Bicycle Security V.2

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Psyclist

Über Member
Location
Northamptonshire
JUST A FEW FACTS BEFORE YOU READ THIS GUIDE:

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-A Bike Is Stolen Every 71 seconds in England alone with 440,000 thefts reported in the last 12 months.

-TOP 10 CYCLE HOTSPOTS FOR PUBLIC BIKE THEFT IN U.K 2006 -

1.Central London
2.Kingston-upon-Thames
3.Cambridge
4.Bristol
5.York
6.Oxford
7.South West London
8.Brighton
9.Portsmouth
10.Nottingham

-A Survey Shown
1.6 Million U.K Households Were Victim Of Theft From Their Gardens In 2 Years

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Welcome to my (version 2) thread on bike security. I will show you my information which I've made myself, along with info from others.

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HOW THIEVES KNOW WHERE YOUR BIKE IS

You may have your bike stolen from a public place or from your property.

This thread contains information for both home security and public security.

If a thief spots you riding your bike they will follow you to your home to see where you live taking their own precautions for you not to spot them, they then come back to your property late at night to steal your bike.

They may obtain your address through showing interest in your bike for sale, then not turn up. Only to steal your bike whilst you're not in (never meet a stranger who is interested in your bike at your property)

This is how many bikes are stolen from property.

It has been seen in many cases during my observation on bicycle forums, some of which are very shocking stories and which show what levels thieves will go to steal a bicycle.

One of the most shocking stories I had witnessed were thieves who broke into a garage with a crowbar then broke the car window in the garage to move the car into the driveway to break the locks on the bike.

ALL THIS WAS DONE WHILST THE OWNERS SLEPT!!!!!

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YOUR SHED

The last place you want to put your bike is in a shed, whether you have good padlocks on a shed, thieves will simply unscrew the screws on the latch to get in or use other methods to get into it.

Your shed will always be a target for thieves whether or not the thief knows your bike is in your shed.

Thieves target sheds in random burglary's as they know many people keep expensive gardening machinery (e.g Rotavators) and bicycles in their sheds.

Sheds are very easy to break into as they are made of wood and as sheds are commonly placed a distance from the house it is easy for a thief to make little noise if they should break into it.

There are shed alarms which you can buy, but these still will not be good security.

There are, however, ways to toughen your shed, if you read -> How to toughen up your bike shed.

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YOUR GARAGE

Your Garage is safer to keep your bike in but not all are alarmed or secure than others.

If you keep your bike in your garage, it is best to have a heavy duty chain and padlock and d-lock and chain the bike round something secure NOT a heating pipe or weak material.

The best thing to secure you bike to is a ground anchor.

Beware that thieves will find it nearly as easy to break into your garage as a shed if they want your bike, but this varies from garage to garage.




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YOUR HOUSE

Your House is the best place to keep your bike and is always a priority even if you live in a small flat or cramped home it is worth it in the long run.
Common bike thieves rarely burgle houses as most are known as petty thieves. This, however, depends on the thief.

In the case of burglars, it is best you chain your bike around a radiator or something securely built into the house like banisters.

If you would like to know more about burglary prevention simply click here which will take you to the website.

Remember to secure your front and rear wheel together even when left indoors.

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QUICK RELEASE AND PUBLIC PLACES

Never leave your bike locked to a fence in a discreet place like a park for example. This will only leave the thief with free time and a welcoming to your bike.

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When using a D-Lock, secure a tight space (as pictured below) as thieves tend to use bottle jack devices to prize locks open. Making a tight space will prevent this.
Pictured below is using two d-locks. You can still make your front wheel fit with the rear using alterations, if two D-locks are too expensive.
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If the thief can't have your bike they will take any quick release parts off your bike like your wheels or your seat.

Never leave it in a place such as the above mentioned for a long period of time, the thief may come back and cut the chain with bolt croppers or a saw.

HOW TO LOCK UP YOUR BIKE

Bike Lock Tip 1 – Choose your location

Always make sure you don’t attach your bike to something that can easily be broken, moved or lifted off. Spend that extra 5 minutes when you are out and about to find a more secure object and your bike safety will be ensured.
Location tips:
Well lit area with CCTV cameras around are the most ideal

It is preferable to choose an area where other people are around and are frequently walking past. Never leave it in an isolated place

Lock it near to other bikes – there is a decreased chance of thieves picking your bike as there will be easier targets around

Bike Lock Tip 2 – Buy the best bike lock

A cheap lock is a false economy so buy the best you can afford. I’m fairly sure I could actually chew through some of the bike locks I see in London! Aim to buy a D-lock with a cable attached to it.

If there is such a thing as a “best bike lock” then these two would be definite contenders:

Kryptonite New York Standard which is available at a surprisingly good price on Amazon. It would take a thief a very long time to get through this lock. It is one of the toughest and remains one of the most recommended bike locks. If you want to keep your bike safe then this is what you want.

The second equally well recommended one is the Abus Granit Xplus. It is very strong and unless the bike thief has some seriously heavy duty equipment it will not move.

Bike Lock Tip 3 – Use your lock effectively

Lock the frame, front and back wheel to the object you have secured your bike to.

Make sure the D-lock is tightly fastened so it is not hanging loose between the bike and the object you have locked it to.

Face the D-lock (U-lock) keyway facing down so that they cannot spray liquid into it.

Don’t place the lock too near the ground as then it is easier to leverage them for attack.

Bike Lock Tip 4 – Use two different locks

Two different locks will mean thieves need two different types of tool to remove them. They are unlikely to be carrying both of these. I always take my bag with me and put the two locks in there. The one lock is a d-lock and the other is a chain lock.

The bike thief will take one look at your bike with the two locks and will look elsewhere.

Bike Lock Tip 5 – Register your bike

A registered bike is less likely to be targeted. Obviously make sure you get a sticker that says it is registered to put would-be thieves off. I highly recommend http://www.bikeregister.com/ and http://www.immobilise.com/

Bike Lock Tip 6 – Remove all accessories

A bike is less attractive without lights, the seat post etc so make sure you remove these if you have room to carry them with you.

Finally this excellent video below helps re-iterate the main points about how to lock your bike:



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SECURITY CHAINS AND LOCKS

No lock is unbreakable - Take that as a note.

One thing you should always keep in mind is that if a thief wants to steal your bicycle, they will always be able to given enough time, the knowledge needed to break your locks and the right tools.

There are a number of steps you can take to help keep you and your trusted steed together:

-Buy the best locks you can afford.

-Avoid the bad locks.

-Use two locks or more (the more the better)

-Choose a good location.

-Attach your bike to a solid, immovable object.

-Understand the tools and techniques thieves use.

If you're looking for a good bicycle lock the following will tell you all you need to know.

How to choose a good bike lock

Security rating – in the UK there is the Sold Secure rating system. This classes bike locks as Gold, Silver or Bronze. The three different levels represent how long it will take a bike thief to breach the lock. If you have bicycle insurance then getting a Sold Secure lock is usually part of the terms and conditions.

Size – a lock with a bigger locking diameter will mean you can secure it against a wider range of objects. The downside is this gives the thief more space to try and use a lever-aging bar to break the lock.

Weight – obviously this is something you need to carry around with you often and any additional weight on the bike means additional pedalling effort. Usually a better bike lock will also be heavier.

Maintenance – you should use WD40 to keep the locking mechanism working well and not seizing up especially during cold weather.

Spare keys – there is nothing worse than losing your keys just as you are about to set off to work. Most bike locks come with at least two spare keys but a third is often very useful.
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Cable locks have a bad reputation for security. They are far easier to cut through than D-Locks. As a secondary lock however they can be a good choice. Steel cable locks will be a better deterrent and also make a thief take longer to cut through if you have one of these with your other lock.

D-Locks/U-Locks are a better security option over cable locks and are rather strong depending on how much you pay. However they can be broken open with a jack device if a thief is well equipped.

Chains & Security Locks are the best option when it comes to security. But it all depends on what you buy.
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Abus Steel-O-Flex Granit 1000/800mm would be the best cable lock, I wouldn't recommend anything other than this lock. However not as your primary lock.
abussteeloflex1000.jpg

Kryptonite New York 3000 NYL is the best U-Lock/D-Lock you can get and is Gold Sold Secure it may cost a lot but it is sold gold secure and will hold up a lot of abuse to be broken.
(Review Here)

kryptonite_ny_3000_u-lock.jpg


Almax Series III is near enough invincible and has took it's test in which it has passed in strength against bolt croppers. It ranges in price from £125-£200 depending on which package you buy but is worth it.
(Review Here)
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Almax Chains may be heavy to carry but they are very, very sure to be unbreakable and your bike will not be stolen.

I have an Almax Chain & Squire Lock, okay so it's £125 - £55 for the Squire lock and £69.95 for the chain, but for a reason.

These are locks you want to avoid (as shown by Almax)



And here's why Almax are one of the best chains you can get in the U.K.



LIST OF OTHER LOCKS - Credit goes to LFGSS.com on this list:

Before looking, take a look at Almax Wall of Shame

U-Locks:
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1. 16mm Abus Granit Extreme 59 [tied with]
1. 18mm Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Mini (the best) [not big enough for MTBs with fat tyres, fine for road bikes with tighter clearances]

2. 18mm Kryptonite New York M-18 [tied with]
2. 18mm Xena Bullett XUL

3. 19mm Motrax Disclock Large (best value security) [tied with]
3. 16mm OnGuard Brute X4 (best value security, from major company)

Chains: (best left at work, or at university, so you can relock it each day)
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1. Almax Immobiliser Series IV

Skewer Locks:
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1. Pitlock (highest security)
2. Hublox Security Skewers (ease of use)

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Heavy Duty D-Locks/U-Locks: (Primary security)
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18mm/19mm:
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GRP Superdeals U-Lock [18mm]

Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Mini [18mm]

Kryptonite New York M-18 [18mm]

Master Lock Street Force 10 [18mm] (8 tons pull resistance)

Motrax Disclock Large [19mm] (Badly named, because it is a U-Lock)

Xena Bullett XUL series [18mm] {Alarmed lock} [2.92kgs (210cm); 3.34kgs (270cm); 3.48kgs (310cm)]

16mm/17mm (or equivalent strength):
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Abus Granit Extreme 59 [16mm] (10 tons pull resistance) [2.9kgs (260cm); 3.06kgs (310cm)]

Abus Granit X-Plus 54 [13mm] (7 tons pull resistance) [1.84kgs (300cm); 1.4kgs (230cm)] [SOLD SECURE GOLD]

Abus Granit Power 59 [16mm] [3.06kgs (310cm); 2.9kgs (260cm)]

BLOK UL X200(Magnum) [16mm]

GRP Superdeals U-Lock [16mm] (round barrel, not square)

Motrax Viper Disc Lock [16mm] (Its actually a U-lock)

Onguard Brute X4 [16mm] (10 tons pull resistance) £27.35 [WARNING: key combinations are few.] [1.864kgs]

Oxford Magnum [16mm] (regular) [SOLD SECURE GOLD]

Oxford Magnum - Large [16mm] £43.47 [SOLD SECURE GOLD]

Trelock BS 510 [16mm] (6 tons pull resistance)

Trelock MB 600 [16mm] (8 tons pull resistance)

Trelock BS 610 [16mm] (7 tons pull resistance) [SOLD SECURE GOLD]

Trimax MAX90 Ultra Max [16mm] (6.5 tons pull resistance / 8 tons expansion resistance)

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Chains: [16mm minimum] (Primary security)
(Extremely heavy, and will last long enough to put off most thieves, but not indestructible)
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Almax Immobiliser Series IV (1m chain only) [19mm diameter links!!]

Colossus chain + Viper lock (1.2m chain)

PJB Untouchable [16mm] (1.5m chain)

PJB Untouchable [19mm] (2.0m chain) £169.99 [19mm diameter links!!]

Pragmasis Protector £66.65

Squire Ex-Caliber SS65 £49.95

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Alarm Disc Locks: (very useful in shared accommodation, outside the pub, or at university - not primary security).
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VirtualVillage 6mm Motorcycle alarm disc lock (110db)

JBSL02 Alarm Disc Lock (100db) £22.95

LA-01 Alarm padlock(105db) £16.99 (adequate chainring-based deterrent, but easily cut)

LA-02 Alarm disc lock (100db)

Motrax Alarm Disc Lock (100db)

"New" Alarm Disc Lock (112db)

Oxford Boss (110db)

Oxford Screamer Alarm Disc Lock (100db)

SG Locks Heavy Security 3-01 ()

SNC 808 Alarm Disc Lock (110db)

Xena XBL2-35 (110db)

Xena XPL46 (110db)

Xena Special Offer XZZ6 Alarm (110db)

Xena XZZ6 Alarm Disc Lock (110db)

Alarm Padlocks: (again, nearly essential security but not as primary security).
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Krabus XL505 (the original) As used on downtube [very effectively]

No Name Krabus copy

SNC locks (many are Krabus copies)

Faithfull (Krabus copy)

Budget Alarm Padlock (Krabus copy)

Rolson Alarm Padlock (Krabus copy)

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Axle / Skewer Locks: (additional security, NOT primary security)
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For solid axles (ie. fixed gear hubs)
Atomic 22 [needs to be bought direct from manufacturer]

Pinhead

Pitlock

For hollow axles (ie. quick release)
Hublox Security Skewers

KF Secura Locking Skewers Set

Pinhead Duo

Pinhead Tri

Pitlock

Trans-X Security Quick Release

Zefal Lock n Roll

Rear Wheel Lock by AXA:

The AXA Defender lock is a wheel to frame lock which is permanently mounted on the rear seat stays. It is very common in Europe and stops the bike from being ridden away as well as stopping anyone from stealing the rear wheel from the bike. With the addition of the plug in cable this becomes a good lock choice for people living in a low risk area. It is quick and easy to use and because the key stays in the lock when the bike is in use it is great for those people who are apt to lose keys. If used in combination with a U lock for the front wheel and frame this would be a good system even for higher risk areas.

axa-defender-lock-plus-cable-lead.jpg


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GROUND ANCHORS

A Ground Anchor is a number one priority if you store your bike in a garage or next to a wall outside it can only be fixed into a concrete floor. It is simply secured into the concrete floor and is impossible to remove.

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ELECTRONIC TAGGING DEVICES

Tagging Devices are a priority, they are placed on the inside of your bicycle and if your bike is ever stolen it can be recovered.

The ImmobiTag Electronic Cycle Protection Kit is an easy-to-fit device that's embedded into the bike frame and is almost impossible to remove.

http://www.integratedtrackers.com/GPSTrack

There is also ChipNTrace who do a similar Electronic Tagging Device ChipNTrace offer a return service if your bike is found and they also have people going round to shops and trails and are actively trying to stop crime at the trails, shops and centres. They to are involved with the police and have an active watch list that gets updated on their website for all to see.

There is also a data tag device which uses chemical etching and includes 1000 microdots for minor components on sportsbikeshop.co.uk useful for placing on all parts of your bike in case it is taken apart and sold as parts.

You can also watch: Gone in 60 Seconds Part 1 & 2 - Documentary on Bike Theft In London.

Thanks for reading, and I hope this helps you protect your bike.

Alex/Psyclist.
 

Mr Haematocrit

msg me on kik for android
Great effort, nice job fella
 

Trail Child

Well-Known Member
Location
Ottawa, Canada
Fantastic post and information. Thanks! :smile:
 

Alexvs

Well-Known Member
Location
Milton Keynes
This was an eye opener! I've only got a pretty average unrated £35 chain combination lock that I use for my commuter at work. Thankfully we've never had anything stolen from there but I'm still definitely going to be investing in the Kryptonite New York lock you suggested and use the chain as an addition. Thanks
 

Sara_H

Guru
Anyone here fitted a ground anchor? Can it be done by someone with avarage DIY skills and avarage tools? Also, is the anything similar that can be used to anchor bikes to a wall in a similar fashion?
 
OP
OP
Psyclist

Psyclist

Über Member
Location
Northamptonshire
Anyone here fitted a ground anchor? Can it be done by someone with avarage DIY skills and avarage tools? Also, is the anything similar that can be used to anchor bikes to a wall in a similar fashion?

Not sure on how easy ground anchors are to install. Probably depends on the anchor, but they need to be secured into the ground properly.

There are wall anchors like this. Pretty decent, but again, it has to be secured properly.
 
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