Customer Reviews

OnGuard 3 Piece Locking Skewers

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Bought this product to protect a very expensive rear hub, and installed both wheel skewers, though not the seat one. Please note: I followed the installation instructions to the letter, paying special attention to the amount of torque because of the specificity of the instructions.

After a total of about 50 miles of city riding, I went up on my hoods to climb a hill and my rear wheel fell off! My left pedal jacked up my calf, and the chain and gears jacked up the paint on my chain stays, but luckily the hub seems undamaged.

Anyway...buyer beware. There seems to be a very fine line between getting enough torque to keep the wheel on the bike and getting so much that it shears the skewer off.

Great way to guard against component theft- which is often overlooked. Without locking skewers, any thief with an allen key can walk off with your seatpost or wheels in a few minutes.

My only complaint is that they do not have the option of a headset lock. If you want to get that, my recommendation would be the "Pitlock" skewers (made in germany, more expensive).

Still, a great value and a major deterrent against theft.

This is a very cleverly produced lock in which three pins in the key fit into downward tapered groves in the lock, and I am very pleased to have this lock on the wheels on my bike. The directions, however, caution the user to be very careful not to over tighten the lock - and for good reason!! While a snug fit works well with the wheel skewers, a much tighter fit is needed with the seat so that it doesn't slide down. I kept tightening and trying the lock on the seat until it no longer fell down when riding. Unfortunately, this degree of tightness prevented it from being loosened for an additional adjustment. I had to grind the lock off to get it loose. So...., a good product, but not when used where a tight fit is needed. A better bet would be the two piece wheel set, also sold by OnGuard (OnGuard Wheel & Seat Locks 2 piece set Front & Rear Wheel QR Locks).

After experiencing thefts of several bicycles and stripping of bicycle parts on secured bicycles in Chicago, Boston and various suburban areas, I decided to upgrade my theft-prevention measures when I moved to the bicycle theft capital of North America - NYC. Locking skewers were top on my list as I previously had a suspension fork stolen from a bicycle with the front wheel and frame secured. In other words, the front wheel quick release was disengaged to steal the fork after the headset was dissembled. Since I employed locking skewers, I have experienced no bicycle or bicycle part thefts, other than an unsecured light.

My first experience with locking skewers came in 2005 when the Kryptonite skewers were still available. They actually seemed a bit more secure than the Onguard variant but neither was ever defeated. After moving and purchasing a new bicycle in 2006, I installed the Onguard Skewers and have been very happy with their operation since. My only problem has been the rare occasion when I would drop off the bicycle at a repair shop and forget to give the repair technician the key. Most of my riding is in the city, so I have not needed to do repairs in the field. This is something to consider as one would need the key to adjust the seat or replace a flat tire.

These skewers have been used extensively in winter conditions where they were exposed to road salt and slush. There is virtually no corrosion after five years. Essentially, they have been absolutely problem free despite the harsh environmental exposure. And, of course, the wheels and seat are still on the bicycle.

Unforeseen benefits arise once the skewers are in place. One is that the front wheel alone can be secured to a rack/fence where bicycle parking space is limited. A bigger picture idea is that if the whole bike is stolen, the thief will bear the expense of cutting the skewers off and replacing them. The locking skewers reduce the return on the thief's investment.

Over the years, I have had several hard-to-believe thefts including the aforementioned suspension fork. Other interesting thefts include having expensive Campagnolo pedals and an aero seat post stripped from a road bike during a summer day in an affluent suburb. On another occasion, a mountain bike frame was collapsed due to a failed attack on a U-lock. The stories go on and on.

Basically, I would suggest to any bicycle owner that he should employ every bicycle theft prevention measure regardless of the expense. Criminals need incentives to make productive use of their time through extreme deterrents. Onguard locking skewers are one excellent and cost effective measure. Other suggestions are listed below.

Pros
Highly corrosion resistant
Aids in theft prevention
Prevents stripping of parts, including the fork
Reduces the value of the bicycle if it is stolen
Allows for securing only the wheel if space is tight

Cons
Requires key for repairs

*OTHER THEFT PREVENTION MEASURES
Fill the heads of hex head bolt with electrical solder (requires high-wattage soldering iron)
Camouflage the bike with black duct tape
Leave heavy [supplemental] chain at routine destinations - work, health club

I was a bit hesitant to buy this due to the price, but after using them, I think it is was well worth it! It's nice not having to worry about taking your seat and/or front wheel off when you park your bike, or carrying extra cables around with you. If you think about it, the cost is well worth it if it saves you the time, money, and hassle caused by getting your front tire or seat stolen just one time. These are easy to install and the locking mechanism is pretty ingenious. I will definitely be purchasing these again for my next bike!!

I can't get enough of these things. After having my seat stolen and dropping $40 on a seat post and a saddle, these little guys are obviously worth every penny.

I combine this kit with a combo U-Lock, set the U-Lock around the frame and throw my bike anywhere, feeling basically invincible.

Preventing bike theft is about increasing the hassle just enough to divert anyone thinking about it.. and these clearly accomplish that.

A little bit of a hassle to carry the key around, and forgetting it is awful, but if you ever lock your bike outside, these are absolutely worth the investment.

This product has worked out well for me so far. It lets me feel okay about only locking my frame when I go somewhere.

As someone else pointed out, a saddle could be removed separately from the seat-post, so it is still fairly easy to steal a saddle with this. I suppose the only way to deter against that is to string a cable through the saddle's rails.

Also, I have read that this is the exact same product as Pinhead Bicycle Locking Skewer Set, 3 Pack, which is a bit cheaper, so why not go for that one?

I love these. Just remember to keep your skewer key with you on rides/commutes. I have them on two of my bikes.

This is a good concept, and it looks very slick, but I doubt it would stop a dedicated thief with time on his hands.

This system is very easy to take off with the key, but very irritating to take off without the key -- which is what you want in a lock.

The skewer is easier to take off than a normal bolt (when you have the key), and looks much better than a normal bolt as well.

The seat lock isn't as impressive -- I'd leave it off unless people continually steal your seats.

This is a great product. Easy to install. Real piece of mind. Beats stringing cable through wheels and seat. Buy it!