For over 40 years, Kryptonite has been synonymous with heavy duty bike locks and chains. Most recently they added lights to their product line which Jim reviewed.
Leveraging their years of knowledge, Kryptonite can help you determine which lock is best for your application. Check out Kryptonite’s choose the right lock guide. Once you have your lock, do you know the proper way to lock-up you bike? Are you sure? Double check with Kryptonite’s guide for securing your bike properly. Honestly, I learned a few things.
The company offers free services with some of their products, but be sure you register to qualify. In addition, all locks listed below come with Kryptonite’s lifetime warranty.
- Key Safe Program – If you lose your keys, Kryptonite will replace them. Many of the locks provide the first two replacement keys free of charge.
- Combo Safe Program – If you lose or forget your combination, just call Kryptonite and they’ll provide the code.
- Anti-Theft Protection Offer (ATPO) – This program reimburses registered customer for a specific monetary amount in the event their bicycle is stolen due to opening or breaking fo the lock by force.
Here’s a roundup of a few Kryptonite anti-theft protection products for use at home or when on the road.
I saw this product when it was first introduced at CABDA Midwest. I’ve always been concerned about leaving my bikes in the garage unlocked. The Evolution is a permanent locking point for indoor or outdoor use. Once the hardened steel baseplate is mounted, run a cable through the 14mm carbon alloy steel shackle to securely lock your bikes, motorcycle or any other item you want kept safe. The package includes a 5/8” or 16mm masonry concrete drill bit, 4 hex head bolts and expanding shield nuts, 4 hardened security ball bearings, 2 phillips head bolts and 6mm Allen wrench. View the video for more details.
If you have a truck, there’s an Evolution anchor to install in the truck bed enabling you to secure bikes.
Price: $69.95
Dimensions: Anchor Shackle 14mm
Weight: 2.09 lbs (0.95 kgs)
The New York Chain is perfect for use with the Evolution Ground Anchor for the ultimate security. It is constructed of 12mm six-sided, chain links made of 3T hardened manganese steel for maximum strength. Also included is an Evolution series 4-disc lock with 14mm max-performance steel shackle. The security features combine for a Kryptonite secure rating of 9 out of 10. There are 3 keys included in the pack with one having a high intensity bulb with replaceable battery.
Price: $119.95
Dimensions: 3.25’ (100cm) chain length; 14mm shackle diameter
Weight: 8.65 lbs (3.92 kgs)
Secure Rating: 9/10
Key Safe Program
Anti-Theft Protection Bicycle $4000
Evolution Mini-7 with 4’ Flex Cable
The Evolution Mini-7 is new U-lock by Kryptonite and the winner of Best Bike Lock by Wirecutter 2 years in a row. This 13mm hardened steel shackle comes with a 4’ Kryptoflex™ double loop cable for securing a front wheel, helmet or accessories. To carry it on your bike, a Transit Flexframe-U is included in the package. The Evolution Mini-7 comes with 3 keys, one of which has an LED light to see lock opening in the dark.
Watch the video for more details.
Price: $69.95
Dimensions: 3.25”x7” (8.3cmx17.8cm)
Weight: 3.15 lbs (1.43 kgs)
Secure Rating: 7/10
Key Safe Program
Anti-Theft Protection Bicycle $2500 (does not cover cable)
Kryptonite’s lightest mini U-lock provides security in a smaller package. It has 11mm hardened max-performance steel shackle with high security disc-style cylinder. Three 3 keys including one LED replaceable key fob are part of this offering. Watch this video for more details.
Price: $72.95
Dimensions: 2.75”x6” (7cmx15.2cm)
Weight: 1.65 lbs (.74 kgs)
Secure Rating: 7/10
Key Safe ProgramAnti-Theft Protection Bicycle $2500
This foldable lock is made from 5mm hardened steel links and installs to the bike frame with the transport bracket included in the packaging. Or remove one bottle cage and use the mounting holes to install the transport bracket and carry the Keeper 610. Two keys are included with this lock and covered by the Key Safe Program.
View the video for more details.
Price: $99.95
Dimensions: Length 100 cm
Weight: 2.65 lbs
Secure Rating: 6/10
Key Safe Program
Anti-Theft Protection Bicycle $1750
The Keeper 585 is similar to the Keeper 610, but instead of a key, it uses a combination lock. It also includes a transport bracket to attach to the bike frame.
View the video for more details.
Price: $76.95
Dimensions: Length 33” (85 cm)
Weight: 2.18 lbs (0.99 kgs)
Secure Rating: 5/10
Combo Safe Program
Anti-Theft Protection Bicycle $500
This lightweight, flexible steel chain is perfect for a quick stop at the coffee shop or running errands. The 5mm four sided chain links are made from hardened carbon steel and is covered with a weather-resistant nylon sleeve to prevent scratching your bike. Included in the package are 2 keys.
Price: $27.95
Dimensions: 33.5” (85cm) chain length
Weight: 1.61 lbs (0.73 kgs)
Secure Rating: 4/10
Key Safe Program
The KryptoFlex Cable is a convenient keyless option with a 4-digit resettable lock and is recommended as a secondary security option. The 12mm, flexible braided steel cable provides increased cut resistance. A Transit Flexframe-C transportation system is included to allow for carrying on your bike. Watch the video for more details.
Price: $27.95
Dimensions: ½” (12mm) cable diameter
Weight: 1.65 lbs (0.75 kgs)
Secure Rating: 2/10
Combo Safe Program
Helpful review – thank you!
Important to be aware of if your bike isn’t new.
Kryptonite’s high prices reflect the insurance protection that they offer. However, if your bike isn’t new and you don’t have a receipt from your purchase of the bike, there’s no insurance protection at all…and of course no refund of any portion of the high price that’s related to the insurance protection.
After a couple of our relatively new bikes were stolen last year outside a theater where they were locked up with relatively lightweight locks (we took the bus home), we started re-using our old bikes. I bought a couple of Kryptonite locks to prevent any recurrence of this. These old bikes were both Treks purchased in the mid-1990s for over $1000 each. The Kryptonite “insurance protection” for these locks was $2500 and was clearly labeled in big letters on the packaging.
You have to register your bikes with Kryptonite and provide them your receipts when your bike was purchased to get any insurance protection. Or, you can send them a statement of the bicycle’s value from a bicycle shop. I went to three shops, all of which said they couldn’t provide valuations…they said doing so was nonsense. They said understandably that they weren’t used bicycle valuation experts.
When I nicely corresponded with Kryptonite about this and asked for just $1000 of protection for each bike and not the $2500 for each bike that I’d effectively paid for when buying the two locks, they were adamant that no protection was available…no flexibility at all to reasonably deal with a customer situation that didn’t exactly meet their particular rules. And note that one can only find out about these rules after buying their products and corresponding with them.
Kryptonite’s products may be excellent, but their customer service clearly lacks. Purchasers should keep this in mind.
It would be instructive to see how these locks stand up to a cordless angle grinder with a diamond blade. That would be a real world test, good luck!
The thicker the lock is the longer it takes to cut it, Dave – and if it’s super thick, the thief needs a cutting wheel that’s large enough to cut across the width of the lock. Here’s an article by Bicycling where they try cutting a lock designed to stop an angle grinder. They do cut through it but it takes them an hour:
https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/a28861849/altor-saf-lock-test/
Thanks,
Jim