Bike Combination Lock

[rjb]

If you use an old Dawes Kingpin or a Raleigh Twenty Stowaway you only need a basic lock after you remove the key from the folding hinge rendering it unrideable.

[Carlton green]

If you use an old Dawes Kingpin or a Raleigh Twenty Stowaway you only need a basic lock after you remove the key from the folding hinge rendering it unrideable.

If you use either of those bikes - and to be clear I happily would - then only a basic chain and lock is needed; surely no professional thief will bother with them and anyone else stealing one won’t ride it far.

I’ve considered removing the locking nut from my folder …. but ‘Sod’s Law says I’d loose it whilst away from the bike.

[Cowsham]

Does anyone use a chain and if so what size link did you go for?

[Boyonabike]

Trouble with heavy locks is they can be worth more than the bike. I know someone who left their bike in a dodgy part of the city overnight and came back to find his bike was still there.....minus the lock.

[Cowsham]

Trouble with heavy locks is they can be worth more than the bike. I know someone who left their bike in a dodgy part of the city overnight and came back to find his bike was still there.....minus the lock.

Don't think a heavy lock = expensive lock.
I'm looking at a few chains but would like a short link chain cos they are harder to cut through with an angle grinder not due to being a better metal but only because to use an angle grinder you need to be able to grip firmly the link you're cutting through.
Most of the "security" chains you buy are long link ( for various reasons ) but they're easier to cut with an angle grinder. Trying to hold a short link would really require a set of vice grips but most opportunist thieves don't carry vice grips along with an angle grinder.
The more unexpected hurdles for the thief the better chance they'll leave your bike and try one with a more conventional security setup ie one they're better tooled up for.
Would also have to be "hand" bolt cutter proof to a point ie not something a thief can easily conceal. 2 foot bolt cutters will cut through most bike chain links up to about 8mm but very difficult to conceal. 10mm chain is a bit too heavy to carry cos I'd want it to be about 1.5m long.

Ruled D locks out cos they're usually useless unless you can find some metal rail, post or whatever thin enough to accommodate it and even if you can most D locks are easy to stabilize while they are cut with a grinder or they just cut through the thing they're locked to.

I think 8mm short link chain is the sweet spot I'm aiming for but will probably involve a padlock with a very small shackle or ideally a shipping container style key lock. Even a combination lock cos most thieves don't have time to spend decoding one.

[Bmblbzzz]

For ultimate security, you don't want a bike lock of any sort. You want a pair of handcuffs and a tandem. The stoker seat is occupied by your hired guard, who you handcuff to the bike when you go off.

[Cowsham]

For ultimate security, you don't want a bike lock of any sort. You want a pair of handcuffs and a tandem. The stoker seat is occupied by your hired guard, who you handcuff to the bike when you go off.

Kinky

[Sweep]

Trouble with heavy locks is they can be worth more than the bike. I know someone who left their bike in a dodgy part of the city overnight and came back to find his bike was still there.....minus the lock.

Don't think a heavy lock = expensive lock.
I'm looking at a few chains but would like a short link chain cos they are harder to cut through with an angle grinder not due to being a better metal but only because to use an angle grinder you need to be able to grip firmly the link you're cutting through.
Most of the "security" chains you buy are long link ( for various reasons ) but they're easier to cut with an angle grinder. Trying to hold a short link would really require a set of vice grips but most opportunist thieves don't carry vice grips along with an angle grinder.
The more unexpected hurdles for the thief the better chance they'll leave your bike and try one with a more conventional security setup ie one they're better tooled up for.
Would also have to be "hand" bolt cutter proof to a point ie not something a thief can easily conceal. 2 foot bolt cutters will cut through most bike chain links up to about 8mm but very difficult to conceal. 10mm chain is a bit too heavy to carry cos I'd want it to be about 1.5m long.

Ruled D locks out cos they're usually useless unless you can find some metal rail, post or whatever thin enough to accommodate it and even if you can most D locks are easy to stabilize while they are cut with a grinder or they just cut through the thing they're locked to.

I think 8mm short link chain is the sweet spot I'm aiming for but will probably involve a padlock with a very small shackle or ideally a shipping container style key lock. Even a combination lock cos most thieves don't have time to spend decoding one.

interesting post, but with regard to

>>Even a combination lock cos most thieves don't have time to spend decoding one.

surely proper thieves are no more likely to try to decode a combination lock than try to pick a lock?

[Cowsham]

Trouble with heavy locks is they can be worth more than the bike. I know someone who left their bike in a dodgy part of the city overnight and came back to find his bike was still there.....minus the lock.

Don't think a heavy lock = expensive lock.
I'm looking at a few chains but would like a short link chain cos they are harder to cut through with an angle grinder not due to being a better metal but only because to use an angle grinder you need to be able to grip firmly the link you're cutting through.
Most of the "security" chains you buy are long link ( for various reasons ) but they're easier to cut with an angle grinder. Trying to hold a short link would really require a set of vice grips but most opportunist thieves don't carry vice grips along with an angle grinder.
The more unexpected hurdles for the thief the better chance they'll leave your bike and try one with a more conventional security setup ie one they're better tooled up for.
Would also have to be "hand" bolt cutter proof to a point ie not something a thief can easily conceal. 2 foot bolt cutters will cut through most bike chain links up to about 8mm but very difficult to conceal. 10mm chain is a bit too heavy to carry cos I'd want it to be about 1.5m long.

Ruled D locks out cos they're usually useless unless you can find some metal rail, post or whatever thin enough to accommodate it and even if you can most D locks are easy to stabilize while they are cut with a grinder or they just cut through the thing they're locked to.

I think 8mm short link chain is the sweet spot I'm aiming for but will probably involve a padlock with a very small shackle or ideally a shipping container style key lock. Even a combination lock cos most thieves don't have time to spend decoding one.

interesting post, but with regard to

>>Even a combination lock cos most thieves don't have time to spend decoding one.

surely proper thieves are no more likely to try to decode a combination lock than try to pick a lock?

Yes that's what I meant -- sorry I may not have made that bit clear. Only problem I have is that I like combination locks when they are built into the chain / cable but not so much when on a padlock cos they can jam up with corrosion worse than a key lock, trouble is finding a built in combination lock on a short link chain and the length of it gives purchase for cutting that end off.

[Bmblbzzz]

I can't remember who raised the point, but someone said that as locks get tougher, they reach a point where a thief will just cut through the stand, lamppost, railing, roadsign or whatever you're locked to instead. I don't actually know how common this is (and for some items, like trees, the tools required would be different) but it does seem worth bearing in mind.

[Airsporter1st]

I can't remember who raised the point, but someone said that as locks get tougher, they reach a point where a thief will just cut through the stand, lamppost, railing, roadsign or whatever you're locked to instead. I don't actually know how common this is (and for some items, like trees, the tools required would be different) but it does seem worth bearing in mind.

Not only that, but they’ll cut through frame and/or wheels, if on a parts mission.

[Bmblbzzz]

I can't remember who raised the point, but someone said that as locks get tougher, they reach a point where a thief will just cut through the stand, lamppost, railing, roadsign or whatever you're locked to instead. I don't actually know how common this is (and for some items, like trees, the tools required would be different) but it does seem worth bearing in mind.

Not only that, but they’ll cut through frame and/or wheels, if on a parts mission.

Yes. Or just unbolt the parts and leave the frame.

[Airsporter1st]

I can't remember who raised the point, but someone said that as locks get tougher, they reach a point where a thief will just cut through the stand, lamppost, railing, roadsign or whatever you're locked to instead. I don't actually know how common this is (and for some items, like trees, the tools required would be different) but it does seem worth bearing in mind.

Not only that, but they’ll cut through frame and/or wheels, if on a parts mission.

Yes. Or just unbolt the parts and leave the frame.

On a slightly different note, I once had my rear lights pinched from my car. To avoid setting off the alarm, they broke both n/s windows to get in, then pulled rear seats forward to access the boot. In order to get to the lights, they moved over £2000 worth of tools to one side! Car was the company’s - tools were mine. I am grateful for their ignorance!!!!

[Bmblbzzz]

Not only that, but they’ll cut through frame and/or wheels, if on a parts mission.

Yes. Or just unbolt the parts and leave the frame.

On a slightly different note, I once had my rear lights pinched from my car. To avoid setting off the alarm, they broke both n/s windows to get in, then pulled rear seats forward to access the boot. In order to get to the lights, they moved over £2000 worth of tools to one side! Car was the company’s - tools were mine. I am grateful for their ignorance!!!!

To which the only response can be:
https://youtu.be/J1xnQfWzcfY?si=PWLeTxob6wcr6YUv
!!!

[Cowsham]

On a slightly different note, I once had my rear lights pinched from my car.
To which the only response can be:
https://youtu.be/J1xnQfWzcfY?si=PWLeTxob6wcr6YUv
!!!

Class !