In addition to my Litelok X1, I've now had the chance to try a few more secondary measures including:
12mm Sold Secure Gold chain and lock (lock is a similar one to Oxford's HD mini shackle);
10mm Hiplock X chain (10mm sold secure);
Seatylock Mason U Lock 220 (sold secure Diamond (bicycle) and Gold (powered Bike/motorbikes);
Oxford XA14 alarmed disc lock; (SSG)
Magnum Plus Titan alarmed disc lock. (SSG)
Things of note: In cutting tests the 10mm chain faired no worse than the 12mm square link sold secure one and due to the steel used was more resistant to cropping from all but 42" croppers. It proved also more resistant to hammer attack than some 12 or 13mm through hardnened chains. It's much lighter too and coils up to less than 20cm so easily fits in my 10L tailpack with the other locks. I guess its nearest equivalent is the Pragmasis 11mm loop chain which is unobtainable now (I checked their website and no stock yet according to the company that took them over).
The disappointment was the mini D shackle, similar to many others using the same 14mm hardened steel shackle....avoid (including the Oxford one) as the lock's a pig and sticks even when lubed. Spent 5 minutes trying to open that damned thing when out with an associate on an IAM ride the other day. It's junk. The advantage of a much longer D lock is it can extend the chain's reach to a nearby anchor point as well as being as able to lock through the rear sprocket and chain...or back wheel if large enough.
Both the alarmed disc locks are well made and the alarm on the Titan one is ear piercing 120dB so louder than the Oxford model. Both will fit over the rear sprocket as well as my front brake discs. I've seen destruction testing on the Titan which proved very resilient to all forms of attack and as with all disc locks, you're more likely to have a scrote grind the discs themselves. The XA14 seems a decent option and unlike Oxford's other alarmed U locks, doesn't go off randomly!
The setup is: Litelock through front wheel spokes and discs, with one alarmed disclock on one front disc and one on rear sprocket with the Seaty 220 U lock over the back wheel (it fits!) and securing the 10mm chain (either secured to a post or wrapped over back wheel).
Seems overkill and normally not all would be fitted but timed to fit all as above took under 2 minutes, so naff all in the scheme of things and all will easily fit into a tailpack of 10L. For anyone looking for a sturdy lightweight secondary D lock, the Seaty is one I highly recommend....it's comparatively lightweight yet very robust and the double locking mechanism means both sides (each side effectively 15mm due to the pentagonal shape) have to be cut with a grinder to defeat it. If they're going to do that, they'd likely attack the chain instead. The lock is well protected and benefits from a double thickness hardened steel plate, impervious to hammer attacks. It's also as cheap as something like the equivalent On Guard 8002 D lock but lighter than most making it a good secondary choice.
Point is, if leaving a bike overnight anywhere accessed from a public road, having multiple locks is too much buggeration for all but the most determined theives. If they want it, they'll have to lift it into the back of a van, which would prove tricky if chained to something or unable to rotate the back wheel freely. Make it hard for the scroats. Another idea might be to also chuck a cheap easily foldable cover over your bike after locking it if on tour. Some pack to the square root of zilch.
12mm Sold Secure Gold chain and lock (lock is a similar one to Oxford's HD mini shackle);
10mm Hiplock X chain (10mm sold secure);
Seatylock Mason U Lock 220 (sold secure Diamond (bicycle) and Gold (powered Bike/motorbikes);
Oxford XA14 alarmed disc lock; (SSG)
Magnum Plus Titan alarmed disc lock. (SSG)
Things of note: In cutting tests the 10mm chain faired no worse than the 12mm square link sold secure one and due to the steel used was more resistant to cropping from all but 42" croppers. It proved also more resistant to hammer attack than some 12 or 13mm through hardnened chains. It's much lighter too and coils up to less than 20cm so easily fits in my 10L tailpack with the other locks. I guess its nearest equivalent is the Pragmasis 11mm loop chain which is unobtainable now (I checked their website and no stock yet according to the company that took them over).
The disappointment was the mini D shackle, similar to many others using the same 14mm hardened steel shackle....avoid (including the Oxford one) as the lock's a pig and sticks even when lubed. Spent 5 minutes trying to open that damned thing when out with an associate on an IAM ride the other day. It's junk. The advantage of a much longer D lock is it can extend the chain's reach to a nearby anchor point as well as being as able to lock through the rear sprocket and chain...or back wheel if large enough.
Both the alarmed disc locks are well made and the alarm on the Titan one is ear piercing 120dB so louder than the Oxford model. Both will fit over the rear sprocket as well as my front brake discs. I've seen destruction testing on the Titan which proved very resilient to all forms of attack and as with all disc locks, you're more likely to have a scrote grind the discs themselves. The XA14 seems a decent option and unlike Oxford's other alarmed U locks, doesn't go off randomly!
The setup is: Litelock through front wheel spokes and discs, with one alarmed disclock on one front disc and one on rear sprocket with the Seaty 220 U lock over the back wheel (it fits!) and securing the 10mm chain (either secured to a post or wrapped over back wheel).
Seems overkill and normally not all would be fitted but timed to fit all as above took under 2 minutes, so naff all in the scheme of things and all will easily fit into a tailpack of 10L. For anyone looking for a sturdy lightweight secondary D lock, the Seaty is one I highly recommend....it's comparatively lightweight yet very robust and the double locking mechanism means both sides (each side effectively 15mm due to the pentagonal shape) have to be cut with a grinder to defeat it. If they're going to do that, they'd likely attack the chain instead. The lock is well protected and benefits from a double thickness hardened steel plate, impervious to hammer attacks. It's also as cheap as something like the equivalent On Guard 8002 D lock but lighter than most making it a good secondary choice.
Point is, if leaving a bike overnight anywhere accessed from a public road, having multiple locks is too much buggeration for all but the most determined theives. If they want it, they'll have to lift it into the back of a van, which would prove tricky if chained to something or unable to rotate the back wheel freely. Make it hard for the scroats. Another idea might be to also chuck a cheap easily foldable cover over your bike after locking it if on tour. Some pack to the square root of zilch.
