Armored cable lock guide

If you love your bike – you buy a good lock. Long fingers are happy about spiral locks– and resent armored cable locks. Both locks belong to the same family – both are cable locks. However, where thin spiral locks can be cut almost as easily as butter, armored cable locks offer far more resistance.

construction

The name Armored Cable Lock it tells already: it is hardly safe. Under a jacket is a strong steel cable, around which additionally thin steel cables are wound. The resulting mobility makes the armored cable a very flexible lock. Another plus in safety, because it allows you to connect your bike to a solid object. And the bigger the lock, the more freedom of movement, because even more powerful lampposts can serve as a fuse. A decisive advantage over the rigid colleagues of the type U-lock!

A lock cylinder completes the lock. As sheathing is a hose made of plastic or fabric. This protects the paint of your bike. The length of the cable locks is different: they can be one meter and longer. The longer, the better – this is how you can combine frames and a bike. But the locks become more bulky with increasing length. That should be considered when buying, because somehow you have to carry the lock while driving so with him. Also, the weight can be felt as a burden here – around the two kilos are not uncommon.

Not to crack?

Unfortunately yes. But it just takes much longer than many other castles – which can be a decisive advantage even in busy areas. Because of its larger scope can be here bolt cuttersbad start. This extends the effort, especially in terms of time, for cracking the lock. Above all, savvy thieves know this – and rather look around for easier prey.

The rest of the thieves have at least a little time to do – time advantage for you, if you are only a short time away. In general, you should stick to a few basic rules: Always attach a bicycle to a solid object, avoid unlit locations, and – most importantly – connect a frame instead of just a single wheel. Then, it really pays to buy an armored cable lock.

Strong inside

But thicker is not better. Decisive is not the total extent, but the inside – the steel parts so. Unfortunately, the customer can hardly test it himself. So if you want to operate not only optical deterrent, should be well informed, which models are strong inside.

The best known is probably the company Trelock. And rightly so: In tests, these locks have already convinced so often that the name Trelockschloss is now colloquially mean the same as Armored Cable Lock , Another recommended company is Abus. With both companies, you can be sure that even critical parts such as the lock cylinder are made of high-quality materials.

security levels

If you like it a bit safer, learn more about the different security levels on the manufacturer’s website. Here, unfortunately, each manufacturer has its own system: For example, if Trelock is level 5, that means almost the highest possible level and means: very good protection. Abus, on the other hand, assigns the same level as protection at a low level riska theft – if the risk is greater, this lock is no longer enough.

Of course you can also buy a cheaper no-name-castle here. It is even safer if you always carry your bike with you – to the workplace, to the upscale restaurant and when traveling. The five stairs up to your apartment anyway: After all, a new bike costs significantly more than a first-class lock.

A selection:

Abus Armored Cable Lock 8600/85 Chief
20 mm diameter, length. 85 cm. Abus Security Level 6. Weight: 839 g. Plastic casing, with drill protection on the lock cylinder.

Blusmart security cable lock
180 cm long, but comes with bracket, thus flexible to mount on the bike. Lock with five-digit number combination. Weight: 630 g. Cheap model, well suited as a second lock.

Trelock PK 515 / 100L
100cm long, Trelock Security Level 5, that’s almost the highest level. Weight 2 kilos. With dust protection and corrosion protection. Not cheap.