Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboutit Mini Bicycle U-Lock (3.25 x 6-Inch)
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List Price: Our Price: $58.99 You Save: $50.01 (46%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Sports See more product details |
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Description of Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboutit Mini Bicycle U-Lock (3.25 x 6-Inch)
- Center keyway defends against leverage attacks
- Protective vinyl coating
- Sliding dustcover protects and extends cylinder life
- 3 keys - one lighted with high intensity bulb & replaceable battery
- Anti Theft Proctection Offer $4500
- 18mm hardened Max-performance steel shackle
- Ovesized, hardened-steel sleeve over crossbar
- Double Deadbolt locking
| Item Specifications | |
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| Lock Size | 3.25" x 6" |
| Bracket Incuded | no |
Big city cyclists need big city protection, as would-be thieves aren't intimidated by just any bicycle lock. Enter the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboutit U-lock, which features an 18mm hardened Max-Performance steel shackle designed to resist bolt cutters and leverage attacks. Ideal for anyone who lives in moderately high crime areas, the New York Fahgettaboutit boasts a maximum 12 ranking on the Kryptonite 1-12 lock comparison system, which ranks the varying levels of security offered by the company's product range. A lock that ranks 1 on the Kryptonite scale might work if you live in the burbs and have a Rottweiler parked next to your bike or motorcycle. However, city dwellers demand extreme protection, which is why the New York Fahgettaboutit is built for serious deterrent security. The U-lock also offers such security-enhancing features as a high-security disc-style cylinder; an oversized, hardened steel sleeve over the crossbar for double security; double deadbolt locking for extensive holding power; and a center keyway that defends against leverage attacks. And as a bonus, the lock comes with three keys, one of which is lighted with a high-intensity bulb that makes it easy to unlock the Fahgettaboutit after dark. Other features include a protective vinyl coating, a sliding dust cover that protects and extends the cylinder life, and dimensions of 3.25 by 6 inches.
The Legendary Durability of Kryptonite Locks
The first big test for Kryptonite locks came in 1972, when Kryptonite founder Michael Zane directed the Second Avenue Bicycle Shop in New York City to lock a three-speed bicycle to a signpost in Greenwich Village. Although thieves immediately stripped all of the bicycle's removable parts, the bicycle itself remained for 30 days and 30 nights. The Kryptonite lock and the bike frame were still in place, even though the lock had been attacked numerous times. The publicity gave Kryptonite the boost it needed and forever changed the face of bicycle security. Twenty-two years later, Kryptonite returned to the streets of the Big Apple to test its latest innovation, the New York lock. In April 1994, the New York Post laid down the ultimate challenge: Could Kryptonite's New York lock last 48 hours on the toughest streets of New York? In a city where more than 100,000 bikes are stolen each year, Kryptonite and the Post locked a brand new, bright green Univega road bike worth $600 to a parking meter in the East Village--the Bermuda Triangle of New York bicycle thievery. For a full 48 hours, the bike remained locked on the corner of Avenue A and 11th Street. Zane and Neil McDaid, director of product development and design for Kryptonite, watched from around the corner as the bike came under every possible means of assault, stumping thieves at every turn. After 48 hours the bike remained intact except for the gear derailleur, which had been stripped off. The lock showed definite signs of abuse, but it had not failed. The New York lock had met the Post's challenge.
Not satisfied with the length of the test, Zane moved the bike to SoHo for another six days and, finally, uptown near the Lincoln Center. Even in these high-theft areas the properly locked bike lasted another three weeks before being pulled off the streets by Zane and McDaid. The Post also ran the New York lock through a battery of street tests using common bike theft tools: a 4-foot bolt cutter, a crowbar, and a hammer. The non-Kryptonite locks cracked in seconds, but all methods failed on the New York lock, even the monstrous bolt cutter, which was rendered useless with large dents in its jaws.
About Kryptonite
In the early 1970s, Michael Zane was a free-spirited, bearded kid with a VW van and a big idea for a new kind of lock. He traveled thousands of miles showing the unique U-shaped locking device and spreading his passion for bicycle security to bike dealers all around the country and forged lifetime relationships. The company soon expanded its product line to include power sports, hardware, and snow sports security. Through innovative product designs, cutting-edge marketing savvy, legendary customer service, and pure fanaticism for security, Kryptonite grew with a cult-like following. In 2001, the company that was started in a VW van was purchased by industry giant Ingersoll Rand and became a flagship brand in the company's Security Technologies sector. Publications such as Bicycling, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, US News & World Report, and a host of others continued to tout Kryptonite products as the best on the market. The company's dedication to its customers is best represented by its actions during the fall of 2004, when it was discovered that the industry-standard tubular cylinder could be compromised, at times, with a household item. Kryptonite flew into action, created a voluntary lock exchange program, and replaced more than 400,000 locks in 21 countries for free. In essence, the company redesigned the equivalent of nine years worth of new products in just 10 short months. Kryptonite is the only company in the world that offered such a comprehensive plan to customers, taking its "legendary customer service" pledge to new heights.
Sports reviews of Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboutit Mini Bicycle U-Lock (3.25 x 6-Inch)
Customer Review: One Tough Lock (get two U-locks - one for each wheel)
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
IT IS HEAVY, BUT SOLID
When I first got this bike lock, I thought oh my goodness this is heavy. It is heavy but I have not found it heavy when riding for transport and commuting purposes. I feel it would be tough to cut through or to pick the lock.
It is heavy, so perhaps see if you can try weighing one up in your hand in a shop, before purchasing?
MUST USE CORRECT BIKE LOCKING TECHNIQUE
You MUST use correct bicycle locking technique or else I feel you will find this lock of no use to you. It is simply not long enough. If you don' t use correct locking technique you will be disappointed, I feel.
Once you use correct locking technique, any thief will find it difficult to put a crowbar or other tool in the empty space (within the 'D' shape), because there is very little room there. To give you some idea of how little room there is: even if my pedal has swung around to be between my bike and the pole, I cannot use this lock - it is not long enough to fit around the additional length - I have to swing the pedal around so that it is not there and then move my bike closer to the pole in order to be able to close the lock together.
To find out what correct locking technique is - search for "proper bicycle locking technique" or "correct bicycle locking technique" on the internet. Basically it involves putting the U-lock through the back wheel through the back triangle of the bike frame.
I read another reviewer write that you have to get creative to use this lock - you don't have to do this - you just have to use proper bike locking technique.
DO NOT USE CABLE LOCKS
I am not using cable locks any longer - do not use these - the thief that stole my bike wheels had time to cut my cable twice, but could not cut my u-lock and therefore did not steal the frame.
When you weigh up the purchase price of a lock, you need to factor in the hassle and time it would take to purchase a new bike or new bicycle wheels if they are stolen. Not only is there the replacement cost, there is the cost of having to choose one and move the remaining pieces away (by car/taxi), waiting for it to come in, etc.
SHORT LOCK
This lock will not go around the wheel and the frame and the pole. It will only go around the wheel and then the pole you are attaching it to. This is OK however if you are using correct bicycle technique. Using this technique with this lock also seems to prevent your bicycle from falling down when attached to a pole - how many of you have seen a bicycle on an angle or nearly on the ground because it is tied up loosely to a pole.
GET TWO U-LOCKS
Get another one to use for your front wheel to lock this - so have 2 in total. Otherwise they may steal the front wheel. It will not fit around the front wheel and the frame - but instead it fits around the wheel and the suspension bar thing (sorry don't know the name) just on top of the front wheel.
It is very thick and solid. I am impressed with it, but you must use correct locking technique.
Customer Review: Paid for itself, worth every penny
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
I've been using this lock for over a year now, and it's worth every penny. I live on a college campus in Los Angeles, and park my bike outside at night. My last bike was stolen when a thief cut right through the $30 U-lock I had. After that experience, I bought the Fahgettaboutit to protect my new bike.
Sure enough, a few months in, someone attempted to steal my bike while I was at work. The thief failed miserably, managing only to cut through the vinyl sheath on the shackle and scratch the paint on the steel. I think that the thief may have even broken his bolt cutters, because he didn't snip the cable that secured my wheels. The jerk did take the time to unbolt and steal my fork, brakes, handlebars, stem, and shifters, but in saving my frame and wheels this lock paid for itself and then some.
After replacing the stolen components, I invested in a Pitlock set to protect my wheels, brakes, and fork. Most of the remaining hex bolts have been filled with solder to discourage theft. With these measures in place alongside my Kryptonite Fahgettaboutit, I have no worries about leaving my ride outside and no one has made a visible attempt to take it.
The lock is heavy, but I'm not a gram-counter, so it doesn't bug me. The main downside is that there is no frame mount for this lock.
It's worth noting that the shackle locks at both ends. In other words, to add insult to injury, a thief would probably have to cut through the shackle twice in order to get the bike out.
The Fahgettaboutit doesn't like to get wet- the mechanism will get stiff if left out in the rain. However, I was able to remedy the problem easily by applying some bearing grease in the pits. This lubricated the locking mechanism and prevented any more water from entering.
If you're even moderately worried about bike theft, then buy this lock. The peace of mind is wonderful.
Customer Review: Great Bike Lock
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
I purchased the Kryptonite Mini Fahgettaboudit U-Lock just recently. This bike lock is as good as it gets folks. I did a ton of research and looked the world over and i finally settled on this. I live in a suburban area but there are a lot of business and alot of people that live here and we are just outside of the city. The problem i encountered was that i just bought a Trek road bike for 600 dollars and it is worth at least double all the bikes i would lock up next to at school. And i have had my bike stolen there before so i know theft is something to worry about. I figured that if i used this lock and also some component locks like Pinhead locks that no one would be able to steal anything on my bike. Since my bike is at least double the price of all the bikes around it i needed at least double the security.
The thing about this lock is that it is thicker than any other that i have seen in my life. All locks can be cut or broken but you have to think like a theif would ;do i want to spend an hour getting a great expensive bike or spend five minutes with these cable locked cheap bikes and get 5 bikes. Sadly the idea is you dont have to out run the bear just out run the guy next to you if you get what i mean.
I highly recommend this lock it is great and has kept my bike safe. Make sure to get a cable or additional lock to secure other things like your seat and your wheels. And if you don't feel like carrying two locks all the time get component locks there are tons out there and not too many people use them so the common thief doesn't know how to defeat it really which makes your bike much safer in my opinion.
Good Luck!
Customer Review: best lock
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
this lock is the best u can get. its a tad bit still but the smaller it is, the better it is becacuse there is no leverage for the protential theif. it does weigh a bit but i guess that could be a good thing? think of it as trainning. when your biking around town with extra weight, it will get you stronger for those long trips where you would feel light as a feather without the lock. if you thik the lock is too heavey for you, just leave it at where you usually park, like at work or school. so when you get there it will be ready for you. just buy a cheaper cable lock to carry around because you most likely dont need a superior lock when parking at a coffee shop or the store. quick 30 mins wont get your bike stolen but overnight or 8 hr work hrs will get it stolen, especially if the thief knows that you park there everyday. i recommend this lock if you have an expensive bike or if you life in a high crime rate city. otherwise id buy the onguard bulldog mini. thats a very good lock for its price. perfect lock for moderate to low crime rates or cheap bikes. it only cost about 28 and it comes with a cable.
i recommend buying a cable for this lock because you can put it around your seat and front/rear tires. without the cable, the seat is unprotected(even if the seat uses an allen type screw, allen wrenches are very common) if a thief wants your seat (some cost around 150 not uncluding the carbon fiber seat column) they can just unscrew it. plus the front tire is a hassle to take off and put on .
buy this lock its that good
Customer Review: TOUGH, WORKS WITH MASERLOCK MOUNT, SMALL
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
First impression : "This thing is HUGE, HEAVY, how am I ever going to mount this on my bike?"
Well, you CAN mount it. Use the Master Lock 8351D Smart Bracket. It works like a charm. You'll pay $4 on Amazon to buy the bracket. When you get it, take out the two screws from the shackle portion of the mount and throw them away. Then go to the hardware store and pay $1 for two M4 30mm bolts. If you use those to mount the hardware on the shackle, it works great. See my pictures, and more info on my review of the Master Lock 8351D Smart Bracket.
The lock itself is heavily reviewed on the web - no need for me to repeat that here. BUT seriously consider WHAT you are going to lock your bike to. You cannot use this on a lamp post, and I have great doubts about whether it will work on a parking meter -- the lock is just too small.
Check my uploaded images and you'll see the dimensions. I lock it to a very strong street sign at work, but it's a tight fit. You may want to measure your "fixed device" and bike frame and do the math before getting this, and make sure it will fit for you.
If I get to try this with a parking meter I'll update my review.
Highly recommended - but make sure to buy the mount, and check the size issue before you buy.