Bike chains advice.

[daventess]

We have two foldable ebikes (woosh ramblettas). The bike chain we have is both too short and too hard to use (it just won't unfurl - it's the key-lock version of this lock)

So I was going to get something like this chain along with a normal padlock, which I think might go around both bikes (and through the quick-steal-release seat).

Does anyone have any recommendations for this kind of thing? The one we already have is so thick and tightly coiled that it is just such hard work to feed through the wheels/etc., plus it's not long enough anyway.

Modern bikes have so many quick release things that you either have to carry them all with you when you leave it or have something łong enought to secure it instead.

edit - worth noting that yes, they are foldable bikes, but they weigh a royal tonne and a half, so folding them to carry into wherever we are going is not very desirable. The foldability is merely so they fit in the garage.

 

[2x2camper]

We have two foldable ebikes (woosh ramblettas). The bike chain we have is both too short and too hard to use (it just won't unfurl - it's the key-lock version of this lock)

So I was going to get something like this chain along with a normal padlock, which I think might go around both bikes (and through the quick-steal-release seat).

Does anyone have any recommendations for this kind of thing? The one we already have is so thick and tightly coiled that it is just such hard work to feed through the wheels/etc., plus it's not long enough anyway.

Modern bikes have so many quick release things that you either have to carry them all with you when you leave it or have something łong enought to secure it instead.

edit - worth noting that yes, they are foldable bikes, but they weigh a royal tonne and a half, so folding them to carry into wherever we are going is not very desirable. The foldability is merely so they fit in the garage.

I won't leave any bike locked up with those locks, can be cut in seconds. You need chain or D locks

We don't leave our e folders anywhere.

 

[Lenny HB]

If you want a lightweight lick have a look at liteloks
https://www.litelok.com/collections..._id=613272377023&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign={campaign}&utm_content=136864806413&utm_term=&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmN2iBhCrARIsAG_G2i4jeU5I9TcmzHKUKDeXW_eCjhVhMgNhBk5XTve-M4eQN1oaS8ZDbywaAtIZEALw_wcB&gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmN2iBhCrARIsAG_G2i4jeU5I9TcmzHKUKDeXW_eCjhVhMgNhBk5XTve-M4eQN1oaS8ZDbywaAtIZEALw_wcB

 

[daventess]

I won't leave any bike locked up with those locks, can be cut in seconds. You need chain or D locks

We don't leave our e folders anywhere.

Understood. But we do want to leave them, even with the risk because we don't think its practical for us to do anything else. We just want to mitigate as far as the security : convenience ratio will allow. Nothing is secure against a determined thief.

I'm slightly lubricated now, but I'm thinking 2x D locks to lock the front and rear wheels together, a thinner cable to bind in the seats to the d-locks, then my existing inflexible lock to loop through the D locks to whatever I'm chaining them to.

Sounds convoluted, but actually not that hard. Might be the beer talking though

 

[Guigsy]

Cable locks are 2 seconds to snip. Get a d-lock or at least a folding bar. They aren't as convenient, but they are much better. Note that even the best d-locks are easy with a minute of battery powered angle grinder (except maybe the litelock x1?).

My advice, get insurance and use whatever they'll accept. If it goes, it goes.

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[Guigsy]

If you want a lightweight lick have a look at liteloks
https://www.litelok.com/collections..._id=613272377023&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign={campaign}&utm_content=136864806413&utm_term=&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmN2iBhCrARIsAG_G2i4jeU5I9TcmzHKUKDeXW_eCjhVhMgNhBk5XTve-M4eQN1oaS8ZDbywaAtIZEALw_wcB&gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmN2iBhCrARIsAG_G2i4jeU5I9TcmzHKUKDeXW_eCjhVhMgNhBk5XTve-M4eQN1oaS8ZDbywaAtIZEALw_wcB

The d-lock litelock is supposedly very good. Their flexible locks...

 

[Lenny HB]

Also worth noting for insurance purposes each bike has to be locked to an imoveable object not both bikes together.

I must admit I often lock ours together as they are a few years old so probably only worth 5 or 600 quid each.

 

[Wanderlust]

Sold secure have website with stockists of various bike and motorcycle security, all rated and tested, i have a chain i can "wear" as a belt, not very long coupled with good braided cable works for our 2 emtb.

 

[daventess]

Also worth noting for insurance purposes each bike has to be locked to an imoveable object not both bikes together.

I must admit I often lock ours together as they are a few years old so probably only worth 5 or 600 quid each.

Yeah I do intend to lock them to something as well as together, other wise they just pick up and walk off with two bikes

 

[Lenny HB]

Yeah I do intend to lock them to something as well as together, other wise they just pick up and walk off with two bikes

What I was saying each bike needs to be locked seperately to the imoveable object.

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[daventess]

What I was saying each bike needs to be locked seperately to the imoveable object.

Ah, ok. I'll need to check that, as that complicates it again. Guess I need to ask the insurance goblins...

 

[MR BLO]

I use one of these for our analogue bikes. Long enough to keep our three bikes safe but blinking heavy.

Oxford HD MAX Chain Lock : Oxford Products

Oxford Products Ltd (OXFORD) - a global leader in motorcycle and bicycle products. Established in 1973, OXFORD is now one of the world's leading suppliers of products to the two-wheeled industry.

www.oxfordproducts.com

 

[daventess]

My advice, get insurance and use whatever they'll accept. If it goes, it goes.

That sounds like top advice

 

[LesW]

I use a lock and chain plus a D lock designed for motorcycle use for our two bikes.

They're heavy, but with electric powered bikes it's not an issue.

 

[daventess]

I tell you what, it's pretty depressing watching people like this guy.

You sort of think, what's the point? I've not seen him take longer than 1 minute for almost any type of lock. He keeps saying "this is probably beyond the skill of your average bike thief", but he shows you how to do it so it's probably now well within the skill set of your average bike thief.

I guess the best you can do is try to deter the opportunist nut job.

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[daventess]

I tell you what, it's pretty depressing watching people like this guy.

You sort of think, what's the point? I've not seen him take longer than 1 minute for almost any type of lock. He keeps saying "this is probably beyond the skill of your average bike thief", but he shows you how to do it so it's probably now well within the skill set of your average bike thief.

I guess the best you can do is try to deter the opportunist nut job.

I just hope no one wants to steal a couple of woosh ramblettas, because if they do, it looks like there's nothing I can do about it short of not leaving them anywhere, which defeats the point of having them for convenience.

Might as well have bought a car ...

 

[62272]

Ah, ok. I'll need to check that, as that complicates it again. Guess I need to ask the insurance goblins...

Would you tell us how you get on, as I would have the same question (as I would lock both bikes to the same structure (not individually))

Cheers

 

[Chrisvh]

If you want a lightweight lick have a look at liteloks
https://www.litelok.com/collections..._id=613272377023&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign={campaign}&utm_content=136864806413&utm_term=&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmN2iBhCrARIsAG_G2i4jeU5I9TcmzHKUKDeXW_eCjhVhMgNhBk5XTve-M4eQN1oaS8ZDbywaAtIZEALw_wcB&gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmN2iBhCrARIsAG_G2i4jeU5I9TcmzHKUKDeXW_eCjhVhMgNhBk5XTve-M4eQN1oaS8ZDbywaAtIZEALw_wcB

Good advice! We have expensive e-bikes and use a Litelok Coreflex and 2 Litelok D Locks. The locks are all Bike Sold Secure Diamond quality and are registered with our Bikmo bike insurance. Downside is they are heavy, and expensive. The Abus range are similar quality.
Nothing is 100% secure but it would certainly make life difficult for a thief. We take a lot of care securing the bikes but once done we are happy leaving them.

 

[MisterB]

Could you fit some sort of alarm cable, coupled through your van alarm system that would activate if cut? It might draw attention to anyone attempting to steal your bikes as opposed to stopping them of course, but each layer of security helps in my view.

 

[Ava the Adria]

Aim for a Sold Secure Diamond rated lock, preferably a D lock with cable, for each bike.

Sold Secure Approved Product Search - Sold Secure - Security...

Find a security product that is Sold Secure approved & certified, search by product grading Diamond, Gold, Silver or Bronze.

www.soldsecure.com

We have these Abus D locks on our E-bikes (don’t like to use Halfords but they had a good deal on these at the time). This Abus is quite heavy and locks onto the frame in a plastic holder when not in use.

Abus Granit XPlus 540 D-Lock | Halfords UK

Shop the latest The Abus Granit XPlus 540 D-Lock has many superb features at Halfords UK

www.halfords.com

Use the D shackle to secure to “an immovable object” and then put the cable through a wheel in our case the front wheel, which is “quick release”.

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[Fontie]

I always lock ours up with 2 Abus chain locks and I have put Apple Airtags with the speakers removed on both our bikes, so if they are stolen I have half a chance of finding them. To be honest whatever locks you put on your bikes if a thief wants it they will take it, that's where the Airtags come into play.

 

[Guigsy]

If you buy a Sold Secure lock, make sure it's still listed on the (horrible to use) Sold Secure website. Some locks lose their accreditation, but the packaging and online listing won't change.

I've got a Kryptonite lock that was Silver rated, but a flaw was found and it's no longer listed. So useless for insurance purposes.

 

[BikerDJ]

I'm afraid that the harsh truth is that there aren't many locks on the market that will prevent theft by a determined thief. There have been a couple of posts already recommending the locks manufactured by Litelock. I would endorse that. They make some excellent locks. They have wearable locks that are relatively lightweight compared to the competition but you need to be careful to use these 'off the ground' where the would be thief cannot get any real leverage with heavy duty cable cutters (this causes the lock to twist which will make cutting through them quite time consuming). Litelock also make a D-lock called the X1. This is a disc lock designed for locking through a motorcycle disc to prevent it being wheeled away. It is one of the best on the market in my opinion but can still be defeated fairly quickly with an angle grinder. Litelock are in the process of producing a new version of this D-Lock called the X3 and this is likely to be the best on the market for some time to come I think. Independent testing has seen this lock take 4 cutting discs in an angle grinder to defeat so will take quite some time to cut through. However, this lock is expensive and there is currently a waiting list for them. It would be great to wire the bikes into the van alarm system if possible but another option would be to buy a cheap alarmed D-Lock that would activate if moved. I would buy a cheap bike cover to go over the bikes and secure it with one of these cheap alarmed D-locks. You might lose the cheap D-lock but if the alarm has sounded and then the would be thief is faced with a formidable D-lock and chain to defeat, it's most likely that they will run instead. There are chains on the market that are fairly lightweight but still quite formidable. I would also recommend buying a noose chain. With one of these you can secure the noose end to the immovable object and then wrap the chain around your bike(s). In this way, you cut down the length of chain required and therefore the weight. Have a look at the Pragmasis chains which are available on their website https://securityforbikes.com/

 

[Guigsy]

I'm afraid that the harsh truth is that there aren't many locks on the market that will prevent theft by a determined thief. There have been a couple of posts already recommending the locks manufactured by Litelock. I would endorse that. They make some excellent locks. They have wearable locks that are relatively lightweight compared to the competition but you need to be careful to use these 'off the ground' where the would be thief cannot get any real leverage with heavy duty cable cutters (this causes the lock to twist which will make cutting through them quite time consuming). Litelock also make a D-lock called the X1. This is a disc lock designed for locking through a motorcycle disc to prevent it being wheeled away. It is one of the best on the market in my opinion but can still be defeated fairly quickly with an angle grinder. Litelock are in the process of producing a new version of this D-Lock called the X3 and this is likely to be the best on the market for some time to come I think. Independent testing has seen this lock take 4 cutting discs in an angle grinder to defeat so will take quite some time to cut through. However, this lock is expensive and there is currently a waiting list for them. It would be great to wire the bikes into the van alarm system if possible but another option would be to buy a cheap alarmed D-Lock that would activate if moved. I would buy a cheap bike cover to go over the bikes and secure it with one of these cheap alarmed D-locks. You might lose the cheap D-lock but if the alarm has sounded and then the would be thief is faced with a formidable D-lock and chain to defeat, it's most likely that they will run instead. There are chains on the market that are fairly lightweight but still quite formidable. I would also recommend buying a noose chain. With one of these you can secure the noose end to the immovable object and then wrap the chain around your bike(s). In this way, you cut down the length of chain required and therefore the weight. Have a look at the Pragmasis chains which are available on their website https://securityforbikes.com/

The litelock X1 is good.

I'm still not convinced that their bendy locks are any better than any other cable lock.

 

[Lenny HB]

Would you tell us how you get on, as I would have the same question (as I would lock both bikes to the same structure (not individually))

Cheers

Insurance won't cover you in that situation.