Customer Reviews

Kryptonite New York Standard Bicycle U-Lock with Bracket ( 4-Inch x 8-Inch)

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I bought one of these locks, and it worked great -- until the key broke in the lock (rendering the lock useless and my bike attached to the stand).

Open inspecting the situation (and after five+ hours of self-blame), I realized that the keys are made of a very fragile metal. The key just wasn't strong enough and no matter how "careful" the instructions tell you to be, the darn thing is bound to break.

While I'll buy Kryptonite again, I'll not buy this lock. I need both the lock and key to well-made.

I bought this lock to use when I'm out riding and want to leave my bike outside the shop for a bit. I have a Kryptonite New York Noose 1213 Chain Bicycle Lock with Evolution Series 4 Disc Lock Chain Bicycle Lock (4-Foot x 3-Inch) which I use for work. As in the bike is locked all day long away from where I can keep an eye on it and I wanted the best lock I could buy. But that lock is heavy! 8lbs! This one is heavy but not that much. In addition to this lock I also got a Kryptonite Kryptoflex 1004 Looped Bicycle Security Cable (10mm x 4-Foot) to lock the front wheel to the bike. So with a loop around the wheel and the pole, and this lock around the pole my bike is pretty theft proof. Nothing is perfect, thieves could still strip the parts but it's a better lock than most other bike riders are using, so it deters people enough.

On this lock vs the noose, the chain is more flexible in that you can lock the front wheel and the bike to the pole with the same level of high security. The U part of the lock is smaller so it's harder to pry it open. You can get a New York version of the small lock and if you live in the worst area for bike theft, I'd do that. But at 8lbs that chain without a set of panniers to hold it is bulky and a pain to transport.

On this lock, which size to get. I like this medium size, it's big enough to go around the frame, the rear tire and a parking meter. The small one is just frame/tire size and the large one will also hold your front wheel, (if you take it off) but it's getting up there in weight. Like goldie locks, medium is just right. If you are unsure, measure twice, order once.

On the mounting bracket. It sucks, which is why I gave this 4 vs 5 stars. I wouldn't bother with the bracket, instead bungie it to your rack, or put it in your backpack/messenger bag.

On the key, yes they are thin, just be careful and don't force it and you'll be fine.

My one gripe is that the mounting bracket is not quite adequate. It probably works on every other kryptonite perfectly well. The NYC lock is just so heavy that it's probably better to bungee it to a rear rack.
The advantage is that the lock is just not going to fail, period. Your bike is going to be where you locked it. Downtown Baghdad, wherever. One of the lighter models is probably good enough to meet most needs and is more transportable.

Great U-Lock

This lock is much beefier than you realize once you handle it. You get use to it, but just know that this is a tough one.

At level 11, it's almost the best (out of the 1-12 scale). It's just one level less than the 6" NY Lock, but it's larger area makes it more versatile. (Additional room to allow more locking options but with 1/2 lb less weight than the 6" version).

Regarding the majority of negative feedback:

Weight - It's heavy, but it's not like a cinder block or anything. It's still quite manageable for a highly ranked U-lock, so it's what you expect it to be. Also, other locks that compare, especially the chains, are much more heavier (10-15 lb), making this (4 lb.) one of the best choices for a weight to security ratio. Also, be aware that KRYPTONITE HAS LIGHTER U-LOCKS AVAILABLE. The tougher the lock , the heavier it will be. Ignore negative feedback on a product that lists the weight and states what it's suppose to do. It was never a light u-lock and wasn't intended to. That's what the Evolution Series 4, or Series 2/Kryptolocks are.

Keys - Many complaints about keys and how they break off. Perhaps, there are older versions that aren't as good, but like other models I own, I can see why keys may break. The cuts on the keys are closer to the end of the key, making it weaker where you need the strength. The key has some length to it because of the depth of the keyhole. If the key is not inserted into the lock all the way, you will only turn a few of the discs that can turn with the key. It will not turn completely, which means you have to turn back and push down farther. People may be still trying to turn it, which can make the key break off into the keyhole. If you understand how the keyhole mechanism works, it may help as a reminder when you use it.

Transportation Bracket - This may be the only disappointment, but it's not really. Included with your lock is a "Free" bracket to connect to your bike. Yes, the bracket isn't that great, but it's just a bracket. Having used the same bracket with other Kryptonite U-Locks, I found that some can be quite stickier than others, sometimes being impossible to remove or pull back out. One way to get around this is to put the lock in the bracket before putting it on the bike. Bend around and work the lock within the bracket a bit to loosen the tightness it may have. Doing this pries out some breathing room for the piece that goes in it. I found this to be effective and is easy to remove and still holds securely without problems.

All in all, I feel much more secure with this lock. It's a good price for the level of security this lock provides out of other choices.

Exchanging with Amazon right now. Lock is sturdy and appears to be the best around, but the key broke off in the lock the first time I tried to use it. Hope it was an accident........we'll see!

I bought this lock because of Slate.com's review of bike locks and this was the best according to their tests. The steel, silver looking clip is to attach it to your bike. I didn't realize this until recently, the bike attachment feature is pretty great.

The lock comes with three keys and one has a light, which is pretty nice for unlocking and locking in the dark. For a week or so I had problems locking the lock. I could get my key in but I had trouble getting it out of the lock, when I locked the lock. I have a feeling this was a user error. Once I started using the lock holder this problem stopped. I suspect I was trying to take the key out at an odd angle or something. Either way, this problem stopped and I have had no other problems with this lock.

This lock also looks good, and it's built well.

This is among the most sturdy (and therefore, heaviest) U-locks you can buy. After riding around with it for a few days though, I notice that most bikes comparable to mine (nothing special) are secured with cheaper, lighter locks.

A lighter lock with a chain to secure the wheels will probably be OK in any area with moderate foot traffic during the day. Even with this lock, I wouldn't want to leave my bike in any sort of risky neighborhood overnight. I'm not convinced that the extra $30 bought me any significant amount of additional security above a cheaper lock.

The keys aren't particularly flimsy, but turn easily in the lock. When the lock is detached, the key is locked inside the lock, yet can still rotate easily. While fumbling with the 'U' part, it is easy for the key to get turned in the locking part and become misaligned when trying to re-attach the two pieces. A better design might have the key softly click into the 'lock' and 'unlock' positions, requiring a deliberate turn of the key to reach the other state. This would probably help with the broken keys others have complained about.

I bought this online in 2007, not taking weight into consideration. I got the larger one because I wanted it to be easy to lock up. It is heavy duty, so if it keeps my bike from being stolen, I'm thrilled. I have 1 big qualm with this product, and two small ones. The biggest is the weight factor, it's so heavy, I don't ever want to bring it with me. My more minor grievances with this lock are that within the first month, the lock cover unscrewed on one side, and then fell off. Not a big deal, it's just there to keep dirt out of the keyhole. The other one is the mount. It is extremely difficult to mount and unmount the lock due to the fact that the hard plastic and metal do not easily slide across each other. I finally made this task easier by greasing the area where the two parts mount together.
So, if you want an awesome lock, go for the smallest one that will do the trick. I might possibly buy the smaller version of this lock, for portability and to cut excessive weight. It weights about half as much as my bike. There's some perspective.


3 yr update - Lock got a little rusty and started sticking. I sprayed some WD-40 in it and it works like new. I use a cable with this for my front tire and I think any would-be thieves will just move on to the next bike. I just leave the lock on the bike rack I use most so I don't have to carry the weight, and bought a lighter ulock for keeping with me.

Pros:
-Sturdier and thicker than most U-locks
-In-between size - meaning its dimensions are a littler larger than a mini, but a little smaller than a regular U-lock. This is ideal for my road bike - I can lock the frame and tire to most posts/bike racks with little extra room (this is an additional security measure as it prevents thieves from inserting a jack in the U and popping the lock open). However, those with a mountain or hybrid bike (who want to lock frame and wheel) will probably find this lock too small and might consider the larger size.
-Completely coated with a thick rubber to prevent corrosion and chipping of paint on bike.

Cons:
-Heavy (for toting around)
-Lock mechanism is a little finicky. I sometimes have to finesse the lock and key a little.

The lock is great, but if you lock the way they say to keep it safe, through the rear tire and frame you might not have lots of extra room to fit it around what you are locking too, maybe consider the largerone.