alternatives to Kryptonite for U-locks?

[Ben Pfaff]

I'm not that happy with Kryptonite locks at the moment. First,
there was the Bic pen vulnerability a few years ago. Now, my
replacement lock has developed another problem: when I'm riding
along with it on the bike, about every other ride it rattles
itself apart and I have to park my bike alongside the road and
retrieve the U part of it from busy traffic. This has happened
half a dozen times, even when I've carefully checked that it was
locked before I set off. I assume that this means that a bike
thief, should he be inclined to do so, could steal my bike
without any tools at all if he were to just rattle the lock for a
few minutes. Not to mention that it's just a matter of time
until the U part of the lock hits a car when it falls.

Are there alternatives to Kryptonite locks that may be superior?
I understand that many other apparent brands of U-lock are
actually relabeled Kryptonite locks.
--
Ben Pfaff
http://benpfaff.org

 

[Werehatrack]

On Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:28:13 -0700, Ben Pfaff <[email protected]>
may have said:

>I'm not that happy with Kryptonite locks at the moment. First,
>there was the Bic pen vulnerability a few years ago. Now, my
>replacement lock has developed another problem: when I'm riding
>along with it on the bike, about every other ride it rattles
>itself apart and I have to park my bike alongside the road and
>retrieve the U part of it from busy traffic. This has happened
>half a dozen times, even when I've carefully checked that it was
>locked before I set off. I assume that this means that a bike
>thief, should he be inclined to do so, could steal my bike
>without any tools at all if he were to just rattle the lock for a
>few minutes. Not to mention that it's just a matter of time
>until the U part of the lock hits a car when it falls.
>
>Are there alternatives to Kryptonite locks that may be superior?
>I understand that many other apparent brands of U-lock are
>actually relabeled Kryptonite locks.

I can't say if they are invulnerable to the rattle problem, but
there's a different issue with the similarly-keyed Master locks. You
can't get replacement keys at all, as of last I checked with them.

I beat the rattle-loose issue by using the frame mount that's supplied
with the newer Kryptos. I have had other brands of U-locks do the
same thing, so I advise against carrying any U-lock by just hanging it
on the handlebars, even though that's what I used to do myself.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

 

[Zoot Katz]

On Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:28:13 -0700, Ben Pfaff <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Are there alternatives to Kryptonite locks that may be superior?
>I understand that many other apparent brands of U-lock are
>actually relabeled Kryptonite locks.

I've been using a Planet Bike NYC style U-lock for about three years.
It generally hangs upside down from the right side of my rack. It
rattles a lot but has never unlocked itself. The plastic is worn
where it contacts the rack but the sliding cover for the key hole
still functions. It's not a very smooth operating lock even freshly
lubricated. In fact, it's often annoyingly difficult to unlock
without first stumbling upon the magic word.
--
zk

 

[c]

Look at

http://www.abus.de




Ben Pfaff wrote:
> I'm not that happy with Kryptonite locks at the moment. First,
> there was the Bic pen vulnerability a few years ago. Now, my
> replacement lock has developed another problem: when I'm riding
> along with it on the bike, about every other ride it rattles
> itself apart and I have to park my bike alongside the road and
> retrieve the U part of it from busy traffic. This has happened
> half a dozen times, even when I've carefully checked that it was
> locked before I set off. I assume that this means that a bike
> thief, should he be inclined to do so, could steal my bike
> without any tools at all if he were to just rattle the lock for a
> few minutes. Not to mention that it's just a matter of time
> until the U part of the lock hits a car when it falls.
>
> Are there alternatives to Kryptonite locks that may be superior?
> I understand that many other apparent brands of U-lock are
> actually relabeled Kryptonite locks.

 

[Hank]

On Jun 3, 9:28 am, Ben Pfaff <[email protected]> wrote:
> I'm not that happy with Kryptonite locks at the moment.  First,
> there was the Bic pen vulnerability a few years ago.  Now, my
> replacement lock has developed another problem: when I'm riding
> along with it on the bike, about every other ride it rattles
> itself apart and I have to park my bike alongside the road and
> retrieve the U part of it from busy traffic.  This has happened
> half a dozen times, even when I've carefully checked that it was
> locked before I set off.  I assume that this means that a bike
> thief, should he be inclined to do so, could steal my bike
> without any tools at all if he were to just rattle the lock for a
> few minutes.  Not to mention that it's just a matter of time
> until the U part of the lock hits a car when it falls.
>
> Are there alternatives to Kryptonite locks that may be superior?
> I understand that many other apparent brands of U-lock are
> actually relabeled Kryptonite locks.
> --
> Ben Pfaffhttp://benpfaff.org

I've been quite happy with my OnGuard Pitbull, although I'll confess
that I've never used the provided bracket; I carried it in my
commuting backpack initially, then just started leaving it locked to
the rack at work. If I'm running an errand from home, I just use a
cable lock. But I've had that OnGuard for about 5 years now (to
replace the 20-year-old Performance Bike Shop cylinder key one I
discovered I was able to open with a Bic pen), and it still opens and
closes easily.

 

[Werehatrack]

On Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:19:45 -0700, Zoot Katz <[email protected]>
may have said:

>... It's not a very smooth operating lock even freshly
>lubricated. In fact, it's often annoyingly difficult to unlock
>without first stumbling upon the magic word.

Ah, a vocabulary expansion device! These are not to be dismissed
lightly, nay, never should one be merely set aside carelessly.
Rather, they should be flung across the room with great vigor!

(apologies to the memory of Parker.)

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

 

[landotter]

On Jun 3, 4:10 pm, Hank <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Jun 3, 9:28 am, Ben Pfaff <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>
> > I'm not that happy with Kryptonite locks at the moment.  First,
> > there was the Bic pen vulnerability a few years ago.  Now, my
> > replacement lock has developed another problem: when I'm riding
> > along with it on the bike, about every other ride it rattles
> > itself apart and I have to park my bike alongside the road and
> > retrieve the U part of it from busy traffic.  This has happened
> > half a dozen times, even when I've carefully checked that it was
> > locked before I set off.  I assume that this means that a bike
> > thief, should he be inclined to do so, could steal my bike
> > without any tools at all if he were to just rattle the lock for a
> > few minutes.  Not to mention that it's just a matter of time
> > until the U part of the lock hits a car when it falls.
>
> > Are there alternatives to Kryptonite locks that may be superior?
> > I understand that many other apparent brands of U-lock are
> > actually relabeled Kryptonite locks.
> > --
> > Ben Pfaffhttp://benpfaff.org
>
> I've been quite happy with my OnGuard Pitbull,

Pitbull mini for me, with the Akita cable for either the front wheel
or to secure panniers or even to lock around big poles at the farmers
market. Nice lock for anything outside SF or NYC.