A Day and a Lock

richardallen said:
IIRC, those tube picks are pretty expensive though, at least too expensive for a random thief to get.
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An "official" one is expensive, but it came out not too long ago that something as simple as the tube from a ball-point pen will work. I was able to make a tube from rolling up some thick paper and get that to work. Just kind of jam, twist, and jiggle. This won't work on all locks, though.
 
richardallen said:
IIRC, those tube picks are pretty expensive though, at least too expensive for a random thief to get. Around $150, at least here.

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Those kind of thieves are mainly operating with bolt cutters and screw drivers (to take your bike apart); I dont really worry about those with picks. There's nothing you can do about them, and pick proof locks have yet to be invented. I have never really heard about thieves picking bike locks though (not saying it never happens, but I think the chances of dealing w/ such a sophisticated thief are very low).

Keno
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well, as mentioned, there were two major varieties of the krypto locks with a tubular keyway that could be picked with a bic pen, in 5 seconds or less, even by a beginner... no need for a sophisicated pick. the kensington laptop locks could be done with an improvise piece of carboard rolled into a tube.

the other kind of pick, the actual tool, i've seen for sale at some tech fests for as little as $35. it's basically just some thin steel strips, secured around a tube with rubber bands. that's it. you could probably make a decent one in an hour with a wood dowel and some street cleaner bristles.

but yeah, aside from the trivial to open kryptos, or most of those circular combo locks, it's often easier to work around the lock, attack the the thing locked to, or if you're only after the components, use a wrench, take those.

i've helped more than one friend recover their bikes when they got stupid and lost the keys - in those cases, getting the lock open was key. a biscuit grinder usually works in seconds on any lock. thickest cable locks, no problemo, takes seconds. chains? faster. like butter.

someone once showed me how some locks are vulnerable to the cold attack - liquid nitrogen or aerosol sprays... the U hasp is tough! the rest isn't. other locks, a 3-4 foot *good* pry bar and a strong smart guy? the lock is toast.

the worst though, are the guys that cut THROUGH your frame. often, they want your expensive wheels, or shifters or ... the frame? not worth a lot often. SOMETIMES. not often.

bladite
 
I think we're building up enough energy to do the bank job. I'll hold the lobby and leave the rest to you guys.

Question, you villian hearted lock pickers: I have a motorcycle cable lock with a circular key. No good?

munk
 
I choose my locks according to my insurance company policies. Every lock can be beat or picked. Do you get my point? ;)

As long as I'm insured I'm a happy camper.

As for your question - sounds good to me. After you start getting into picking locks though, you either get paranoid or a sense of reality ;)
Don't worry about it too much. Home security is more important. And home security does not mean a great lock at the front door. Picking is about beating the system, if the front door is secure, you choose the back door, a window... those are things worth considering.


Keno
 
Most any lock can be picked and or broken. All I hope to do is stop the casual thief, or the not so casual thief who is kind of stupid.

I figure if my bike is at least as hard to steal as my car (break a window, jump the ignition) its as good as I can hope for. I mean, if somebody has a wrecker or tow truck or bolt cutters and a truck, he can steal my bike and my car at the same time.
 
munk said:
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Question, you villian hearted lock pickers: I have a motorcycle cable lock with a circular key. No good?
munk
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i'm not a villain. i'm a geek. locks are puzzles and machines...

i have two locks. one has a circular and goes on the brake. the other is the newer krypto style and goes around the rear wheel and secures to a pole if need be. it's not an expensive bike, it mostly keeps people from putting the bike into neutral and rolling it away, or a couple strong dudes from dragging it EASILY and quickly into a truck/van, and driving away with it.

find a bic biro pen - the white bodied ones. pull out the guts and you have a tube. said tube should fit into the keyway. push in hard all the way, back out a LITTLE bit while you wiggle and turn it a bit. lightly, gently. chances are very good the lock will open up and sproing. done. you will find you need to reverse this process if you intend on using your key :)

SOME tubular locks are very resistant to this (age, dirt, lack of lubrication) esp help with that. kryptos were so easy, that a bike thief could do it in 5 seconds, and look like the actual owner of the bike to anyone who might even be looking hard. seriously, a guy dressed in the gear, walking up to a bike, making keylike motions at the lock, stowing the lock, and riding off? you'd not think twice about it. except he used a bic pen.

bladite
 
Why not try something different? Trickery! Lee Valley Tools sells this lock, which has a hidden keyhole. Lock can't be picked using the visible keyhole ... you have to search for the real one.

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They also sell an even weirder lock, with no visible keyhole. Need to use 3 separate keys on it, in the correct order, after finding the key locations in the first place. At 2 pounds, with a 1/2" steel hasp, it's intimidating enough to make many just walk the other way.

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