I live in a low crime area and want to bike downtown for shopping, errands, enjoying local cuisine, etc. I don't think I would need to leave a bike longer than 2 hours. I was thinking of using things like the Pinhead locking skewers and a decent u-lock and/or chain. Has anyone had experience using the locking skewers? Are they worth the expense or just stick to a good chain?
Bike Wheel Locking Nuts
- Thread starter jstoffel
- Start date
indianajo
Well-Known Member
I park my bike downtown several days a week. I park it at the mega-store other days, and local food and dollar stores other days of the week. I replaced the quick release on seat with an allen bolt and an elastic stop nut. I replaced the quick release front axle with a #10-32 - 4 1/2" screw and elastic stop nut. Although these fasteners require common allen wrench , 10 mm open end wrench, 3/8" open end wrench, flat blade screwdriver, I haven't lost anything. These tools are in the bag on the bicycle.
Be aware if you buy an axle requiring special tools to remove, you have to carry those on the bike to change a tube. If you leave the tool in a bag on the bicycle, you've provided the savvy thief with the master key. IMHO thieves are not long viewed and planning type people. I have a lot more flats than thefts. So far I've lost a nice bright flashing rear light, cut off with a knife. This frame I've had two flats, one 15 miles from nearest bike supplies. I had no cell phone service at that flat location.
Be aware if you buy an axle requiring special tools to remove, you have to carry those on the bike to change a tube. If you leave the tool in a bag on the bicycle, you've provided the savvy thief with the master key. IMHO thieves are not long viewed and planning type people. I have a lot more flats than thefts. So far I've lost a nice bright flashing rear light, cut off with a knife. This frame I've had two flats, one 15 miles from nearest bike supplies. I had no cell phone service at that flat location.
indianajo
Well-Known Member
Kids & rowdies love to steal quick release bike parts. I don't think they are selling them at the pawn shop. I think they are throwing them in the nearest vacant lot or alley. Saw two frames missing those parts chained up to poles after the last Derby. General chaos is a tradition among certain young people.
The third e-bike I saw here was a fat tire Pedego with purple wheels. The owner wanted me to look out for his original, this was the insurance replacement. Bottom line, what is hot now sells fast. Ladies frame cargo bikes (left) don't cause a lot of excitement at the flea market. Even if I did pay $630 for the battery. Takes tools & 30 minutes, or a bat. grinder, to take that off. The pros with vans are stealing gas scooters; much more demand for those.
The third e-bike I saw here was a fat tire Pedego with purple wheels. The owner wanted me to look out for his original, this was the insurance replacement. Bottom line, what is hot now sells fast. Ladies frame cargo bikes (left) don't cause a lot of excitement at the flea market. Even if I did pay $630 for the battery. Takes tools & 30 minutes, or a bat. grinder, to take that off. The pros with vans are stealing gas scooters; much more demand for those.
Nova Haibike
Well-Known Member
My opinion: Pinhead locking skewers are more nuisance that anything else. The design of the key is kind of frustrating to use, and if you do not have the key with you, you cannot remove your wheel. But at the same time, they are not much more secure than regular hex key skewers. I quite often have to remove such wheels from bikes that are brought into my shop where the person doesn't have the key. It is not that difficult to do. Also, because of the key design, you can't tighten the wheel into the bike as well as a traditional skewer of a hex key skewer. This can be an issue with those who have limited hand/grip strength.
Off road all day
Active Member
I read a lot about theft, if a thief wants your bike or parts their gone, regardless of security, no way around it. Camera's, tracking devices, ways around it.
My solution, buy cheap, maintain it, nobody want's it. My Frankenbike is so ugly it's ugly from space, nobody want's it, but it does what i need.
My solution, buy cheap, maintain it, nobody want's it. My Frankenbike is so ugly it's ugly from space, nobody want's it, but it does what i need.
I just put hexlox on my wheels. It was more expensive than I expected, as I had to replace the quick release axles completely. But my previous plan wasn’t working out- I’d bought a foldylock compact and a medium sized Kryptonite U lock. I figured between the 2 I could lock everything, but that turned out not to be the case- my Raleigh Redux has such big tires/wheels that it’s nearly impossible to fit either lock around them (the foldylock makes it, but I can’t do that AND secure the frame.) The chunky frame didn’t make things easy, either.
So now-presumably- my wheels are too damn hard to steal, so I’ll give the U lock away (3 lbs!) and just the secure the frame with the foldylock (which I really like, btw). I’ve got 750 miles on this bike- Super Moto X tires, tire liners: no flats yet. The Hexlox key goes on the ring with the ebike and foldylock keys. I’ll get a hexlox nut on the seatpost eventually.
That’s my plan. Feel free to poke holes in it.
So now-presumably- my wheels are too damn hard to steal, so I’ll give the U lock away (3 lbs!) and just the secure the frame with the foldylock (which I really like, btw). I’ve got 750 miles on this bike- Super Moto X tires, tire liners: no flats yet. The Hexlox key goes on the ring with the ebike and foldylock keys. I’ll get a hexlox nut on the seatpost eventually.
That’s my plan. Feel free to poke holes in it.
boggy
New Member
I highly recommend Kryptonite WheelBoltz.
These skewers do not need a special key, in order to remove them you simply need to flip the bike upside down and use regular Allen wrench. You just have to lock your frame in such a way that the bike can’t be flipped upside down.
I totally consider these skewers are worth it for multiple reasons. Losing even one wheel is going to be costly, and even when using multiple locks it’s never a bad idea to have additional security in place. Where I live the most common way to lock a bike is with one u-lock and a separate cable to secure the wheels. That separate cable is very poor deterrent in itself, but with locking skewers in place it’s that much better.
Also REI has discounted deal for one U-lock with a single skewer for the front wheel, you may want to consider it. You lock your rear wheel with a u-lock through the frame triangle, and that secures both rear wheel and frame. Then you have a single skewer for front tire, you can’t beat this kind of security for the money. Just google “Kryptolok Mini-7 with Front WheelBoltz”. This is a very solid option for low crime area.
If you want to step up your security, buy skewers for both wheels and use high end U-lock like the Fahgettaboudit on the frame, the cost will be substantially higher but then thief will be forced to use power tools to steal your bike (Kryptolok Mini-7 can be cropped by a bolt cutter, Fahgettaboudit can’t).
Last edited:
Alaskan
Well-Known Member
I did the Hexlox thing on my bike as well. In addition to the wheels and the seat clamp, I also put one on a seat-to-post bolt, on the stem where it attaches to the fork as well and one on the handlebar end of the stem. With the various Hexlox I then use an Abus Bordo 6000 folding lock with motion sensor alarm. With all of that, a guy with a cordless side grinder and a cutoff wheel could steal the bike but I have made mine a more difficult target...not easy pickings.
Actually, this is the set-up I'm looking at...folding lock to get frame and a tire...if possible. Haven't settled on which bike I want to buy but narrowing it down to 3 or 4. Don't know if the hexlox is necessary or not....seems bikes are stolen in my area are targets of opportunity (small town so people don't feel the need to lock their doors kind of thing). But I also want to keep weight down (I'm a heavier rider and don't want to add more burden).
Toomanycats
Active Member
My bike has through axles- so I take it these security devices wouldn’t work?
My community in the burbs seems to be incredibly casual about bike security- I often see people park their bikes in front of our local markets without locking them at all, and where they are locked, 90% of people use cable locks.
Of course, I’m way more security conscious. But I’m not sure any of these locking hub schemes work with a through axle?
My community in the burbs seems to be incredibly casual about bike security- I often see people park their bikes in front of our local markets without locking them at all, and where they are locked, 90% of people use cable locks.
Of course, I’m way more security conscious. But I’m not sure any of these locking hub schemes work with a through axle?
City Commuter
Active Member
Go with a chain, check out Kryptonite. They make lite chains too. When I go to local businesses here where my bike is in view, I just slap the cuffs on my frame and to something secure so nobody can run off with it, the cuffs can't be cut quick with snips like cables can.
For higher security I use a New York chain, and lock my front wheel with my Master lock Street Cuffs. When I stop at a porta potty, I just put the cuffs on my front wheel and too the handle bars. I've been using my cuffs for eight around years on 2 or 3 different bikes, in city and out, nobody has bothered with them yet.
For higher security I use a New York chain, and lock my front wheel with my Master lock Street Cuffs. When I stop at a porta potty, I just put the cuffs on my front wheel and too the handle bars. I've been using my cuffs for eight around years on 2 or 3 different bikes, in city and out, nobody has bothered with them yet.
Mr. Coffee
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- A Demented Corner of the North Cascades
A quick google search found these:
https://pinheadlocks.com/store/en/18-locks-for-bikes-with-through-axle-wheels
https://robertaxleproject.com/thru-axles-can-lock-hexlox/
I'd recommend talking to someone knowledgable at your local bike shop before going down this road.
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