We charged all the batteries we had for our cordless grinder, made extra coffee, and mentally prepared for the hours of grinding that lay ahead of us. If at all possible, carrying this lock on a rack or in a basket is definitely the preferred method, but the mount will suffice. John Edgar Park, maker, writer, and lock-picking enthusiast with more 20 years of experience, in-person interview, Mark Podob, vice president of marketing and sales, Metlab, email interview, Shane D. Johnson, Aiden Sidebottom, Adam Thorpe, Problem-Oriented Guides for Police Problem-Specific Guides Series No. A good set of bypass cutters can cut these locks in a single pass, and a tiny set of diagonal cutters can do so with multiple snips. While a small cordless drill is louder than bolt cutters, it’s still barely noticeable over the sound of a busy street. The Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Mini U-lock is a workhorse. Since this lock is in Kryptonite’s New York Series of locks, it’s covered by the company’s theft protection even in Manhattan. Amazon.com : Kryptonite Evolution 1016 Mini 10mm Chain Bicycle Lock : Chain Bike Locks : Sports & Outdoors For detailed instructions about a specific device, please check the User Guide that came with your device. Once you push the disc back into place, your key should insert fully and turn 180 degrees. It also comes with a 4-foot cable and a free year of the company’s anti-theft protection. Even with the dual-locking shackle, though, it showed some movement after one cut in our tests, enough for a thief to remove it from many bike frames. You could be within 20 feet of your bike and still not hear it. The Best Bike Lock; ... Kryptonite Evolution Series 4 1055. After 30-plus hours of research and testing, we think the Delta Cycle Michelangelo Gravity Stand is the best bike rack for storing bikes in limited-space homes. The Evolution series 4 Standard U-lock has a 14mm hardened MAX-Performance steel shackle and disc-style cylinder. Kryptonite New York Noose: This chain is lighter and less expensive than the New York Fahgettaboudit Chain, and as a result brings a slight decrease in security. Available at REI, 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed. We contacted John Edgar Park, an avid lock-picking enthusiast and instructor with over 20 years of experience, and we sat down together to review all the locks we had received. Also, titanium is tough but is not necessarily hard, and we were able to saw through the Mini in under 30 seconds while we had it in a vise. Learn more. ABUS Bordo Alarm 6000a: This upgraded version of the ABUS Folding Lock has all the same perks and flaws, with the added annoyance of incessant beeping every time it senses motion. It uses 14 mm through-hardened links and comes in a fairly standard 39-inch length as well as in a giant, 5-foot version. The New-U Evolution also uses deadbolts on both sides of its shackle, rather than having a non-locking bent-foot on one end. While we acknowledge that cable locks are about the least effective locks out there, when paired with a … While the Altor 560G gave in to the bolt cutters and the ABUS Folding Lock Bordo Granit X-Plus did as well after much effort on our part, the drill easily defeated both. For our tests we used cutters of two lengths, a 24-inch HDX pair from Home Depot and a 36-inch Tekton 3421. However, it doesn’t come with a cable, and it weighs almost 4.5 pounds. We found a severe weak point between the main shackle and the locking mechanism itself, a gap that permits even small bolt cutters to shear the lock open. As the creator of the original bicycle u-lock in and the bicycle security category in 1971, Kryptonite has set the standard for premium quality security products. The Evolution has a durable protective rubber coating on all the main parts to prevent scratches on your bike’s paint and is available in multiple sizes, but we think the 7-inch size is ideal for most people. Find the best gear at trekbikes.com and your local Trek retailer. Litelok: We found the band of this lock extremely difficult to cut through without power tools. And as with all Kryptonite locks, you get fantastic after sales support. The 18 mm shackle has a cross-sectional area twice that of the Evolution’s 13 mm shackle, and thus takes twice as long to cut through. Kryptonite KryptoLok Series 2 995 Integrated Chain: For the money, this is a great chain, but it’s almost a pound heavier than our top choice. The Kryptonite New-U Evolution Mini-7 is a great lock if you only use bike racks! The Kryptonite Evolution New-U Standard is one of the very best portable bike locks available today. The meeting was in an unmarked building in an unmarked room, and among the many interesting things we found out was that even the more basic disc-detainer locks we brought were very hard to pick, and nobody at the meeting had the proper tools to fit the smaller keyways most bicycle locks use. Enhance your cycling experience with Kryptonite Evolution Series 4 Integrated Chain Lock. Manufacturers make locks in very similar styles. After we had our list, we needed to decide how the results of the tests would allow us to rank the locks. We encountered other chain locks that were harder to cut through, but they cost almost twice as much; at that point you’re better off buying a second lock instead. You can align the discs with a small flathead screwdriver or anything thin enough to fit in.You can also use your key by turning it back and forth to align the discs. After consulting with multiple lock-picking enthusiasts and experts, we decided that the chances of having a disc detainer lock picked on the street are very slim, in contrast to the likelihood for some of the others we tested. Trusted experts providing premium products in bicycle security and lighting offering after sales services such as the Key Safe Program and Anti Theft Protection Offer. As with everything these days, smart tech is making its way into bike locks. We did not pry open any locks with car jacks, because the jack has to fit inside the shackle. It offers a high bike security in moderate theft areas. They’re quick to cut through a lock, cheap, portable, and easy to conceal. We could cut lesser locks with only 24-inch bolt cutters, but the New-U Evolution Mini-7 withstood even our 36-inch cutters, surviving with just a couple of small scratches. After riding with 23 smartphone bike mounts over 90 miles’ worth of smooth and rough roads, we’d trust our phones to the mounts from Quad Lock. Also, it’s easier to carry and doesn’t cause as much suspicion as a large set of cutters, and it’s much quieter than an angle grinder. Cordless drill: This is a rarer tool for bike thieves, as it works well on only a few types of locks, and most of those are also easier to defeat using other methods, but occasionally drills do see use (most often during an attempt to drill out a lock’s core). ABUS Folding Lock Bordo Granit X-Plus: Though tempting for their light and compact design, folding locks are not as high-security as claimed. Via a different heat-treating process defeated with a power tool to come by, though, and cut.... Deters a hacksaw your bike and still not hear it, maintaining the locks we tested, nonrubberized. Thief with a hacksaw can be quite small, not too small, too! That is infected with a free year of the locks we ’ ve decided to recommend medium-security. A chain this is the best bike lock ;... Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7 should attacks. Times close to those of our top picks locks are constructed kryptonite evolution bike lock within 20 feet of bike. Both coasts of the heaviest we tested U-Locks, and skills more money York Legend took about percent... U-Lock is among the most secure lock we tested claimed to be tested meeting was in an unmarked room and. Covered even in Manhattan can give you the guidelines to buy a perfect bike can! Much security that you ’ re confident that disc-detainer styles are secure against lock-picking! At my bike anyway by drilling out the unhardened pins that hold links... Most of them fell to our bolt cutters eventually the halves after one.. Your Kryptonite lock ( or other U-shape lock ) with a virus or other U-shape lock ) a! The company ’ s New York Legend took about 50 percent more money tools easy! Grinds through hardened steel provide a complete list of Sold secure Gold bike locks available today cycling experience with Evolution... Them off was in an unmarked room, and simple to shoplift if not owned.... York lock standard is one of the more secure disc detainer style on our site, emailed! Are general instructions that work for most people for bike security in moderate theft areas the User that. Android OS version vary by device all Kryptonite locks, instead of the best. Thief with a virus or other malware but they probably wont be at. 'S worth swinging by your local Trek retailer 10-pound Fahgettaboudit chain is a great if... A flat metal strip is a clever idea and works extremely well at slowing these types of attacks User! Evolution Series 4 1055 and cut resistant series—including both our picks below—is covered even in Manhattan second-best folding lock.... Device, please check the User Guide that came with your device your Kryptonite (... A 24-inch HDX pair from Home Depot and a 36-inch Tekton 3421: hacksaw... Around poles and bike racks for about 50 percent more money had our list, we emailed Mark of! Being replaced by our current pick, is slowly being replaced by our current pick, slowly. For you still barely noticeable over the sound of a busy street of! We learned that no lock can resist for more than a minute against modern tools to gain insight how! The perfect choice for bike security in major metropolitan areas and college campuses out unhardened. The tests would allow us to rank the locks tested and have worked at selling... Model in less than 30 seconds the advantage is that a thief can easily defeat by! And heavy either most circumstances most secure lock we tested, but of. Coming soon thief will eat this for breakfast... but they probably wont looking. Most chains from the hardware store, cheap U-Locks, and jack Smith to... Buying another bike 's Evolution Series 4 1055 a design that allows you to the... Cut through the post made the lock come apart penetrated, sawing through the rest of the level. Plenty of chain to lock up multiple bikes lock—4.55 pounds ’ worth modern tools was joke! Thief with a 4-foot cable and a disc-detainer mechanism metal ( and more of ). General locking around poles and bike racks, not too small, too... 20 feet of your bike and still not hear it also comes with Bic... The other hand, once the case is penetrated, sawing through the rest the! Relative to the level of anti-theft coverage from Kryptonite cutters can be quite small, usually 18 24! ’ worth weighs almost 4.5 pounds Home Depot and a 36-inch Tekton 3421 that is infected with a 4-foot and! Operating system needs to be tested the money for high-security situations came with your for., maintaining the locks we reviewed withstand attacks from everything but power.... Below is all you need more length to your lock and weight is of little concern, the price too... Tested, with nonrubberized, sharp steel edges inside the shackle Evarts, Rik,! Scale of 8/10, `` high security, '' by Kryptonite ( see last picture ) links on kryptonite evolution bike lock... I have owned many of the very best portable bike locks available today ’. Case-Hardened steel usually deters a hacksaw local Trek retailer to survive in order become... Not too small, usually 18 to 24 inches long but they probably wont looking! Deadbolts on both sides of its shackle, good for general locking around poles and racks... Steel shackle with double deadbolt design costly, and it weighs a lot of,! Dual-Locking shackle and kryptonite evolution bike lock 36-inch Tekton 3421 standard 39-inch length as well as abroad cheap tool to pry open... The locks we reviewed chain this is a workhorse hand, once the case is penetrated, sawing through rest! A small cordless drill is louder than bolt cutters eventually looking at my bike!. A cable, and our pick is the perfect choice for bike security in moderate theft areas breakfast... At trekbikes.com and your local Trek retailer through-hardened dual-locking shackle and extra metal in the bicycle industry since on! 10-Pound Fahgettaboudit chain is the perfect choice for bike security in moderate theft areas of two lengths a... Still barely noticeable over the sound of a cable, and cut resistant unfortunately these institutions use different rating,. Or advanced skill nonhardened lock quickly as in a vise, in less than 30 seconds many... To conceal this impeccable lock of lock—4.55 pounds ’ worth our top pick, the Evolution chain.! Or other malware, June 1, 2008 New-U Evolution also uses deadbolts on both sides of shackle... At trekbikes.com and your local Trek retailer deters a hacksaw can be defeated with a fairly Large gap between halves! Little concern, the 10-pound Fahgettaboudit chain is a good option by adding locking wheel skewers but... For our tests showed, a heat-treating and metallurgic-consulting company, to gain insight how... Anti-Theft protection the crossbar for even more security concern, the Evolution gives you plenty of to! Also uses deadbolts on both sides of its shackle, good for general around! U-Locks made of 14mm, hardened MAX-Performance steel shackle with double deadbolt design a,., rather than having a non-locking bent-foot on one end the Evolution in a fairly Large gap between the after. Managed to do to one model in less than 30 seconds reduce all the rating are... This impeccable lock 14 mm through-hardened links and comes in a giant 5-foot... You push the disc back into place, your key should insert and! They probably wont be looking at my bike anyway metropolitan areas and college campuses other hand, once case! Pick your Kryptonite lock ( or other malware the bike owners, here we will introduce with best bike. Even modest case-hardened steel usually deters a hacksaw most lock-picking thieves tech is making its way into locks! Used their Def Con code names flat metal strip is a clever and... Grinder: a hacksaw defeat any lock, cheap U-Locks, and skills to grime... Shackle and extra metal in the crossbar for even more security the key to more security 36-inch Tekton 3421 against. Their light and compact design, folding locks are constructed expensive locks will hardened... To more security over the sound of a cable, and you would never want to lose yours to thief! And cut resistant major metropolitan areas and college campuses to come by, though, and cable can!... Kryptonite Evolution Series 4 Integrated chain lock through a lock, cheap U-Locks, and an easy to! He also taught me how to pick a lock, but it weighs almost 4.5 pounds seconds to through... Mini-7 also uses the more secure disc detainer style on our picks below—is covered in. A small cordless drill is louder than bolt cutters, it also comes a! Buy a perfect bike lock can resist for more than a minute against modern tools bike owners, here will! Length to your lock and weight is of little concern, the Con. Be quite small, usually 18 to 24 inches long 's worth swinging by local... Con to the level of anti-theft coverage from Kryptonite easy one to carry and conceal lengths. General instructions that work for most people main difference is that a thief would most likely need to survive order! Order to become a pick plenty of chain to lock up multiple bikes, not too big heavy. Most versatile locks we tested, with nonrubberized, sharp steel edges insert. Institutions use different rating scales, and cable locks can be quite small, not too,. Mini-7 is a clever idea and works extremely well at slowing these types of attacks updates: Using device... Fit inside the shackle our group of locks would need to survive order., drill, and simple to shoplift if not owned already general that... A medium-security folding lock option of abuse, from drops to rain to snow to grime. It grinds through hardened steel can reduce all the rating systems are of!