Bike Lock Recommendations?

[Groomer Gambler]

I agree with the above post...

If your bike is valuable enough that you are worried about securing it outside the vehicle, you can probably afford a decent enough rig or trailer to put it inside!

[milestogo]

Bump this up. How'd the bike do on your road trip Miles? Any insights?

Worked great. No issues at all, and parked in some questionable spots. I cant say for sure that my system deterred any thieves, but when parked in a place where there were other bikes on cars, there is no way that someone would have gone for mine instead of the others secured with cable locks or some crap like that.

[jm2e]

I've been using the 1Up wheel locks for a few months now and am totally psyched. They're safer and quicker to use than a cable. Great for quick stops in a safe area. When I leave the bikes longer, I combine them with the big chain figuring multiple lock styles will be a bigger deterrent. We've been doing this at hotels when the bikes are filthy. So far so good.

At the end of the day, a determined thief could obviously beat any system I'm employing. Hell, with a socket set someone could completely dismantle the 1up rack. Or with one of the other companies plastic and sheet metal racks, a little work with a hacksaw would dismantle the rack a lot faster than cutting a lock. And even though a van would be nice, it's not exactly hard to break into vehicles for a committed thief. Which is why insurance is still the final plan.

[sethschmautz]

Bumping this thread after reading a bit. I've a week road trip where the bikes are going to stay on the bike rack or at the campsite for a week or so. The recommendation seems to be a big burly chain with a big burly lock. I have 4 bikes to lock and was thinking of going with ~10' chain (I'll test length tomorrow). It seems like a 10' 3/8" Abus chain is only slightly cheaper than 2x 5' Schlage 1/2" chains (999478) with cinch ring. It seems like the Schlages should be more secure (bigger diameter links), and if I pull chain 2 through the cinch ring of chain 1 I should have a ~10' chain that can be broken down into 2x 5' chains if I don't need the full 10' chain in the future.

The chain(s) would wrap through the wheels and frames in a big "U" and then lock to the safety chain loop on the truck receiver.

I'm currently thinking about the Abus 92/65 monoblock lock, but honestly, I haven't a frickin clue about what makes one lock better than another. This design seems like it would be tough to cut, although I saw it picked in less than 2 minutes on Youtube. Any suggestions? Would a mini-U be better?

Seth

[toast2266]

I just use a chain from a hardware store + an ok quality padlock. Run the chain through some bike tubes to protect paint.

Locks are just a deterrent. And most locks aren't much of one if the thief is determined. If you're mostly locking the bike at a campground, just walk into the woods and chain it to a tree that's out of sight. Way safer than any lock.

[jm2e]

I like the 2 x 5’ Plan. A 10’ lock is a lot to handle when you don’t need that much.
As Toast said, it’s a deterrent. You’re obviously taking the gamble that you’re in a place where skilled and motivated NYC caliber thieves don’t dwell. And a big ass chain with a big ass lock is a better deterrent than just about anything. A solid homeowners policy helps too.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[sethschmautz]

Okay, so random thought this morning - even though it might not be easy/possible to easily cut through these links, would it be easier to bend the cinch ring so it could pass through the other one? I would think that a 1/2" diameter link would be pretty beefy, but this just occurred to me.

Probably comes back to these things being a deterrent, but I'd hate to make it so easy to defeat that it's irresistible.

Seth

[Name Redacted]

Okay, so random thought this morning - even though it might not be easy/possible to easily cut through these links, would it be easier to bend the cinch ring so it could pass through the other one? I would think that a 1/2" diameter link would be pretty beefy, but this just occurred to me.

Probably comes back to these things being a deterrent, but I'd hate to make it so easy to defeat that it's irresistible.

Seth

Just put another lock on the cinch rings if you are that worried about it. I like the two chain idea, and wish that I had found the chain with the cinch ring when I was buying my chain but one chain has worked just fine for two mikes so far.

But like others said, you can only do so much, and a good homeowner's policy might be the final thing to help you sleep at night. Not like you are camping in NYC or anything I hope.

Additionally, I wish I could find a bomber U-lock in the size I need that is a combination lock rather than a key. I'm deathly afraid of driving out to Moab and forgetting the key at home or a shuttle situation where the key is forgotten. Anyone know of a bomber combo U-lock?

[muted]

Here's the lock I use. Has a mini-ulock at the end. This pic is someone elses lock though, in the East Village of NYC a couple weeks ago. User error by owner, ha.

[sethschmautz]

Here's the lock I use. Has a mini-ulock at the end. This pic is someone elses lock though, in the East Village of NYC a couple weeks ago. User error by owner, ha.

Maybe they were just needing to lock up the front wheel? :-)

That mini U is what I'm currently thinking also. Just need to check the length of the chain now to verify that 10' is sufficient.

I'm taking the family and we will be spending a few nights in Spokane, Portland and Eugene on our way down to southern Oregon. Not New York, but not Podunk Montana either.

Seth

Sent from my Pixel 2 using TGR Forums mobile app

[Name Redacted]

Maybe they were just needing to lock up the front wheel? :-)

That mini U is what I'm currently thinking also. Just need to check the length of the chain now to verify that 10' is sufficient.

I'm taking the family and we will be spending a few nights in Spokane, Portland and Eugene on our way down to southern Oregon. Not New York, but not Podunk Montana either.

Seth

Sent from my Pixel 2 using TGR Forums mobile app

Maybe just make sure to park in secure areas, parking garages w/ cameras or something?

[El Chupacabra]

10' of big chain is going to be heavy. I've posted that motorcycle chain lock from Cycle Gear a couple of times here (linked above), and was using it just this weekend, in combination with a U lock and a cable through the wheels.

[SumJongGuy]

What's to stop someone from crawling under the back and just unbolting the hitch to take the entire rig, bikes and all??

As for the DIY chains idea, this didn't work out so well..

[sethschmautz]

10' of big chain is going to be heavy. I've posted that motorcycle chain lock from Cycle Gear a couple of times here (linked above), and was using it just this weekend, in combination with a U lock and a cable through the wheels.

How many bikes can you lock? I'm going to have 4 on a Yakima tray rack. I'm worried that a 6' chain won't be enough. The 10' will be a combo of 2x 5' chains that will only be used together in a situation like this.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using TGR Forums mobile app

[sethschmautz]

What's to stop someone from crawling under the back and just unbolting the hitch to take the entire rig, bikes and all??

It's possible, but I would think it would be pretty unwieldly. That said, if they were serious, that would probably be effective!

Seth


Sent from my Pixel 2 using TGR Forums mobile app

[El Chupacabra]

How many bikes can you lock? I'm going to have 4 on a Yakima tray rack. I'm worried that a 6' chain won't be enough. The 10' will be a combo of 2x 5' chains that will only be used together in a situation like this.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using TGR Forums mobile app

Depends on the rack. I can fit that motorcycle chain around 4 frames on a North Shore Rack - no wheels, just looped through the frames.

SumJong's point is a good one: if someone really wants to steal your bikes, it's going to happen. (Flatbed away the entire car...) But I doubt anyone is going to try to unbolt the hitch with a rack full of bikes on it. That would drop on you fast.

I mostly don't use the big chain, just a light cable lock to prevent the grab-and-run thieves. But that is with parking within sight, or at remote campgrounds - basically safe places anyway.

[jm2e]

What's to stop someone from crawling under the back and just unbolting the hitch to take the entire rig, bikes and all??

Nothing at all. Same goes with locking the bikes inside your panel van. Someone can slim jim the door open or just break a window. Or if you leave them inside an actual bike shop, someone can back a UHaul truck right through the front window and load up the bikes. Or, if you have them in a all steel shipping container in a secured lot at Rocky Mountain Bikes, someone could come in the middle of the night ans empty the entire thing right under your nose.

Which is why the point of the discussion is; what's a reasonable amount of precaution for the area you'll be parking and what kind of insurance do you have in the event that your system fails you?

As far as the chains go, I have 2 of the 6' chains from Cycle Gear. Knock on wood, they've worked well for me. Tons of bike park weekends in places where it's prohibited or impractical to bring the bikes inside. I look around parking lots and am ALWAYS using a way better lock than any bike, which is kind of the point. Let them steal someone else's bike. As far as the length of those chains go; One 6' chain is kind of tight for locking 2 DH bikes. Linking the two chains together easily accommodates 4 bikes.

[Name Redacted]

Yeah, if someone really wanted your bike, they could just unscrew or cut through your rack. Point is, make a reasonable effort to slow them down.

Someone could totally strip a few hundred bucks worth of accessories off a bike in short order anyway. Dropper, Derailers, grips, bars, shifters, front wheel or back, my seat bag, etc. You just have to deal with the fact that someone could steal from you and if it happens, it happens. Hopefully the guy OD's on whatever he buys with it.

[sethschmautz]

Someone could totally strip a few hundred bucks worth of accessories off a bike in short order anyway. Dropper, Derailers, grips, bars, shifters, front wheel or back, my seat bag, etc. .

Another pro for running 10spd. No one's going to want to strip your bike. :-)

[toast2266]

Another pro for running 10spd. No one's going to want to strip your bike. :-)

Just don't leave your bike on the back of the car in Damian's neighborhood. He'll leave your 29" Enve's but take your 10 speed derailleur.

[sethschmautz]

Ah ha ha. I had actually thought of the same thing. :-)

[sethschmautz]

Hmm. Measurements say I need 12'. I need to come up with an alternate plan or a chain combo with 2 more feet. :-)

Sent from my Pixel 2 using TGR Forums mobile app

[toast2266]

1) go to hardware store.
2) find an employee
3) say "I'll have 12 feet of chain, please."
4) ????
5) profit

[gravitylover]

SumJong's point is a good one: if someone really wants to steal your bikes, it's going to happen. (Flatbed away the entire car...) But I doubt anyone is going to try to unbolt the hitch with a rack full of bikes on it. That would drop on you fast.

.

That's happening so often now around the northeast it's scary. I know 2 people that had minivans full of bikes and gear stolen this way this year out of fairly busy parking lots while they were either food shopping or eating dinner.

[Iceinmyeyes]

Just buy a Kryptonite locker and don't worry if you don't leave your vehicle in deserted spots