Bike security - Lock picking... (1 Viewer)

[ShiftZZ]

As a matter of interest, I bought one of these.

Amazon product ASIN B01CHWIP32
I then played around with it.. I was shocked as to how easy it was to pick a lock I had securing my new electric bikes.. Agreed it was a low priced Chinese padlock. I wonder if anyone can suggest a decent padlock...

 

[Gorse Hill]

Anything Yale/Master will be off a decent quality, however a portable grinder with a cutting disk will get throu any padlock so no point in paying top money, if they want it it's gone

 

[zac]

Anything Yale/Master will be off a decent quality, however a portable grinder with a cutting disk will get throu any padlock so no point in paying top money, if they want it it's gone

I am afraid most padlocks are easy to pick, i have a heavy duty master padlock which can be picked in less than 3 seconds. As most have said it is more a deterrent than anything else, dont rely on them to keep anything safe but if yours has a lock and the one next to it doesnt then i am pretty sure yours will be left.

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[Geo]

2 x trailer ramps for smart car trailer, no use at all to a standard trailer far to short
2 x 1/4" shaft close shackled padlocks locks
V
18" Bolt cropper Gone in less than 60 seconds and Silent

Scrap Aluminium value £5 to £7 maybe £10
Replacement cost £400
Please tell me Karma really does exist and he will die an agonizing death
Second thoughts when did you buy that kit and where were you on the 19th between 11pm and 7am
G

 

[MikeD]

Banham have a good reputation for locks - but it appears that any lock can be opened in seconds with the right bit of kit and that does not include the key.

Their padlock is around £95 but I suspect with a bump key or key gun could be as vulnerable as any lock.

"Pick" a lock you think might be good for you and then do a search on youtube - you will be amazed how easy some are to open.

an example:

 

[MattR]

My thoughts (no evidence) are that there are few good locks but there are some better than others that will delay scrotes by a few seconds and may make your items appear slightly less attractive than the next.

Some Gold standard looks have additional insurance included in their purchase price. £1,000 won't replace all bikes but might help if the lock fails due to breakage but I doubt that you could prove that it was picked.

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[Jim]

Worth a read

 

[Lenny HB]

Can't see any link to what you bought but you did say it was low cost. I spent about £80 on an Abus lock still way below the recommendation of spending 10% of the cost of the bike on security.

 

[DangerMousy]

I think the usual guidance is to spend 10% of your bike's value on a locks - more if you can afford to do so. Also some people recommend using two different types of lock (as they require different methods/tools to break).

Personally we haven't spent that much on locks - but our everyday Kryptonite Mini U locks are Sold Silver (for bikes upto £999 value). We also add a thick armoured cable lock if we're leaving them at say a train station for the day. I think our locks probably weigh almost as much as the bikes LOL
As there are two of us, we also tend to double-up - ie. lock the bikes to each other either side of the rack so in effect each bike has 4 locks on it. It might be overkill but it makes them less attractive to have a go at

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[DuxDeluxe]

My thoughts (no evidence) are that there are few good locks but there are some better than others that will delay scrotes by a few seconds and may make your items appear slightly less attractive than the next.

Some Gold standard looks have additional insurance included in their purchase price. £1,000 won't replace all bikes but might help if the lock fails due to breakage but I doubt that you could prove that it was picked.

I bought a gold "sold secure" lock for the new bike. The small print of their insurance is a bit of a joke. They will only pay out on production of a broken lock. So you padlock the bike to railings, they cut the railings and bike and lock gone......

 

[DuxDeluxe]

I think the usual guidance is to spend 10% of your bike's value on a locks - more if you can afford to do so. Also some people recommend using two different types of lock (as they require different methods/tools to break).

Personally we haven't spent that much on locks - but our everyday Kryptonite Mini U locks are Sold Silver (for bikes upto £999 value). We also add a thick armoured cable lock if we're leaving them at say a train station for the day. I think our locks probably weigh almost as much as the bikes LOL
As there are two of us, we also tend to double-up - ie. lock the bikes to each other either side of the rack so in effect each bike has 4 locks on it. It might be overkill but it makes them less attractive to have a go at

Yes, we use a similar technique, plus the Vanbitz bike extension on the van. It won't stop a determined thief but might make them look for an easier target

 

[Jim]

So you padlock the bike to railings, they cut the railings and bike and lock gone......

Well if that happens it's hardly their fault is it so why should they pay you anything?

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[ShiftZZ]

Can't see any link to what you bought but you did say it was low cost. I spent about £80 on an Abus lock still way below the recommendation of spending 10% of the cost of the bike on security.

 

[ludo]

I have a Cisa lock, £100) plus 2 "sold secure gold" locks and chains plus 2 "sold secure D locks" that I have purchased over the years. I don't use them all at once, of course, but use the gold standard to satisfy the insurance company. They are all very heavy and a nuisance to carry on our bikes.

I also have, (but don't carry with me), a set of hydraulic bolt cutters. They will cut through 26mm bar, (hardened or not) with ease and are about 14" long. Like cutting a bar of soap with a knife.

The best that you can do is to use a decent insurance company.

In addition, if you are covered for public liability through your home insurance, this will not cover you out of the UK. Cause damage to someone/something in France/Spain, etc, and you might have a very expensive problem.

Our bikes are insured though Velosure and the policy includes public liability, not too expensive either.

 

[johnandi]

I bought a gold "sold secure" lock for the new bike. The small print of their insurance is a bit of a joke. They will only pay out on production of a broken lock. So you padlock the bike to railings, they cut the railings and bike and lock gone......

I'm with you!
Bought 2 e-bikes, phoned house insurance people to get them included - no problem, just a £12 premium increase. Good start.
However she mentioned that the underwriters would 'expect' evidence that they were secured to a solid object with Gold standard 'Sold Secure' locks otherwise a claim could be dismissed. Bought said locks (Abus) and use these to secure the bikes to railings, etc....but also including to the flimsy aluminium rails on the bike carrier!! But, hopefully the underwriters will be happy in the event of loss - or maybe not, as she couldn't/wouldn't give me a definitive answer to whether they were covered when on the back of the Motorhome - 'every incident is considered on an individual basis' (!?!)

PS Bikes are secured when on the back of the van with the bike loop as part of the Vanbitz alarm system.

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[DuxDeluxe]

Well if that happens it's hardly their fault is it so why should they pay you anything?

True, but they heavily advertise theft insurance with the product. Heavy duty railings and cycle stands like you see in posh parts of London etc, you would not reasonably expect someone to destroy the railing and take the lot.

Stupid cycle locking, yes - quite agree, but stealing a heavily defended bike is another issue

 

[Jim]

True, but they heavily advertise theft insurance with the product.

Ahh, I see what you mean, the insurance is supposed to be good no matter how it is stolen. However, I'd guess the details include that the lock needs to be secured to something stronger than the lock or it won't pay.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Ahh, I see what you mean, the insurance is supposed to be good no matter how it is stolen. However, I'd guess the details include that the lock needs to be secured to something stronger than the lock or it won't pay.

......and they need to see the broken lock as well or they won't pay. A bit hard if it isn't there....... You can see their point I suppose - it stops the chancers but also sweeps up a few unfortunate people as well

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[DuxDeluxe]

As a matter of interest, I bought one of these.

Amazon product ASIN B01CHWIP32
I then played around with it.. I was shocked as to how easy it was to pick a lock I had securing my new electric bikes.. Agreed it was a low priced Chinese padlock. I wonder if anyone can suggest a decent padlock...

Starting a second career then? Wot's yer moniker then, guv.......

"Fingers" Shifty?
Shifty the lockmeister?

.......ahhhh - now I see..... All this exercise, cycle riding, weight loss etc - you are training to be a cat burgler!!

If you are that desperate, tell Lorraine that there are plenty of cats in the local cats home

 

[pappajohn]

Best, and quickest, lock pick on the market.

 

[ShiftZZ]

Starting a second career then? Wot's yer moniker then, guv.......

"Fingers" Shifty?
Shifty the lockmeister?

.......ahhhh - now I see..... All this exercise, cycle riding, weight loss etc - you are training to be a cat burgler!!

If you are that desperate, tell Lorraine that there are plenty of cats in the local cats home

Always had a fascination with locks etc, then one day on Amazon saw this kit for a small amount of money, tried it and realised that the padlock on my bike rack was poor, even expensive lock are 'easy' to pick, there is a padlock that so far they have failed to pick, but, its a lot of money...

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[DuxDeluxe]

Always had a fascination with locks etc, then one day on Amazon saw this kit for a small amount of money, tried it and realised that the padlock on my bike rack was poor, even expensive lock are 'easy' to pick, there is a padlock that so far they have failed to pick, but, its a lot of money...

You will need more than a lock pick set to get at my scotch supply............

 

[rangi]

Chubb make a lock that is supposedly, due to the shape, nigh on impossible to chop using bolt croppers, or, Angle Grinder.


Only saying inoi!

 

[buttons]

Don't forget the chain and whatever you lock it to.

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[ShiftZZ]

Chubb make a lock that is supposedly, due to the shape, nigh on impossible to chop using bolt croppers, or, Angle Grinder.


Only saying inoi!

 

[johnandi]

At the end of the day of course they are all just deterrents not guarantees against theft. (to state the obvious).

 

[rangi]

No that's not the one, the one I saw in the advert was Flat & round about 65-75mm in diameter, at the top was a gap about 10-15 mm across, that was the only place where you could get at the hasp, so you didn't have enough space to get your bolt cutters in to get at it. I've seen it dozens of times on I S O Containers.

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[MattR]

I'm with you!
Bought 2 e-bikes, phoned house insurance people to get them included - no problem, just a £12 premium increase. Good start.
However she mentioned that the underwriters would 'expect' evidence that they were secured to a solid object with Gold standard 'Sold Secure' locks otherwise a claim could be dismissed. Bought said locks (Abus) and use these to secure the bikes to railings, etc....but also including to the flimsy aluminium rails on the bike carrier!! But, hopefully the underwriters will be happy in the event of loss - or maybe not, as she couldn't/wouldn't give me a definitive answer to whether they were covered when on the back of the Motorhome - 'every incident is considered on an individual basis' (!?!)

PS Bikes are secured when on the back of the van with the bike loop as part of the Vanbitz alarm system.

My cousin's insurance company does not cover bikes on the outside of his MH, only those locked inside.

 

[TheBig1]

a locksmith friend of mine suggested locks more common to secure shipping containers made of hardened stainless steel with a flat rotating hasp to prevent grinding. made by a company called innox or something similar. locked to a hardened steel and coated cable. had them years and found them totally reliable.
an amateur thief may try it on, but a pro will take one look and move onto easier prey

 

[emjaiuk]

If there's no secure object available, I secure my bike to the MH by fitting the towing eye, and fastening the lock to that.

Malcolm

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