Does anybody know offhand whether Kryptonite-4 locks are still
considered safe? In 2004, there were lots of posts about Kryptonite
locks getting picked by Bic pens, but a few posts I've seen suggest the
Kryptonite-4 model (which I own) is OK.
Some posts on bikeforuns.net thread "Your brand new bicycle u-lock is
not safe!" suggest the ACE-II mechanism on the Kryptonite-4 is
inherently much harder to pick with a Bic, though not impossible:
http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-67493-p-32
According to one post: "The Ace-I has 7 pins with the same tension,
the Ace-II has 7 pins all with their own tension. Thus much more
difficult to defeat."
This post lists a bunch of locks as "Good" (not yet picked) or "Bad",
with the Kryptonite-4 and ACE-II mechanism in the "Good" category:
http://www.cycleontario.ca/pipermail/discuss/2004-September/000401.html
And John Thomson, in thread rec.bicycles.misc thread "Defeat the
Bic-pick" said "I'm happy to report that my ~25 year old "original"
Kryptonite and my ~10 year old Kryptonite 4 locks both appear to be
immune to the "Bic-pick."
Anyone know what the current verdict on the Kryptonite-4 is?
I bought a Kryptonite-4 back in 1989 after my bike and previous
Kryptonite were stolen. The thief actually removed the sign at the top
of the post my bike was locked to, and lifted the whole lot over the
top. Doh! The post was pretty high, so the thief must have come
with a ladder... or been a down-and-out former NBA center.