Shit man sorry to hear that.

Was it stolen while you were working?

how long had you left it?

You can cut through any lock in a minute or two with an angle grinder.
Duration and location of locking are just as important as what lock is used (although the cases below don't demonstrate this)

I got my saddle pinched during an hour wait for a pickup (supposedly a rush job??!?!?!?!)
Should have waited outside and fed the pigeons rather than talk inane crap with the girl on the desk

Bike theft is so painfully unfair:

A chum got so pissed up he'd forgetten he'd chained his bike up outside the pub. Nearly 24 hours later he returned and rode home. It was Obviously a nice bike too. A different friend got her well worn bike taken during a 30 minute grocery shop. Both used the same lock as did/do I (abus steel o flex...whatever...the black flexible one that goes round your waist)

I once went into borders on charing cross road during standby.
Put my bike on the railings outside.
Got a call a good cycling plus and wire magazine later.
went out to unlock my bike only to find I still had my lock round my waist.
The fucking bike was still there.
AS I said bike theft is Painfully unfair.

USual advice. Brick lane on sunday. gumtree etc etc

Good luck

I got the Abus level 15 security d lock. It's £70 (depending on where you get it) and very heavy. I got it cos it was the toughest lock on the market, and not many other people use it. My reasoning is that if you got a tougher lock than everybody else, than all other things being even, thieves will go for the cheaper lock.

But like nomoreknees says, any lock can be cut. I had to hacksaw my Krypto mini-D (lost key) and it took less than 30 mins with tungsten hack-saw blade.

I still wouldn't leave my bike anywhere outside overnight, and not really happy leaving it anywhere for a long time.

When I am out with the girlfriend, we nearly always lock both frames with both our locks.

It's also worth thinking about investing in those pit locks. They seem to be pretty unbreakable, and would make a bike un-re-sellable (is this a new word?). If you can make a bike un-re-sellable, then it defeats the object of stealing it.

Bike theft sucks. But it happens because people buy stolen bikes. I have had to talk two different friends (non-messengers) out of buying Brick Lane specials this year. 'But it's so cheap', 'they seem kosher'....

Eventually shamed them into forgoing their purchases.

the thing with abus 900 steel-o-flex (the one that have round locking mechanisn) is that you can open it in 5 seconds by whacking the lock with a fairly big hammer...i've seen it done...so no need for angle grinder or bolt cutters even...not sure about the newer versions granit 1000 (you can definitely bolt cut it in 30 seconds or so) or the biggest one granit x-plus 1050...this one looks quite sturdy...but again weights a lot...
on a daily basis i'm using abus diskus chain with diskus padlock (but the 7 pin flat key one...as 5 pin can be picked very easily...check on youtube)...
kryptonite new yorker 3000 seems to work quite good if i have to leave my bike for a longer period of time...cinema etc.
but if you want the ultimate security go for almax chain...this thing is almost unbrakeable...at least requires hell loads of effort and whoever wants to do it needs or a blow torch or industrial strenght accid or will make shit loads of noise trying to brute force it...it weights 7.5kg without the padlock though :/

i never had my bike nicked (touch wood) and it is a nice bike...perhaps i was lucky or perhaps it's because the combination of locks i'm using...abus diskus chain...krytponite new yorker d-lock...evolution mini d-lock...pit lock for my stem and seat post + security pin screws for wheels, brake and saddle...what seems to work for me is locking my rear wheel to the frame with mini...chaining front wheel and frame to something...and locking rear wheel and frame with kryptonite...but that's a lot of locks...and kryptonite is very heavy...chain and mini are ok though...

insurance seems a good idea...but did anyone here ever got money from insurance ? just wondering how much hustle it really is to get it.

hope it helps...and never thrust those security muppets or receptionist that tell you to leave your bike outside and they will look after it...like they really give a flying fuck about it...always lock it even if it just lean locking...

Hello and here I am bumping the thread.

Some thoughts:

What about welding a lock on.
What about increasing the convenience of locking; something automatic, something electric like a safe, press-of-the-button-and-it's-done-affair.

Are Torx or spline head screws available for bike components?

Lacquer on a picture of yourself; sign company? Making the bike truly undesirable?

hollow torx would be better, but not up to pit lock standard.

welding a lock onto a bike? are you dutch?

automatic anti theft device: shot gun cartridge in suspension seatpost.

"automatic anti theft device: shot gun cartridge in suspension seatpost" GENIUS

Well! I was just speculating, but someone with admin power obviously knows that a ********* can open a pitlock. I shall keep schtum about that one.