Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

*If you live in New York City, stop reading this review and go buy the heaviest chain you can find, or try the Kryptonite Faghettaboudit. If not, keep reading. Aftter I got my last bike stolen by locking it up with a cheap cable lock, I knew I had to make some changes if I wanted to protect my new bike. I did a ton of research on bike locks, and decided that Kryptonite was the only way to go. With the best name in bike locks, and the customer service to back it up, I only had to decide how much protection I needed. If you like me, and are trying to figure out what suits your needs best, consider the following: Cable Locks: Just don't. Anybody with a pair of wire cutting pliers can chew through any cable lock in a matter of minutes. No power tools necessary. Unless you live in a virtually theft-free area, don't take the risk. U-Locks are popular for their solid design, and the mounting brackets that come with just about any U-lock make it perfect for a commuter bike. U-Locks come in a few typical sizes: 4x9, 3.25x7, and 4x11.5. The smaller the lock, the more secure it is against prying attacks. The longer it is, the easier it is too lock onto bike racks or hard to reach around posts. With larger locks, it is also possible to lock up multiple bikes. Chain locks are known for being the toughest of bike locking options (barring perhaps only the Faghettaboudit), and offer the flexibility (pun intended) of reaching around larger or oddly shaped objects. With a chain you are not limited to bike racks or fences; you can lock to trees or telephone poles, and you can lock up several bikes together. The greatest drawback is that chain locks are significantly heavier than any other solution; the lightest chains are comparable to the toughest U-locks. Chain locks also have to be carried or slung around the frame of your bike when you ride. I made my decision based on the following criteria: **I live on a college campus, so I will always have a bike rack or fence. **I frequently go for long (20-50 mile) bike rides, so my lock must be lightweight. **I will not always have a backpack, and don't want to worry about scratching or dinging my bike frame with a lock. **There is a high rate of theft here, so my lock must be intimidating. **Kryptonite offers theft insurance with their locks. I kept my bill of sale, so I can apply the protection to my $2500 bike if the lock ever fails. The Evolution Mini-7 provided the best compromise for all of my needs. It is one of the smallest U-locks available, but still has a tough 13mm shackle. The lock is lighter than any chain lock I could find, and mounts easily to my frame. The rubber coated shackle doesn't scratch my bike or freeze my hands in the cold, and I have had no issues with a sticky tumbler. The fact that it came with a 4 ft cable is nice, because I can loop the cable though my front wheel if I ever lock up for an extended period of time. Lastly, Kryptonite offers a $2000 theft insurance package with this lock. My bike was worth more than that new, but I could never sell it used for over $1000. If my bike is ever stolen, the insurance has me covered. In a sentence, the Evolution Mini is light, tough, portable, and insured.