Reddit mentions of Kryptonite Evolution Mini Bike U-Lock

The smallest, hardest, thickest lock from a reputable manufacturer which works for your bike and where you lock it up.

http://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-Evolution-Mini-Bike-U-Lock/dp/B000AMPRG0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1324565999&sr=8-2

is widely considered to be a good compromise lock for those of us who don't live in high-crime areas. It has a very hard to pick cylinder, is too small to break with a car jack (if used properly), is too hard and thick to cut with anything but super-duper long bolt cutters, hacksawing it is possible but tough, and will actually resist the Uber angle-grinder attack for a (little) while.

Hey everyone, you may have seen me raging or telling people to be nice around the subreddit now and then, but you may not know that i am a mod on /r/bicycling and started /r/nycbike.

So this is a decent article about locking, but again... like always, it misses several critical aspects of bike locking.

• U-Locks: Smaller is better, buy quality, buy quality!!!
  
  Why is smaller better? Because the way you break a u-lock is with a jack, and if you can't get the jack into the lock, you can't break the lock.
  
  
• Cable locks are garbage!!! They are fucking garbage, do not buy them... do not buy a cable lock! They are worthless and you can break them with a simple pipe without making any noise.
  
  >The front wheel will always be easier to take off then the rear, so knowing how to lock it is a valuable skill.
  
  This is wrong. Back wheels come off just a easily as front, and cost more to replace, and i want to punch every writer that says to lock your front wheel because it's "safer" cause it's fucking not and never has been, ever!
  
  Which reminds me, the sheldon brown method doesn't work, btw.
  
  >Using two locks is the most secure method.
  
  No, well maybe, but no, not really. The most secure method is to lock with 300 individual locks in your apartment, and never leave the house. Any intellectually honest person will tell you that you need to be smart, and prepare yourself for when you are lazy, and want to leave your bike out for "just one second" and don't want to bother to lock it, and that's when it gets stolen.
  
  This is a psychological problem. The solution is locking skewers.
  
  
• Buy locking skewers. Please for the love of god, buy a small u-lock, a tiny seat cable, and locking fucking skewers. Please, i'm begging you.
  
  This is the method i use, because i'm lazy, and if i have to do anything that makes me do real work (like carry around a bunch of u-locks, or a bullshit cable lock), then i just very well may act stupid and not properly lock up my bike, as it stands, it takes me 2 seconds to lock my bike perfectly securely.
  
  tl;dr: Ideally, you want a small, quality u-lock. This locks your frame and will also lock your seat if you buy a seat cable. Just remember to make a slipknot through the seat's rails (nobody really want's to steal your crappy seat anyway). Next, buy locking skewers!!!. If your front wheel is bolt on, then just wait and see if it ever gets stolen (it probably won't unless you're unlucky), then buy a new front wheel with a skewer, and add a locking skewer. If your back wheel is bolt on, buy a longer u-lock and lock through the rear triangle and rear wheel together. Now, if you really give a shit about your bike, buy a locking top cap. This will save your fork if you come across any jerks that want your sweet, vintage, peugeot chrome fork.
  
  Also, never leave your bike outside over night, ever!

Yeah it's a Kryptonite evolution mini, a good strong lock, that doesn't weight much (compared to say the very secure fahgettaboudit, although you will have to be a little bit more picky about where you lock it up to get it through your back wheel/frame/non-movable object.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000AMPRG0/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B004C94T84&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=15K44FMXMSFQEH9M6QNX

The kryptonite mini is $35, but is an absolutely fantastic lock if you want to go up that high:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AMPRG0/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000OZ9VLU&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0811NS4PXZAZSRVRJC83

I'm sure there are lots of other good U-Lock options on amazon and other retailers though, just take a look around.

First off: spring for a ulock. Might I suggest this one. Don't get one too long, this size (7 inches) is about the max you want to go, and unless you have a beefy mtn bike will clear the rear triangle/wheel with room to put to a pole. This will secure your bike very well and give little traction for people to put a pry bar into it. The Kryptonite Evo series is a good balance between weight and strength, but remember that with time and force anything can be broken into.

With the rear of your frame and tire secured connect a thick wire to the lock (the one included will work and is lightweight) and loop it through your front tire. It won't take very long with good bolt cutters to chop this, but it will thwart anyone looking to quick disconnect your front tire and run with it.

As for the light: does it have a quick disconnect to it? If not, look into acquiring one, or building one. A lot of bike thievery is on accessories/front tires/seats/crappily locked-up bikes. If you have an expensive seat, put a thin wire around it and connect it to your ulock and/or get hex or other bolts for your seatpost. They make security bolts which require a special head for seatposts/tires/etc.

Spend a little bit to save your investment/transportation. If you lock it up well it will be less of a target.

When on-campus also check out the Evergreen Bike Shop which is a volunteer-ran (I volunteer during the school year so come say hi) free bike area for you to work on your stuff in. Check the sxhedule to see when it's open and call ahead to make sure someone is there. All the tools are free to sue and there are free parts bins all over. Tubes and other items can be purchased for a great price, as well. They don't do the work for you but can teach you how to maintain your cycle if you lack knowledge in this area.

Have fun!

Honestly, if you live in an area that's urban enough to commute by bike, you either need a mini-lock for your front wheel, a nice long chain lock, or buck up and secure your bolts.

Bike commuter and UNT grad student here. I don't hear that it's a problem on campus during school hours. You don't say whether or not it will be outside during the night or not.

If you have the money for a nice bike, you have thhe money for a good lock. I use this lock and recommend it heartily. Comes with three keys and is a little harder than others to break since it's smaller and harder to get the tools that thieves use around it. It comes with a handy little mount to for the frame. Like others have said, if you lock just the wheel, you're gonna have a bad time.

I use these for front and rear lights.

This is the most common u-lock that is about as good as it gets. I use this, but the weight is pretty intense.

I wouldn't get a brooks. They are pricey because they become super comfortable after some use, but the downside is that they are theft magnets. If you get one, lock your saddle with a cable, or take it in with you, but these things go missing on my campus all the time. I'd just ride the stock for a while, when you want to upgrade, go into your LBS and nab one from them.




As for locks, U-lock+Cable in conjunction will be best. If you pick one, do a u-lock. Kryptonite is well-recommended. They have a few models:

The New York is the big boy, nigh indestructible lock. But probably not necessary for a windsor the hour.

Here's what I use, but I sort of regret it. It feels cheaper (because it was cheaper) than other kryptonite locks I've used. The lock itself is fine, but I have trouble with my key after a few months of use (have to jiggle it around for a bit for it to disengage). If you're on a campus or in a smaller town, it'd be fine.

Just ordered this. My buddy has one and it's brilliant. Super light and small (smallness is actually a benefit as far as security). Can fit in your back pocket.

Also: http://sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html

i used a kryptonite evolution lock. it's small, so i keep a cable coiled around my seat post for when i can't find anything thin enough to lock my bike to.
i like it: http://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-Evolution-U-Lock-x-5-5/dp/B000AMPRG0/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1247979749&sr=8-10

After reading all of the bike stealing threads, bike stolen videos etc. I purchased:
This
and this
and this

I think I'll be good.

It really comes down to comfort. I leave a Kryptonite Chain Lock at work so I don't have to lug a serious lock w/ me every day on my commute. For popping into the store on my way home, I carry a Palmy aluminum u-lock which is by no means safe, but it IS very light. Otherwise, I carry the Kryptonite mini u-lock

BUT...all this being said, if a thief wants a bike, they're going to get it. The only thing you can do is to deter them.

Do you think this lock will be big enough to lock like that?

I second Sheldon Brown's locking strategy. I have a Kryptonite Evolution Mini which I got from a company through Amazon (cheaper than in stores). U-locks are most commonly defeated with a jack (like a car jack) but this is small enough that there won't be left over space to fit a jack in.

I use the Sheldon Brown method as described in another comment. This is perfect for parking meters and street signs in an urban area.

Also, don't buy a super expensive bike = less to worry about. And, don't park it in the same place for a long while (friend's bike got stolen because he left it on campus for 3 days) or same place every day on the street (e.g. if you commute) as the experienced thieves will look for targets.

P.S. What city are you in?

that sucks :(

I recommend two Evolution Mini 5's ( http://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-Evolution-Mini-Bike-U-Lock/dp/B000AMPRG0 ) and these: http://www.amazon.com/Two-Fish-Lockblocks-U-Lock-Mount/dp/B001P9EWKE

I like my Kryptonite Mini with a cable to lock up the front wheel. Also, once I got everything dialed in and I knew I wouldnt be making anymore adjustments, I superglued a bb into all the hex key heads so people couldnt steal my saddle and other bits. Its a bit of a pain to dig the glue out to repair stuff but at least I know my bike and bits will be waiting for me when I return.

Agree with this. I'd recommend two U-locks, Kryptonite, at least Evolution line but preferably one of them NY Fahgettaboutit. That'll cost you over $100 right there.

http://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-Evolution-Mini-Bike-U-Lock/dp/B000AMPRG0/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1372566802&sr=8-9&keywords=kryptonite+fahgettaboudit

http://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-997986-Black-Fahgettaboudit-U-Lock/dp/B000OZ9VLU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372566802&sr=8-1&keywords=kryptonite+fahgettaboudit

http://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-NEW-YORK-FAHGETTABOUDIT-FahgettaBoudit/dp/B00629P4M2/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1372566802&sr=8-8&keywords=kryptonite+fahgettaboudit

If you can carry a chain lock with you I'd just use that and make sure it's big enough to fit between both wheels and frame. Otherwise I'd get one of these and a good cable lock. I wouldn't worry too much about theft during the day, I locked my bike up outside for the better part of a year and all I lost was a seat because I didn't bother keeping it attached to my frame properly. Good luck!

/r/bicycling and /r/whichbike should be able to help.

Don't buy a department store bike unless you want it to fall apart in 3 weeks.

Get a good bike lock for your next bike. Cable locks can all be cut with bolt cutters in 5 seconds. You need a U-lock; something like this at minimum, this is better, and I have this which is one of the best locks available. Learn how to use your bike lock properly.

I'm having a hard time deciding between the Evolution Mini and the New York Fahgettaboutit Mini (need to carry the lock in my backpack on my way to classes)...

Thoughts?