Customer Reviews

OnGuard Bulldog ATB 5011 Bicycle Bicycle U-Lock

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

 

 

This is by far the cheapest good lock you can get. The comparably priced Kryptonite is 1mm thinner and is 4"x8" to this lock's 5"x9".

If you're like me and commute or just ride to all sorts of places, then you've had the problem where the lock, bike, and post/rack fit really tight. You've probably scratched up your frame before or had to lock your bike further than you'd like to just to get it locked to something.

This is where this lock is superior to Kryptonite locks and many other manufacturers. The width of the "U" is 5" rather than 4". That extra inch makes all the difference. It was originally intended for people to lock front-wheel to frame/back-wheel on mountain bikes which are typically thicker in every way than road bikes.

Of course you can always buy the longer locks, but they're usually more expensive and much larger than needed. That extra 3" means it doesn't fit on tucked in my belt (without striking my bike wheel) and it takes up that much more room in my bag. And it still doesn't solve the problem of a wider frame and wider wheels in a tight spot.

There seem to be a lot of comments on the "coating" of the "U" itself. As a former mechanic, let me break it to you: the coating doesn't prevent theft.

The coating, much like the paint job on your bike is more of a deterrent for rust than anything else. And while a rusty lock would be bad, the nicks and scratches you'll accumulate on the plastic coating of any lock won't significantly damage your lock. All u-locks have plastic coating, and the superiority of one plastic over the other is pretty trivial.

Your concern should be:

* Size - will this accommodate my bike in a variety of situations?

* Thickness - thicker than a bolt cutter can cut through (13mm)?

* Key shape - is it round like a Bic pen? Can this be picked?

These are bike locks. They're thick bars of hardened steel that hold your bike to something secure. Once you have one, you're good to go. Kryptonite, Onguard, Master, Bell's, et al will require an electric saw or a Bic Pen. So you might as well get something decent, but you don't need extravagance.

I will preface this by saying I didn't get this product from Amazon - I got it from a bike shop. And I actually had two. The first one kept sticking when I tried to turn the lock, and when I took it to the store in exasperation for a second time, the store exchanged it with another lock. After a few weeks, it wouldn't stay on the mount anymore. I began riding with it on my handlebar. Suddenly and quickly, it began to fall apart. The bottom lock part broke into two without so much as a drop - it just surprised me one day after I unlocked it. One night (on the week that I was supposed to buy another lock to reinforce), I locked my $500 bike to a sign, and three hours later, EVERYthing was gone. I swear it was not due to forgetfulness on my part. The lock must have given away too easily to those darn bike thieves.

Now I am left mourning, without even the evidence of a lock to send in for the anti-theft offer (which is one good thing they offer - just remember to send it in 10 days within purchase). I don't know why I had so many more problems than other people on this site, but I wanted to leave my two cents.

This is a very good lock in this price range. The rubber shield on the outside prevents rust and the light on the key fob is useful at night. The only downside is the key. You must make sure to insert the key all the way before turning, otherwise you might bent the key.

I've had this lock for a few weeks now and it works great. The key is nice and the locking mechanism is quite smooth. It is heavy, but that is what I expected with a u-lock.

The mount that comes with it to attach it to your bike is horrible though. It fits poorly to a round bar (on your frame), doesn't come with a hexagonal wrench you need to install it and when mounted, it is far from secure (both the mount on the bike and the lock on the mount). Really poorly constructed. If you are planning on mounting this lock onto your frame I'd think twice before buying this. I hang the lock on the middle of the frame between my legs instead.

In conclusion, good lock with horrible bike mount.

This is the second time I've bought this lock, and the second time that the key stops working completely after about 9 months. I hang the lock on my bike and the constant jostling slowly ruins the lock; it gets harder and harder to use the key until it just becomes impossible and the lock becomes useless.

I got this lock almost a week ago in the mail. Firstly, it doesn't look much like the picture. It has a big gaudy yellow bar (not a big deal) and a bulky fixture to connect it to the included frame bracket (also no a big deal, it comes off). The frame bracket they include is worthless, the screw that connects the actual clip to the bracket snapped off the second time I tried using it. The lock itself works great, though it is a little big for my taste. With a faulty bracket, it's really a pain to carry it around unless I take a bag with me, which seems silly for just carrying a lock.

The OnGuard Bulldog ATB 5011 Bicycle Bicycle U-Lock has been working great so far. No problems whatsoever. Lock is sturdy, and smooth to operate (I dropped it once and it still works just fine). I appreciate the extra set of keys it comes with. Mounting mechanism though is hard 2 work with. Once mounted, it's hard to release without a lot of effort. It definitely needs a better design. Also, their "anti-theft protection offer" of $1501 is useless, because, if I understand their legal terms accurately, the offer is only valid when someone breaks the lock with their bare hands or tweaked the locking mechanism to unlock it! Come on, how many criminals out there will spend time trying to snap a 13mm hardened steel bar with their bare hands (or teeth?)! But I understand the company's predicament as well. In any case, the lock itself is far better than a cable lock, because anybody can cut a cable with a bolt cutter ( I had to do it 2 my own after I accidently tripped the lever to permanently lock it!). Definitely recommend it. God bless you.

I definitely have no real complaints. The lock is nice and big, so I can loop it through my front tire, the rack, and my bike frame. I gave up on its little holder. It is heavy to have in my bag, but I also am usually carrying textbooks as well, so the extra weight is negligible. The area I use my bike in isn't the worst neighborhood in the world, but I'm glad I have something that looks so durable just in case.

The lock works great, the sliding lock cover is a nice touch. It's long enough and wide enough to fit around a wide pole and my mountain bike. Smooth operation of the lock mechanism and easy to use. The only downside, as others have mentioned, is the bike mount holder for the lock. Very poor design and doesn't work very well. I've used a rubber shim between the strap and my bike and still it vibrates loose. The lock shakes around a lot when mounted on the bike and does not feel secure. I've ended up using a velco strap to secure it, otherwise I can see this lock falling off the bike. Bring back the old school U-Lock bike mounts - those worked great. Other than that, the lock is great. I recommend it.

this lock is heavy, but it does the job. definitely a sturdy lock. bulky, but good.