[Closed] What chain/lock for garage bike storage

Something from Pragmasis.
https://securityforbikes.com/products.php?cat=High+Security+Chain+and+Lock+deals

Nice people to deal with as well.

As above.
David is a greart guy to deal with and very helpful with advice.

I have a Kryptonite fagedaboudit(?), It's heavy and pretty long and not going to be easily broken. Price is reasonable as well.

I have an almax immobiliser series 3 chain with the squire stronghold padlock.

Whilst not cheap they are extremely well made and i wouldnt trust any other chain.
Also worth considering a ground anchor to loop it through.

Almax. Everything else is a toy.

Not wishing to be a kill joy, but any chain / lock / ground anchor is pretty easy to cut with a battery powered angle grinder. So multiple levels of security is best eg movement activated lights, cameras, alarms, decents locks and insurance.

NB Squire do an 'almost' angle grinder proof padlock, the SS100, which is CEN 6 certified and can withstand an attack using a cordless angle grinder (with spare battery and 3 cutting discs), for 10 minutes.

Only £175 https://www.insight-security.com/squire-ss100-cen6-padlock

Holds up pretty well to an AR-7 as well...

Pragmasis bought - couldn't remember the me of them...

Not wishing to be a kill joy, but any chain / lock / ground anchor is pretty easy to cut with a battery powered angle grinder

I only lock them so that they meet my insurance companies requirements so I get the cheapest gold rated locks/chains I can. I've also got CCTV, alarms, security lights etc. But it doesn't stop a determined thief

Having watched the videos a cheap lock lasts about 10 seconds and an expensive one about 40 seconds.

My theory is 3 cheap locks are better than 1 good lock if they have an angle grinder or massive bolt cutters. Its more work, looks daunting etc.

A friend had his locked up. The theif didn't manage to steal them but in his frustration damaged the bike, broke the frame and wheels on purpose. Insurance wouldn't pay out. He was insured for theft but not damage.

So I agree, just do enough to make sure you are covered for insurance and hope you never have to claim.

But it doesn’t stop a determined thief

Yep, a girl in the gym had her D-lock seize, so I cut it with my Bosch 18v grinder. Took about 15 seconds, made a huge racket and had sparks flying everywhere. No one batted an eyelid or asked what we were doing and off she rode..

I assumed it was her bike, can't recall if I asked 😉

Big, big chain. Almax, Pragmasis, Squire do proper big bastards. Basically 16mm is the point at which chains stop sucking. And above that, they get rapidly more protective against grinders etc but also much more expensive and much heavier/harder to live with. 16mm is a good compromise.

I just recently figured out that instead of one big loop- which is a pain in the baws, and needs a lot of chain, and creates a single point of failure- I can ground anchor one end then run the chain through the bikes and then lock the bikes to the chain with a u-lock each. I can remove the outside bike without ever unlocking the others which removes the "couldn't be arsed to relock because it was only for 5 minutes" thing, and you can't take every bike by breaking one chain link. Can't remember ever seeing this recommended anywhere which always makes me a bit twitchy but I really can't see any downside. Does mean you need more locks, but less chain.

dc1988
Free Member

I have a Kryptonite fagedaboudit(?), It’s heavy and pretty long and not going to be easily broken

It'll cut with boltcutters faster than you can find the key in your pocket. Sorry.

It’ll cut with boltcutters faster than you can find the key in your pocket. Sorry.

You sure?

LPL recommend

NB One thing I realised recently (having bought a new bike) is to remove all the metal cutting power tools from the same building that you store the bike it. e.g. I no longer keep the angle grinder in the workshop! Otherwise its all a bit pointless.....

If you can get the bike (s) close enough to a wall to use a D lock rather than chain that probably gives you better security on the whole - other than if you buy an expensive Almax type of chain over 16mm. These are good but they’re also heavy and more likely to scratch a bike.

I’ve got 3 chains round 1 mtb to a wall anchor in the wall - 2’are sold secure gold but it’s a bit of pain to unlock the bike. Another is up on the wall well out of range of bolt cutters etc so would need a grinder. On that basis I’ve used an OnGuard d lock that’s sold secure gold and not too expensive - but has a 16mm shackle.

When I get my new hardtail I plan to go the same d lock route - if I can also fit a chain through the ground anchor I may do that too so it would take longer to steal.

All obviously insured and garage alarm / made it as difficult as possible to get in the garage etc. Hopefully other people’s bikes are a more attractive proposition to steal than mine.

Almax series 4 here. It's a beast