Bicycle Lock Question

[Toad-O-Line]

As strange as this sounds this question is legit. I stored my bicycle in the garage in the winter and locked it with one of those U-Locks.

Now I cannot find the darn key!

Years ago I read an article in the Sun about how professional bicycle thiefs could "Crack" one of those locks within seconds.

Does anyone know how it is done? I vaguely recall the procedure.

Please PM me if you prefer.

TIA

[rr_bill]

Rent a bolt cutter for a day and then buy a new lock.:D

[gruntr]

A bolt cutter might not fit around it well enough to grip.just take an angle grinder and cut through it.You can pop the lock with the right leverage but it will never be the same again.

[rr_bill]

Originally posted by gruntr
A bolt cutter might not fit around it well enough to grip.just take an angle grinder and cut through it.You can pop the lock with the right leverage but it will never be the same again.


I've seen many padlocks removed very easily and in a jiffy, with bolt cutters but if Toad o line has a grinder, that would be just as good or maybe better - no rental fee. Would depend on whether he has a cordless or if there is an outlet near his bike.

[Sheik]

Those bike locks are made of hardened steel and take forever to grind through. Best bet is a sawzall. Toad, you know how to reach me and you are more than welcome to borrow it.

Worse comes to worse, there is a locksmith shop I use in Whitby and they can pick any lock out there.

[Toad-O-Line]

Sent you a PM Sheik.

Thanks again!

[iguana]

bike thieves spray freon into the lock. Freeze it, then crack the metal with a chisel and hammer. Of course if it doesn't open your lock will be totally fucked up.:)

[luckyjackson]

Iguana gets the prize.

I once watched a guy 'steal' my bike downtown while sitting 20 feet away with a cop in a donut shop! I'd seen the fellow steal one successfully a few nights before, and while sitting at the Coffee Time at St.Joseph and Bay saw the same bastard walk up to my locked bike. I had already called the cop's attention to what was going on. He waited till the guy had done the deed, then calmly walked up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. Sweet. While waiting for a car to pick the guy up, the cop checked his tools. One can of nitrogen, one rubber hammer. He just sprayed the lock, waited a minute, and smashed it. Be VERY careful using this stuff. You can imagine it's effect if sprayed accidentally on flesh. Cost me a lock to see the performance, but it was worth it. I saw one other brazen guy do the same thing in front of the Eaton Centre in broad daylight. It's very fast.

[Remo]

Like LJ said above. Nitrogen is the way to go for those. Cause like Shiek said they are hardened steel and bolt cutters won't work.

[Ping]

Is it a Kryptonite? if it is you should just rent a little 4" cut off grinder and go for the u-bolt, if its a zellers knock-off youll gind the lock's encased in brass, use your cordless drill and drill the lock...(or a small brass pin that holds the lock in place, only noticeable if you peel the black rubber back and inch or so. If its not encased in brass, you might try a thing called leverage, if you can get at it, find a pipe that just fits around the lock portion; if you can get a big ass piece thats 4 or 5 feet long, perfecto; if not put another pipe in the first one and use it for leverage, more is better, just remember to pry so it bends the lock off of the ubolt, and not the bike too(if you can even get on it at the right angle)

only because pipe is easier to buy than nitrogen...

[Romeo]

I bought a bike Sept 10. 6pm. It was stolen Sept 11, noon, right before my eyes. I got in back from a pawn shop 3 hours later. Hamilton bike thieves are rather stupid.

[Sasha Jones]

I had my bike stolen 3 times. I got this bike when I was in grade 9. I won't tell you how I got it, but we are meant to be together!

Got it back once 5 months later from the Barrie police.
It was stolen from school, I forgot my lock one day, came out at lunch and it was gone, I walked around the school and found it hidden in the back. I took it back and left it just inside the doors and came back after school and it was gone again!

Second time it was stolen from downtown in the small town where I lived, I saw a guy I knew riding it 3 days later, told him he better give it back!

Got stolen a third time from right outside my BF's house, while we were inside! I didn't see it for over a year this time. I was walking home from school one day and decided to take a different route from the usual and cut through a condo parking lot, I had to have been a good 60-80 ft away from the bike rack and I though I saw my handlebars!!!! I never thought for a second that it really could have been my bike but I thought I would walk over and make sure. Sure enough it was mine and they hadn't changed a damn thing on it! It looked exactly the same as the day they stole it! It was locked up with one of those crappy 4 digit dial combination locks, I had always heard people talking about how easy they were to pick but never actually tried. I had to calm myself down a little, I was so furious and excited at the same time I didn't know if I should sit there and wait for someone to come for it, or run home and get my dad's bolt cutters! I decided to try and pick the lock, it took me about 3 min and I stole my bike back!!!!

I still have the bike to this day!

[hamermill]

Great story Sasha. But you must tell us how you got the bike :)

[Squatting Tiger]

Nitrogen and freon are good. If you are in university never lockup your bike next to the science/chemestry buildings. I had an expensive mountain bike when I was in school and I'd never lock it up. I only used it to hit the trails. Otherwise it was locked up in my room.

I also heard that a long metal pole and a lot of leverage and pressure can easily break open a kryptonite lock in less than 5 seconds. The locking mechanism does not break, but the other joint does. I've never seen this technique but can imagine this needs a lot of privacy.

[LoveThemGirls]

Originally posted by Sasha Jones
I had my bike stolen 3 times. I got this bike when I was in grade 9. I won't tell you how I got it, but we are meant to be together!..............I still have the bike to this day!

If I had Sasha sitting on and riding me regularly I'd make every effort to find my way back to her too ;) Your bike must be male.