Home Made U-Lock Bicycle Lock

Step 14 Lock Your Bike!

Here's the finished lock in use. It looks and acts like a real lock, at least well enough for running errands.
It's lightweight and not very strong, but there isn't any lock that would keep this particular bike safe in any American city for more than a day.

I'm scavenging materials for heavier locks that would be harder to cut.
You can never have too many bike locks.

Comments

[Zeppelinfreak]

Chain and a padlock

[stupidloginthing]

any thief with a bolt cutter could have that bike in 2 seconds flat.

[2 stroke]

nah tin snips will also do it

[weldor]

Depending upon the thickness and type of stainless steel used it can be quite a chore to cut through with snips. Stove tops are typically a 300 series ss which is not as hard ad the 400 ss. It is typically tougher (this is what makes ss such a pain in the rear to work with). The wider the strap the more trouble it will be to get through.
The lock in the pic is a Masster Lock. Although typically a decent lock, I knopw how to destroy one in a matter of seconds. Master does make a lock that has a hex shaped shank. There are other types of locks that are harder to break as well. They typically have what is best described as a "warded" shackle. Look them up on the Maaster Lock web site. There are other companies that make good locks as well. Some of the knock offs are pretty stout as well. I would recomend using a lock that is stainless as well- no rusting and all but impossible to cut with a torch as well as a real pain in the keister to cut with a saw.

[2 stroke]

cordless angle grinder

[bo88y]

Any thief with HANDS....

[sora]

unless its a stupid theif

[guitarmonk15]

Any thief with a bolt cutter could have most bikes in a few seconds. Most bike locks are meant to prevent the casual/semi casual thief (just walking around, and steals a bike without intending to do so that day, or similar variants). If there's a gang of thieves driving in a van with power tools or even a bolt cutter, Your bike is pretty much gone, unless you have a bunch (10+) of insane strength locks.

[dan_o_89_rs]

looks nice. inexpensive, yet perfectly functional... looks like the edges might need a covering of sorts to protect the bike's paint. but nice..

[mattyew]

i have a caad5 myself, but i prefer using name brand locks like kryptonite cause they have a reputation for being very difficult to break. nice bike!