D-Locks

[angryjonny]

You don't hear much about D-locks for motorbikes. No-one seems to use them - any particular reason? Because they're cumbersome or because there's some security weakpoint with the concept?

I have a D-lock that I can fit to my bike through the swing-arm and back wheel (i.e. actually through a gap in the swing arm, not just around it) so that the bike can't be wheeled and the back wheel can't be removed. It's an Oxford one (yeah I know) so before I upgrade to one that isn't made of pig iron, I thought I'd find out why they don't seem to be particularly popular. Seems to me to be way more secure than just bolting a disc lock to the front wheel.

[Martay]

The generic ones ive seen dont seem to be very think. IE The 'C' bit. Once you take the plastic coating off, theres not alot there, set of bolt croppers straight through.
Also, those keys, aint there only 1000 different ones?
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Eat well, poo hard
Drives: Cavalier 2.0 16v
Rides: Slightly ratted Honda City Express

[angryjonny]

The lock mechanism (on mine at least) seems to be identical to other disk locks I have. I don't know how to describe the lock but it isn't one of those you can open with a Bic biro.

I'll inspect mine when I get home but the C bit seems far thicker than the links on most chains - but maybe it's just built up with plastic.

[JoeDougieDoug...]

[DrDonnyBrago]

If you don't have a biro to hand, a car jack works well too .

[angryjonny]

[kernow24]

[map]

FWIW when I started out I had an Abus D-lock from the pushbike. Quite long and thin. However, Abus us a decent make so it got pushed through the front forks of the CG, they were just thin enough. Don't expect it would have been any serious protection but it did give a feelgood factor I had some security.

Oh, the Abus had a proper key as well
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[DrDonnyBrago]

[MG]

[angryjonny]

It's Mrs Angryjonny's approach too

[Teflon-Mike]

It is a fasion thing. When I was at Uni, we all used D-Locks it was all you could get. I brought the first Disc-Lock in the country & put it on the market, & the 'portability' & cost has made people gof for them instead.

Old D-Locks do have advantages though; as you say, they can be slotted through a wheel and swing-arm, so the wheel cant be removed for a wheelaway. you can also sometimes get them around the wheel and something else like a railing of lamp-post, and of course, most useful o a bike with drum brakes you cant fit a discie to!

Another thing you can do with a D-Lock is get an auxillary cable; OK, its not hugely deturmined tea-leaf resistant, but you can loop the cable through itself around some bit of street firnature, and lock to the D-loop. Easier to carry than a chain, using a noose at one end doubles the reach too, and gives added 'tie-down' against wheel-away.
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