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Bike Lock Reviews

Related Guides: Bicycle Helmets, Kids Bikes, Mountain Bikes and Scooters

When researching bike lock reviews we found out that although some cycling web sites provide input about bicycle locks, most reviews are written by riders themselves. Here's what users say about cheap bike locks.

Inexpensive Bicycle Locks Security.

Again, the type of lock you purchase should depend on where and how you use it. Some riders park their bikes temporarily while running errands in suburban settings and others lock their bikes overnight in urban centers. A comparative bike locks review on Slate.com that assesses security, portability, and value awards the OnGuard Bulldog STD U-Lock highest grades for security. Its smaller sibling, the OnGuard Bulldog MINI 5013TC Bike U-Lock (starting at $22, Amazon), is rated highly in bicycle locks reviews on Buzzillions, with one user noting that it's too small for thieves to fit tools around and the double locking barrel is harder to break.

The Kryptonite Kryptolok Series 2 U-Lock receives praise for the security and peace of mind it provides, according to reviews of cheap bicycle locks on Amazon. One person reports the Kryptolok Series 2 kept a bicycle safe for three days on the streets of New York City, although another rider suggests it might not be sufficient for high-end bikes in some neighborhoods. The Kryptolok sans cable gets the green light in bike locks reviews on Epinions, where users say it's very secure and durable.

The longer version of the Abus Steel-O-Chain lock earns endorsements on the security front in bike locks reviews, including one by a rider posting on Amazon who lives in New York City and prefers it to the Kryptonite brand. One Target customer describes the Wordlock Cable lock as strong in bike locks reviews on the vendor's site website, while a biking blogger says it was secure enough to protect her teenage daughter's bike while locked outside a store. The lock gets a mixed review in About.com's bicycling guide, which asserts it doesn't fare too well against a determined thief but is adequate for low-theft areas.

The OnGuard PitBull DT 5005 U-lock and cable is dissed by a user who writes a bicycle locks review on Amazon, explaining that someone cut clear through the cable and snatched his bike. Several riders who bought the inexpensive Bell Hands Off Bike U-Lock (starting at $10, Amazon) likewise report bikes were stolen despite the lock, including two who posted bicycle locks reviews on Sports Authority's website. But don't be fooled by price alone: one of the most expensive locks we found -- the Kryptonite New York Chain with EV Series 4 Disc Lock (starting at $58, Amazon) -- only earns lukewarm praise in bicycle locks reviews at Amazon, where one rider notes the lock was broken and the bike stolen.

Cheap Bike Locks Ease of Use.

Aside from wanting a lock that's impossible for a thief to bust, you want one that's easy to use. When it comes to attaching the frame and wheels of your bike to different objects, the five-foot-long Wordlock Cable Bike Lock stands out, according to a review of cheap bike locks at Bicycling.com. The Wordlock Cable Lock also scores high among users for its easily detachable seatpost-mounted lock holder and for a locking mechanism that uses letter combinations instead of numbers. Bicycle Locks reviews on Target.com indicate that consumers generally like the length of Wordlock's cable and letter-combo lock, although one says his was a lemon, as neither the combination nor the lock worked. A few reviewers posting bike locks reviews on Amazon say the locking mechanism on the Kryptonite Kryptolok can be finicky, although one user appreciates having the secondary cable lock, which lets her secure the bike to those of her friends. A review of cheap bicycle locks on Buzzillions likes that the lock is strong and durable, but adds that it's too heavy for his bike. The Abus Steel-O-Chain 685 is easy to use, according to a bike locks review on Amazon. And a cyclist posting a review of low-cost bicycle locks at bike site TownsandTrails.com, who is still mourning the loss of a stolen bike, had mostly positive things to say about the OnGuard Bulldog MINI, the lock he purchased for his replacement ride; he describes it as lightweight and easy to pack and carry.

Inexpensive Bicycle Locks Durability.

Although the most critical performance issue for a cheap bike lock is security, you also want a lock that will last. The Abus Steel-O-Chain wins an endorsement in a bicycle locks review on Amazon from a user who has been using the lock daily for five months without problems and further notes that he likes the weight-to-security ratio. Ditto from a user who reviews the Steel-O-Chain 685 on Amazon, who maintains that it's more secure than a cable lock.

Still, users report some durability problems with cheap bike locks. Two bike lock reviews on Sports Authority claim bikes were stolen while locked with the Bell Hands Off U-Lock and a consumer bicycle locks review on Target says the mounting bracket that came with the lock broke soon after purchase. User reviewers of cheap bicycle locks by users on Amazon grumble about what they perceive as a bit of false advertising on websites, where the cable on Master Lock Cable locks is described as being thicker than it seems. All seven bike locks reviews on Epinions mention the Kryptonite Kryptolok as being durable and secure, but a consumer posting on Amazon says the keys are flimsy and seem likely to break or be damaged. The About.com bicycling guide cautions that the plastic housing surrounding the tumblers in the Wordlock lock could pull away. And users of the OnGuard Bulldog MINI posting on Buzzillions like its durability, but several complain that the lock rusts.

Budget Bicycle Lock Anti-Theft Warranty.

Kryptonite's Kryptolok U-Lock comes with a $1,250 anti-theft protection warranty and key protection that guarantees replacement keys if they break or are lost. In several bicycle locks reviews by users, Kryptonite wins applause for its solid warranty, although users on Bikeforums.net say it's a hassle to use the warranty on a stolen set of wheels. The OnGuard Bulldog MINI 5013TC carries a free one-year $1,251 anti-theft guarantee, while Abus bicycle locks warranties cover manufacturer defects, not misuse or normal wear and tear. Wordlock carries a limited lifetime warranty if the lock fails, but mentions nothing about theft.

by Maralyn Edid (Google+ Profile)

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OnGuard PitBull DT 5005 U-Lock Review
Kryptonite New York Chain with EV Series 4 Disc Lock Review
Bell Hands Off Bike U-Lock Review
Abus Steel-O-Chain 685 Bicycle Lock Review
Wordlock Cable Bike Lock Review
Kryptonite Kryptolok Series 2 Standard Bicycle U-Lock Review
OnGuard Bulldog MINI 5013TC Bike U-Lock Review

 

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