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Hmmm.. I don't buy bikes anymore. Bought two in Tel Aviv (after the one I brought from DE was stolen...). The first one was stolen, secured with a 'secure' Kry

Hmmm.. I don't buy bikes anymore. Bought two in Tel Aviv (after the one I brought from DE was stolen...). The first one was stolen, secured with a 'secure' Kryptonite U-Lock in my backyard. Brought the second back to Germany, after carrying it into my 2nd story flat in TLV every single day and only using it during the day, keeping it in sight. Stored it in the (shared between 6 tenants) private garage/car park back in Germany, locked with a U-Lock from Kryptonite. Gone one day. Got a (crap!) bike as a present from my parents. Kept it in the (2 party, single car) garage of my current plage, with a U-Lock from Kryptonite. Gone. If you cannot/won't carry it in your apartment, don't bother. That's the lesson I learned at least. That also means that you cannot use a bike as a means of transportation if you want to go to a bar, watch a movie or something. It's hyperbole, but I sometimes think that the 'Wild West' way of treating horse thieves could and should be adopted...

ncza 12y ago
Or the kryptonite locks have some easy flaws.
- darklajid 12y ago
  I wouldn't know, but .. that brand is touted as the 'right answer' in the linked article and 'Get a U-Lock' is quoted a couple of times from the crooks they used to test the locks. So, 'Kryptonite U-Lock' seems to be what they recommend and that is what I used. With consistently bad results.
  - fian 12y ago
    Some of the early Kryptonite models were susceptible to the "Bic pen" attack.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LahDQ2ZQ3e0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LahDQ2ZQ3e0 No need for anything fancy like a hydraulis jack or liquid nitrogen.
enoch_r 12y ago
Hm, I've been riding bikes as my main transportation for a while; so far none have been stolen (the most expensive bike I'm willing to lock up where I can't see it was about $700 new). I lock it up at restaurants, symphonies, etc. in areas ranging from downtown to residential, including some areas with high petty crime rates. Maybe your location has an unusual amount of bike theft, or maybe you've just gotten unlucky. Or maybe I've gotten unusually lucky! But even if I expect to get one $700 bike stolen per year, I'm going to save a significant amount of money over maintaining/owning/fueling/insuring a car. I will say that so far I've never locked up a bike overnight--bringing it into my apartment has always seemed like the normal thing to do.
- darklajid 12y ago
  Location: I didn't name all the places, but I'm talking about Tel Aviv, Cologne and Bochum in those cases - 'big' cities (TLV and Bochum aren't, really. Cologne crossed 1mil again I think). Given that I rule out the location or I just happen to hit bad locations, consistently. Savings: That might make sense. For me each bike had a value beyond the money. I picked it, really liked it. I was in a rage each time I lost it. Plus, in Cologne and Bochum I'm issued a company car. No fuel, no maintenance, no .. bike. Sad, but easier. Similar to your argument: The cost of a bike is significant if the alternative is 'free'. Apartment: Did that in TLV, as I stated. Afterwards I got kids. I don't have a "do not touch" area anymore, if we ignore a couple servers and gadgets. Storing a bike in my apartment isn't an option right now. (I _loved_ my bike in TLV. Stayed for one year, rode to work every single day - I think there were max. 2 occasions where I used the bus for some reason. Now I'm certain that I cannot protect a bike, so I won't invest in one. Thieves completely destroyed my fun here.)

ncza 12y ago

Or the kryptonite locks have some easy flaws.

darklajid 12y ago
I wouldn't know, but .. that brand is touted as the 'right answer' in the linked article and 'Get a U-Lock' is quoted a couple of times from the crooks they used to test the locks. So, 'Kryptonite U-Lock' seems to be what they recommend and that is what I used. With consistently bad results.
- fian 12y ago
  Some of the early Kryptonite models were susceptible to the "Bic pen" attack.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LahDQ2ZQ3e0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LahDQ2ZQ3e0 No need for anything fancy like a hydraulis jack or liquid nitrogen.

enoch_r 12y ago

Hm, I've been riding bikes as my main transportation for a while; so far none have been stolen (the most expensive bike I'm willing to lock up where I can't see it was about $700 new). I lock it up at restaurants, symphonies, etc. in areas ranging from downtown to residential, including some areas with high petty crime rates. Maybe your location has an unusual amount of bike theft, or maybe you've just gotten unlucky. Or maybe I've gotten unusually lucky! But even if I expect to get one $700 bike stolen per year, I'm going to save a significant amount of money over maintaining/owning/fueling/insuring a car. I will say that so far I've never locked up a bike overnight--bringing it into my apartment has always seemed like the normal thing to do.

darklajid 12y ago
Location: I didn't name all the places, but I'm talking about Tel Aviv, Cologne and Bochum in those cases - 'big' cities (TLV and Bochum aren't, really. Cologne crossed 1mil again I think). Given that I rule out the location or I just happen to hit bad locations, consistently. Savings: That might make sense. For me each bike had a value beyond the money. I picked it, really liked it. I was in a rage each time I lost it. Plus, in Cologne and Bochum I'm issued a company car. No fuel, no maintenance, no .. bike. Sad, but easier. Similar to your argument: The cost of a bike is significant if the alternative is 'free'. Apartment: Did that in TLV, as I stated. Afterwards I got kids. I don't have a "do not touch" area anymore, if we ignore a couple servers and gadgets. Storing a bike in my apartment isn't an option right now. (I _loved_ my bike in TLV. Stayed for one year, rode to work every single day - I think there were max. 2 occasions where I used the bus for some reason. Now I'm certain that I cannot protect a bike, so I won't invest in one. Thieves completely destroyed my fun here.)