Kryponite or Onguard?

[brownnugen]

I am moving back to the area and will be commuting by bike. I think my bike will be relatively safe when parked on base at work (military), but am concerned if I need to run an errand or stop off somewhere on the way to/from work, so I want to get a good lock.

I’ve done some searching and it looks like Kryponite and Onguard are 2 very popular brands. I am thinking about a U lock, just because they are nice and flat and I would have the option of either mounting it on my frame or throwing it in my pannier. Which one of these would you get?

http://www.rei.com/product/832888/onguard-pitbull-dt-u-lock-with-cable
http://www.rei.com/product/855203/kryptonite-new-york-standard-u-lock or
http://www.rei.com/product/833107/kryptonite-new-york-fahgettaboudit-u-lock

If I were to get a Kryponite, I would assume that I should also get a corresponding cable like this: http://www.rei.com/product/800078/kryptonite-kryptoflex-1004-cable-4

Any reason to get a cable longer than 4 feet?

I read that some of the Onguards have problems with the locks getting stuck; has this been resolved or is it still an issue? Do the Kryptonites have this problem? Is the fahgettaboutit too small?

Thanks.

Topic

[jwfisher3]

Like Bilsko, I use one of three locks –
– A Kryptonite NY Faghedabboudit U-Lock – super-solid, very heavy. Don’t usually want it in my panniers, messenger bag, etc. High threat environs lockup only
– A Kryptonite Evolution Mini U-Lock 0 – favorite of bike messengers everywhere. My go-to lock to carry in my back pocket or bags. Mini means less vulnerability
to leverage attacks. Used in conjunction with an OnGuard Cable for the front wheel and bike seat.
– An (older) OnGuard Bulldog Mini U-Lock – I work at a very secure location, so while I think this is the weakest of the three (though still a very good lock) I can
carry this (the lightest of the three) if I know I’m only going to/from work and home.

Where to buy? I bought the NY lock in, yup, NY (Brooklyn, actually, at R&A Cycles, and didn’t even get any attitude to go with it.) Bought the other two locally, one at REI, and one at an LBS. And I feel for poor KelOnWheels, my complaint with the OnGuard is that it can be a #U&()$ to get the key to work the lock when it’s cold, and sounds like OnGuard sure didn’t improve things with the new aesthetics.

[Bilsko]

Edit: Timely post from the folks at BikeRadar: http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/how-to-lock-a-bike-36816/

One other tip that I always give out for U-Lock users. Caveat: It won’t make the world of difference if someone is dead-set on taking your bike, but it just might have them move on to another one. Also, it takes zero effort, so its just become the way I always do it:

When locking up with a U-Lock, put the crossbar of the U-Lock on the bike frame (as opposed to the thing you’re locking up to). Like this:

Not this:

*If* the would-be thief is going to be prying the U-lock crossbar off of the “U”, they’ll need something solid to apply leverage. If that’s the Bike’s frame, then (even for steel) they’re much more likely to dent/bend/break the frame if they have to apply a lot of force than if its a solid piece of bike rack. Immediately, the bike becomes a lot less valuable to the thief.

If they’ve got the axle grinder out, then it doesn’t really matter either way.

[Tim Kelley]

@Bilsko 47467 wrote:

If they’ve got the axle grinder out, then it doesn’t really matter either way.

And no one walking by is going to stop them either…

[Tim Kelley]

@Bilsko 47462 wrote:

Its not pretty and it varies depending on what I’m getting locked up to, but usually the cable will go through the metal frame piece where the plastic housing to attach the trailer arm goes (right below the Chariot Logo in this image):

Then if I can manage to get the U-lock around something else solid on the trailer frame I’ll try to get it locked up to either the seattube or downtube on my bike.

So: 1) bike locked to post, 2) cable around trailer frame and post, then 3) U-lock trailer to bike frame.

Doesn’t always work out that way, but usually something like that.

Do you worry about someone taking the wheels off? They’re easier to remove than a quick release!

[FFX_Hinterlands]

Another idea is to combine a good Ulock with a chain. I have a 7mm Abus Keyed Chain (they make 6mm and 8mm) and an OnGaurd mid-level Ulock. Sometimes I use a chain + Ulock, since it takes different tools to crack them both. On my dutch bike I have a ring lock (aka O lock aka Wheel lock) that secures the rear tire inside the triangle. It makes it impossible to ride away on the bike and difficult to steal the rear wheel. They’re not common on the US so it’s mainly security by obscurity.

Since I have kids I have other combinations of cheaper U locks and cables to secure the kids bikes. I would have anxiety about locking up my bike on the street in NY or DC all day though.

[Bilsko]

@Tim Kelley 47470 wrote:

Do you worry about someone taking the wheels off? They’re easier to remove than a quick release!

Yeah – when I can I run the cable through whichever one is facing outward, but agreed, most of the time I just rely on the hope that the would-be thief doesn’t know how they work.

[brownnugen]

So, I think I’ve narrowed it down to the Kryptonite New York standard or the Forgitaboutit.If I got the Forgitaboutit, will there be ala lot of places that I won’t be able to lock my bike to? I saw the New York standard also comes with a mount to put it on the bike while riding, would this be an all around better lock to buy? prices are within a few dollars or each other.

[Dickie]

@brownnugen 47814 wrote:

So, I think I’ve narrowed it down to the Kryptonite New York standard or the Forgitaboutit.If I got the Forgitaboutit, will there be ala lot of places that I won’t be able to lock my bike to? I saw the New York standard also comes with a mount to put it on the bike while riding, would this be an all around better lock to buy? prices are within a few dollars or each other.

I use the standard, but keep it on/in my backpack as I own a few different bikes and don’t want to attach mounts to all of them… If you go that route though I’ll give you my mount as a spare if I can find it. I chose the standard as it was slightly longer allowing me more flexibility to use it in situations where a bike rack isn’t available.

[brownnugen]

@Dickie 47820 wrote:

I use the standard, but keep it on/in my backpack as I own a few different bikes and don’t want to attach mounts to all of them… If you go that route though I’ll give you my mount as a spare if I can find it. I chose the standard as it was slightly longer allowing me more flexibility to use it in situations where a bike rack isn’t available.

Dickie, thanks for the reply; I am going to go with the NY Standard and would love to take you up on the offer for your mount if you can find it.
-Nick

[Dickie]

Ughh… just realized I never responded to this… sorry Nick.

I gave the shop a good look this morning and could not find that little bugger… apologies. If I come across it I’ll certainly let you know.

[NicDiesel]

Whatever you do, don’t try to mount the Fahgettaboudit to your frame or put it in your pannier. Anytime I have to use it I either put it in my bag or use one of these:

[mstone]

Is that supposed to be ironic?

[NicDiesel]

@mstone 59799 wrote:

Is that supposed to be ironic?

Only if you’re wearing JNCOs…

[bluerider]

I have the Krypto NYC Forgetaboutit mini U-lock. I love it. Its heavy but thats the point. I use a cable in conjunction with it. You never know what trouble will come your way so thats all I ever use.

[Rod Smith]

I use a KryptoLok (gray rubber on the crossbar), the economy version of Kryptonite (orange rubber) . The website suggests they are made of different grades of steel, but this is not clear. My guess is the material is the same but described differently in the ad copy. I removed the plastic and rubber parts from the crossbar on general principles (weight shaving), but also, the plastic so there’s nothing blocking my key from the keyhole, and the rubber so it looks almost exactly like a Kryptonite Evo 2000. I think the NY lock and Forgetaboutit are overkill. The OnGuard, like the Krypto, maybe marginally weaker than the Kryptonite, but I suspect all provide similar real world security.

[Author]

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