If you are concerned about bike security and a lock is a consideration, you may be wondering how strong these locks are…
Can a bike lock be cut?
A bike lock can be cut with the right equipment. You will typically see people using bolt cutters to cut through bike locks because it is the easiest equipment to use. Bolt cutters are usually small. In addition to the right tools, you will usually require a good amount of time to cut a bike lock. Since bike locks are thick, it can take a while to cut through bike locks. Generally, bike locks will only require a few passes to break through.
Other pieces of equipment may require more depending on the strength of the material.
What Tool Can Break A Bike Lock?
Bike locks and wire cutters are generally the best equipment used to cut bike locks. There are plenty of other pieces of equipment that can break through a bike lock, but they may take longer or draw more attention to breaking through the lock. For instance, a hacksaw can break through a bike lock, but it will take significantly more time than using a bike lock.
Can a Bike Lock Be Cut With Bolt Cutters?
Bike locks can be cut with bolt cutters. Bolt cutters are portable, small, and easy to conceal for bike thieves. They can be easily hidden in backpacks and underneath sweaters.
Bolt cutters are also affordable, so people who have lost their keys can purchase them without wasting as much money as they would on something like an electric saw that they would only use once.
How Do You Cut a Bike Lock?
The best way to cut through a bike lock is to cut it at the thinnest part of the lock. Cut near the locking mechanism where the lock is the weakest using a pair of wire or bolt cutters. You can also use an angle grinder but this method is louder and will require electricity to power your grinder.
If it is attached by a chain, you can also cut the bike lock at the chain loops, which are weaker than the rest of the chain. Even a thick chain will be weak around its loops.
Can a Hacksaw Cut Through a Bike Lock?
A hacksaw can cut through a bike lock, but it will take a long time, given the consistency and thickness of the material. You will require a lot of physical exertion to cut the lock. So, someone who wants to nonchalantly carry around a hacksaw to cut bike locks is likely to go unnoticed.
However, they will probably get noticed while stealing bikes, given it takes them a long time to commit the act of stealing.
If your bike has been locked accidentally or you have lost your key, avoid using a hacksaw. Instead of using a hacksaw, try using an angle grinder. An angle grinder is like an electric version of the hacksaw. It requires an electrical connection and will do the sawing for you.
It is less nonchalant, so it might draw attention, but if you have proof of ownership of your bike, then it should not matter.
What Is The Hardest Lock to Cut?
The most complicated lock to cut is high-grade steel, cut-proof bike lock. These high-grade steel locks are thick and difficult to cut through because of their extreme thickness.
Many new-aged padlocks made with shackle protection are meant to protect against theft. They have been designed with little to no room for bolt cutters to get into them. Therefore, the only way you can get into these locks if you get yourself locked out is with the help of a locksmith.
Can A Locksmith Open a Bike Lock?
A locksmith can help you unlock your bike, even without a key. Locksmiths are trained to open nearly any lock, including bike locks. In addition to unlocking your bike, your locksmith will offer to create a new key.
If you have lost your key, it might be a good idea to create a new key so you do not have to go on a search or buy a new lock.
It will cost a small fee to unlock your bike and get a new key created, and before a locksmith helps you unlock it, they will probably need proof of ownership of your bike, like a receipt. Proof of ownership ensures that you are not stealing someone else’s bike in the process.
What Do You Do If You Lost The Key To Your Bicycle Lock?
If you lose the key to your bicycle lock, you can call a locksmith to unlock your bike. They can unlock your bike lock even without a key and in some cases, even make a new copy of the key without having a copy of the original key.
When calling a locksmith is out of the question, you can also take a pair of bolt cutters and cut the lock open yourself. Cut it open carefully and remove the lock. Remember, after you cut your lock or chain you will not be able to reuse it.
Are Bike Locks Easy to Cut?
Bike locks are not easy to cut. It can take a lot of time and effort to cut a bike lock, but that does not mean bike thieves will not try to cut them.
The easiest locks to cut are typically plain bike locks that do not have hardened steel. If you are trying to prevent bike theft, purchase a bike lock made from hardened steel. Hardened steel will make cutting your bike lock more difficult for bike thieves.
Keep in mind this will also make it more difficult to cut if you lose the key to your bike lock.
Is It Harder to Cut a Cable or Chain?
It is harder to cut through a cable than a chain because of the consistency of the cable versus the chain. Chains can be cut through directly, but cables take longer to cut through because they are braided. Cables do not cut as cleanly as chains, making them more difficult to cut through.