both your keys fit the other person's lock? Have you tried to see if you can open you’re two locks with the wrong keys?

Greek Geeza

Hi All,

Just went to my local cycle surgery where they let me try my key in their locks. Tried 3 Evo 4's and one NYC and couldn't open any. Some turned more than others, but none opened. Guess this was a fluke?

Not tried on any older locks - could be the mechanism wears and becomes easier to open

Soggychip

Just came across this thread as I was googling "two keys one lock" - nothing kinky - but had the same problem.

Me and my girlfriend bought kyrptolok series 2 locks to go with our new bikes about 3 months ago - mixed our keys up the other day and found out that my key unlocks both (hers won't unlock mine).

have been in touch with Kryptonite about it who said they'd replace the locks but that I'd have to post the old ones back to them - being hard up at the moment I'd rather not pay the postage.

Porbably best that I have the key to unlock my girlfriend's rather than a dirty bike thief though... I suppose.

dilemna

I wouldn't touch Kryptonite locks with a barge pole - they are crap and a thief's wet dream. The fact that Krptonite have offered to replace different locks that can be opened by the same key is further indication of how casually they take bike security. When I buy a bike lock I expect only me and me alone to possess the keys to open it, not how ever many others who have also bought the same lock as me as well :evil: !! Kryptonite are clowns only they are not funny.

Abus Granit X Plus for my bikes.

spen666

dilemna wrote:

I wouldn't touch Kryptonite locks with a barge pole - they are crap and a thief's wet dream. The fact that Krptonite have offered to replace different locks that can be opened by the same key is further indication of how casually they take bike security. When I buy a bike lock I expect only me and me alone to possess the keys to open it, not how ever many others who have also bought the same lock as me as well :evil: !! Kryptonite are clowns only they are not funny.

Abus Granit X Plus for my bikes.

So if Kryptonite had refused to change the locks, that would show them taking bike security seriously?

dilemna

spen666 wrote:

dilemna wrote:

I wouldn't touch Kryptonite locks with a barge pole - they are crap and a thief's wet dream. The fact that Krptonite have offered to replace different locks that can be opened by the same key is further indication of how casually they take bike security. When I buy a bike lock I expect only me and me alone to possess the keys to open it, not how ever many others who have also bought the same lock as me as well :evil: !! Kryptonite are clowns only they are not funny.

Abus Granit X Plus for my bikes.

So if Kryptonite had refused to change the locks, that would show them taking bike security seriously?

And the fact that they have manufactured locks which can be opened by keys from other locks? Some may say a tad unfortunate some might say clowns.

Even if I received a replacement (which I wouldn't as I would never buy Krptonite) how could I be confident that the replacement lock couldn't also be opened by another key not owned by me? As I say - clowns.

You don't use Kryptonite locks do you Spen? If so you best ditch it for an Abus.

spen666

dilemna wrote:

spen666 wrote:

dilemna wrote:

I wouldn't touch Kryptonite locks with a barge pole - they are crap and a thief's wet dream. The fact that Krptonite have offered to replace different locks that can be opened by the same key is further indication of how casually they take bike security. When I buy a bike lock I expect only me and me alone to possess the keys to open it, not how ever many others who have also bought the same lock as me as well :evil: !! Kryptonite are clowns only they are not funny.

Abus Granit X Plus for my bikes.

So if Kryptonite had refused to change the locks, that would show them taking bike security seriously?

And the fact that they have manufactured locks which can be opened by keys from other locks? Some may say a tad unfortunate some might say clowns.

Even if I received a replacement (which I wouldn't as I would never buy Krptonite) how could I be confident that the replacement lock couldn't also be opened by another key not owned by me? As I say - clowns.

You don't use Kryptonite locks do you Spen? If so you best ditch it for an Abus.

I don't disagree with what you say here now, but that is very different from the highlighted bit on your first post where you were criticising them for doing something and providing customer service

freehub

SO should I bin my Kryptonite Evolution Series 4 lock now? Sounds like it's useless, next time I go to uni might as well not even bother locking it.

Heckler1974

No.

Seriously as anyone with even the modicum of lock breaking skills will tell you any lock you use will just slow a thief down, that counts for house locks, car locks, whatever. You put a big kryptonite lock on, thieft nicks something easier on the bike rack next door or comes back with tools to break your lock if they are so inclined.

I sincerely doubt there are thieves going around with a big bunch of Kryptonite keys trying dozens of them and spending lord knows how long when there are other, quicker, brute force methods to remove the lock. Ultimately unless they have the time they'll nick the bike next to yours with a cable lock on it.

So get insurance on your bike and stop worrying, that way if they nick it and it's locked up it's not your loss.......