Hi all, apologies if this topic has already been done to death but the search function for this BBS is not great. Anyway, I NEED to get a u-lock (cable lock only right now, I know, I know) but have limited funds that prohibit me from getting the latest Kryptonite NY-whatever lock. And given that my last Kryptonite stopped opening at a certain point in time, I'm a bit wary of the brand at its premium cost. So I'm looking at the OnGuard Pitbull mini; is it a worthwhile product and brand, OnGuard seemingly being the "B" brand? Or is Kryptonite really the way to go?
Right now I'm relying on my bike's combined ugliness and identifiability, but even then I'd like to ensure that it doesn't walk away some night...
EDIT: My main concern is reliability of the lock itself; I know the mounting brackets are invariably trash and dangerous to boot. I just want to get a lock that is solid and will open reliably, with key, every time...
i have never really had problem with either brand, and i have been using both in tandem for 5 years.
one time in the middle of nasty sleety winter after not using my kryptonite for 2 weeks it froze and I couldn't get it open till i pounded it with a mallet... then i squirted a little pb blaster in there and its worked ever since... this is the only problem i've had with either in 5 years though, you'll be fine with either.
OnGuard works fine. Even crap u-locks do fine here, but I've had the Bulldog Mini for the past couple years and have no complaints.
PS: If you're budget's really tight, you can save money getting it online:
http://www.amazon.com/OnGuard-Bulldog-5013TC-Bicycle-U-Lock/dp/B000FL3E8O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1271015589&sr=8-2
Ditto'd of the above. While bikes do get stolen around here, good luck finding someone who has had a u-lock cut or broken. U-locks in general, brand aside, are a great deterrent and you'll find that the main differences between brands and models is what they're made of, how much they weigh and what accessories they come with. There are enough unlocked or improperly locked bikes in Pittsburgh that I'd say having even a cable lock will have you pretty well secured.
There is no need to get the biggest and baddest lock you can get around here - theres a reason that one of Kryptonite's toughest lock is called the New York.
what rob etc said. ive been using the bulldog mini for years here. getting a bike stolen from a cut u lock is extrememly rare. i pretty much think that krypto's NY line is a bit of overkill here, unless you're planning on locking the bike up outside, overnight in a dark secluded spot frequently.
speaking as someone who has cut thru u locks before, due to the way that they are constructed, i found that the krypto evolution line only requires one cut with an angle grinder, where the on guard requires two cuts. it's due to how krypto has that little kinked end (that doesn't get locked, that once the "U" is cut, it falls out. the equivalent model of the on guard locks, locks both ends of the "U", therefore one cut doesn't create a large enough gap for a bike tube to fit thru.
or spend the extra 2 bucks for the additional cable
I use this combo when parked the 8 hours for work, and honestly, I'm much more worried about a thief unbolting the cheap bike racks that I end up using downtown.
Erok is talking about the bolts. The Krytonite Evo locks are single bolt locks, the OnGuards are all 2 or 4-bolt locks.
I have a On Guard Pitbull mini, and I absolutely love it. All of the On Guard stuff is very good quality, especially for the money.
was my description incoherent?
This seems like a good thread to ask this question. I have a Kryptonite U-Lock that has got to be at least 20 years old--possibly close to 30. It was one of the first. But I figure a u-lock is so much harder to defeat than a cable or as Rob said the "unlocked or improperly locked bikes in Pittsburgh" that it will work just fine. You folks seem to know a lot about locks however, is there a reason to get a new lock?
Key and cylinder technology may have advanced some, but ingeneral, I would say no, in pittsburgh anyway. Maybe in NYC the latest and greatest would be an asset, butI think locking it correctly is more important that age of the lock.
Erok, it wasn't, but I figured I'd throw in the term for educational purposes.
I used to be a picker--I sorta have a thing for locks.
