I’ve mentioned bike products that I use and like before, but today you’re in luck: I’m starting a new feature here on A Dude Abikes: A Dude Abikes Likes. (Trademark pending.) Pretty catchy, right? Today I picked a lock… up, from the Bicycle Sport Shop Guadalupe location (formerly Ozone Bikes). It’s made by ABUS, Security Tech Germany, and if you have something you need to secure, this is a very good one. (NOTE: This is not a sponsored post. But hey, ABUS, if you like my post, email A Dude, and we’ll talk!) Please click on through to read my mini-review.

Whole Lotta Lockin’ Goin On

The lock came to my attention previously when my old Kryptonite u-lock stopped working after many years. However, I hadn’t had it too long when some dude cut it in half instead of the u-lock because an accidental case of stupidity. That guy got me a Serfas combination u-lock, which was pretty well, but recently became jammed. Point is, I liked the sturdiness of the brand, so when BSS had a storewide 20% off sale, I jumped at the chance to get the new ABUS. A Dude likes a good bang for the buck as much as the next dude, so I locked in this deal by the deadline.

The company has been around for almost a century. From their site:

From its humble beginnings in 1924 with founder August Bremicker and his sons producing padlocks in the cellar of the family’s home in the village of Volmarstein, Germany, ABUS has evolved into the worldwide leader of padlocks, bicycle and motorcycle locks.

Named a German Brand of the Century, ABUS has been building locks in their own factories since 1924. Backed by four generations of family knowledge with teams of in-house engineers and tool makers, ABUS uses the highest quality materials, rigorous testing methods and constant innovation in their quest to make the best locks in the world.

from ABUS.com

The company secures the bikes for the Cannondale Cyclocross and provide helmets for the Bora Argon 18 professional cycling team (that of world champion Peter Sagan, which is now called Bora Hansgrohe). While the pedigree of a company is important, you probably didn’t come here for a history lesson and don’t care that much. So let’s dive into the details about the lock.

The Features

The u-lock’s attributes are as follows:

• Easy transport. As shown in the photo above, there’s a bracket that secures to the bike to hold it. I’ve been tired of carrying my lock in a backback, so now it’s on the bike. A cool thing here: you have to unlock the ABUS to remove it from the bracket. So if you left your bike unlocked for a bit, no one can steal the lock itself.
• Double locking. Some locks secure only on one side or the end, making them easier to break. ABUS puts the lock in the center, which is more secure. Smart thinking, Germans! It comes with two keys.
• Level 8 security. The scale goes from 1-16, so this is right in the center. It’s considered extra, not standard or maximum.
• Value. Priced at $49.99, it’s not cheap, but if you have a bike worth hundreds of dollars, it’s well worth not having it stolen. Also, it should last a few years. With the sale, it’s a great value.
• Color options. Mine’s all black, but this one also has the straight locking part in bright green or red.
• Cable included. The cable allows you to lock both wheels, so it’s a greater deterrent to bike (or wheel) thieves.

Further, Deep Thoughts

For me, the main feature is peace of mind. After buying the lock, I made a stop at a store. Instead of worrying if someone was going to cut my cheap little cable lock, I remembered I have a sturdy new u-lock with a cable. While no lock can give you 100% security, and this is only medium, it’s still a solid choice for a lock. That’s really the only down side, that it’s not a 16. But if you’re like A Dude and have to watch your dollars. Sor for $40, I’m pretty happy with it. To paraphrase SNL’s Stewart Smalley, “This lock is good enough, it’s smart enough, and doggone it, people like it!”

On the down side, it was a little tough to affix to my bike, Sophie the Fairdale Weekender Archer. That’s because the lock made contact with my knee while on the down tube. So I wedged it onto the cross tube, which made it tight with my pump.

However, Tim at Bicycle Sport Shop made a great suggestion, which was to put the pump on one of my forks. Of course if I got panniers or a rack, I could avoid having to use the bracket at all. And I still have to carry a backpack or bag for the cable, or put that on the bike somewhere. Another option is a handlebar rack with velcro that Kryptonite makes for $14.99, which I may consider.

The point is, it’s a really good product. The next time you’re in the market for a bike lock, you might want to check them out. If you have a $5,000 bike, splurge for a higher level lock. But if you have a decent bike and want to feel secure in the knowledge no one except the most dedicated and stealthy bike thief can get this lock off without a serious, noisy saw, the ABUS Ultra 410 is the real deal.

The verdict? A Dude Abikes Likes!

Thanks to Katie, Cody and Tyler for their help at Bicycle Sport Shop as well, a great local chain you should check out. (They also are not compensating me for mentioning them.)

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