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They are hugely overrated. Most people nicking bikes use angle grinders and to an angle grinder all locks are the same: less than 30 seconds of cutting. https:

They are hugely overrated. Most people nicking bikes use angle grinders and to an angle grinder all locks are the same: less than 30 seconds of cutting. https://calpaterson.com/bicycle-threat-model.html https://calpaterson.com/bicycle-threat-model.html

kdmccormick 3y ago
They seem to be pretty effective when it comes to leaving a bike in busy area in broad daylight. My anecdata is that the only time my bike was stolen was when I failed to use the D-lock right (just locked the wheel, oops) whereas the properly-locked bikes around me were all still there. Leaving it overnight or somewhere out of the way, though... yeah, a different story. Threat model, as you described.
- amelius 3y ago
  Yes, I think this is true. Also factor in the age and value of the bike. You can further reduce the chances of your bike being stolen by custom-painting it.
zeendo 3y ago
There are at least two u-locks out there which have a reasonable amount of angle grinder resistance now. Hiplok's D1000 and The Litelok X3.
YawningAngel 3y ago
I get that it happens, but it's pretty shocking to me that people can get away with angle grinding a lock off in broad daylight.
- qingcharles 3y ago
  I used to work on the opposite side of the road to the police station and I would D-Lock my bike to the railings immediately in front of the door of the police department (literally 3ft from the door). I come out of work and my bike is gone. There is a piece of the lock on the ground and you can see they used an angle grinder to cut it. I took the piece inside to the desk and showed the officer who took my report and agreed it was definitely an angle grinder. AN ANGLE GRINDER AT THE LITERAL DOOR OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WTF. I got a call from the cops three days later. Apparently a cop did see dude grinding my lock off and stopped him as he was leaving and grabbed my bike and put it in storage at the police department. There was just a communication breakdown. So, happy ending. But still, WTF?

kdmccormick 3y ago

They seem to be pretty effective when it comes to leaving a bike in busy area in broad daylight. My anecdata is that the only time my bike was stolen was when I failed to use the D-lock right (just locked the wheel, oops) whereas the properly-locked bikes around me were all still there. Leaving it overnight or somewhere out of the way, though... yeah, a different story. Threat model, as you described.

amelius 3y ago
Yes, I think this is true. Also factor in the age and value of the bike. You can further reduce the chances of your bike being stolen by custom-painting it.

zeendo 3y ago

There are at least two u-locks out there which have a reasonable amount of angle grinder resistance now. Hiplok's D1000 and The Litelok X3.

YawningAngel 3y ago

I get that it happens, but it's pretty shocking to me that people can get away with angle grinding a lock off in broad daylight.

qingcharles 3y ago
I used to work on the opposite side of the road to the police station and I would D-Lock my bike to the railings immediately in front of the door of the police department (literally 3ft from the door). I come out of work and my bike is gone. There is a piece of the lock on the ground and you can see they used an angle grinder to cut it. I took the piece inside to the desk and showed the officer who took my report and agreed it was definitely an angle grinder. AN ANGLE GRINDER AT THE LITERAL DOOR OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WTF. I got a call from the cops three days later. Apparently a cop did see dude grinding my lock off and stopped him as he was leaving and grabbed my bike and put it in storage at the police department. There was just a communication breakdown. So, happy ending. But still, WTF?