Best Type of Bike Lock?

[KennaughKickIt]

Looking to buy a bike lock, don't really want to spend more than £20 and I'm wondering what's the most thief-proof?

I hear chain locks might be the way to go but I don't want to sacrifice too much weight? Just wondering what to consider, what to avoid etc.

Thanks

 

[the snail]

I don't think you'll get anything even half decent for £20, probably just something to stop someone wheeling you bike away. Have a search of the forum, plenty of threads discussing locks, but you're going to have to spend more for something even vaguely thief-proof.

 

[hoopdriver]

Forget it at £20. Wouldn't be worth the bother. A thief would just snip it and go. Might give an opportunist pause, but that would be about it.

 

[DaveReading]

The conventional wisdom is that the amount you spend on a lock should be related to the value of your bike, i.e. how much it would cost you to replace if stolen. A rule-of-thumb is around 10%, although of course that's arbitrary.

Another consideration is how likely it is to be stolen, which is a function of where you typically lock it up, and for how long, and whether it's likely to be surrounded by other bikes with equally poor locks that are more attractive targets for thieves

Depending on the above, £20 may or may not be realistic.

 

[vickster]

These are a decent deterrent (and only a bit over budget) for a bit of time and not in a high risk area (like a station/anywhere overnight)

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Kryptonite-Series-2-U-Lock-with-4-Foot-Kryptoflex-Cable_53962.htm

or better (as smaller D) http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=0R860GEG8G9F6AHKJDMK

How much is the bike worth, is it insured (and what are the T&Cs) and can you afford to buy a new bike / pay the excess if stolen

NO lock is thief proof - if a tooled up thief wants your bike, they'll pretty much get it if they are determined enough (unless you have it in bed with you along with a hungry rottweiler)

 

[Big Nick]

You can get a Bulldog branded U lock for around £30 which is sold secure gold rated

 

[vickster]

You can get a Bulldog branded U lock for around £30 which is sold secure gold rated

Doesn't make it thief proof, just tougher for an opportunist and more acceptable to your insurer (depending on their T&Cs of course)

 

[Big Nick]

Doesn't make it thief proof, just tougher for an opportunist and more acceptable to your insurer (depending on their T&Cs of course)

Who said it did?

Gold standard usually require power tools though which not that many bike thieves carry I would assume

 

[vickster]

The OP asked for the most thief proof lock

Unfortunately, even D locks can be broken with tools very quickly if they have the right tool (like a bottle jack)

To be fair, your one is well reviewed. I use an abus granit X and a cable, but the lock alone is £70ish and not what you would call light!

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories/locks/product/review-onguard-bulldog-dt-39853/

 

[hoopdriver]

I use a Pragmasis lock in my locked shed for my bikes. The Pragmasis is about as thief proof as it is humanely possible to get - testers have actually broken a pair of 48" bolt cutters trying to cut through one of the links - but the lock and chain weighs a ton and costs a hell of a lot. Worth it though, for the bikes it protects.

 

[Big Nick]

The OP asked for the most thief proof lock

Unfortunately, even D locks can be broken with tools very quickly if they have the right tool (like a bottle jack)

To be fair, your one is well reviewed. I use an abus granit X and a cable, but the lock alone is £70ish and not what you would call light!

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories/locks/product/review-onguard-bulldog-dt-39853/

I doubt you'd get a bottle jack in if the lock had been sited correctly, most gold standard u locks will last around 3 minutes against powered cutting tools but that's some determined scroat

The one I mentioned is as close to the OP's price point as possible and is gold rated, hence I think fits his criteria the best

 

[KennaughKickIt]

Thanks for all the answers. I'm actually not insured at the moment as I live in a relatively crime-free part of Cumbria, however I'll be needing a lock for those cycles into Yorkshire (I joke, I joke, kind of) and may be taking the bike to Europe at some point over the next year (by which point I'll certainly have insurance).

The 10% rule puts me at about £45 but I've already overshot my budget on everything else and if I can get something more than serviceable for less then I'll look too.

 

[jay clock]

This one as mentioned above is a good choice http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=0R860GEG8G9F6AHKJDMK

 

[jefmcg]

Vicks has pinned down a good deal for a few pounds more than you said. that's the way I'd go.

In london you see sh*tty little halfords bikes with wheels missing. At my local high street, someone has stolen the saddle and seat post off a 1960's folding shopper bike - which has probably no actual value - so the owner has abandoned it.

D-lock through one wheel, frame and fixed object, cable through the other wheel. It's probably near to as good as you can get. Just don't leave it in east london.

 

[BalkanExpress]

http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/144109/

THE thread on locks.

The front page is regularly updated so you do not need to wade through the other 99

You should find a few suggestions within your budget.