How to Use a Kryptonite U-Lock

If you have ever had a bike stolen, you know how devastating it can be.

Somebody has just stolen your property, your means of exercise, your means of transportation, and your fun too.

Now, if you are afraid of this happening again with your new bike, you will want to get a high-quality bike lock, something that can actually stop thieves in their tracks.

Sure, you could go with a cable or chain lock, but those are not always the most secure options out there.

The best option tends to be the U-lock. U-locks are thick, they are made of metal, and if you get the right one, they are more or less impenetrable.

That being said, there are better and worse U-locks out there, with some being high quality, and some being no better than cable locks.

One of the best and biggest brand names when it comes to bike locks is Kryptonite, and for good reason, because they are super tough and durable.

In this article, we will be discussing how to use a Kryptonite U-lock.

How to Use a Kryptonite U-Lock

You might think that using any kind of U-lock, whether from Kryptonite or otherwise, is a no-brainer, and yes, it is.

However, with that being said, you have to use your new Kryptonite U-lock the right way, or else it will be useless.

There are a couple of different ways you can use it, and which method you use depends partially on the type of bike you have, specifically in relation to the wheels.

Let’s take a look at the different ways you can use a Kryptonite U-lock.

1. No Easy-Off Tires

If you have an older bike, one where you require a wrench to remove the tires, you are in luck, because bikes that have easy-off tires are much easier to steal.

If you have a bike that does not have easy off tires, you have a variety of options when it comes to using your Kryptonite U-lock.

The problem with easy-off tires is that you, or thieves, don’t need any special tools to remove the tires, which means that if these bikes are locked to something with only their tires, the frames are still susceptible to theft, and the other way around is true as well.

If you lock your U-lock up to only the frame of easy-off tire bikes, the wheels may still be stolen.

This is not the case if you have a bike that does not have easy-off tires.

You can always use your Kryptonite U-lock to lock one of the wheels or the frame of your bike to something strong and stationary.

To make it more secure, you can lock the back wheel with the frame to something.

Sure, if a thief happens to have a wrench set, they could still technically remove the front tire, although it would take a while, which would lead to suspicion in public, plus the thief would only gain a tire, not the full bike.

2. Bike With Easy-Off Wheels

You have probably figured out that easy-off wheels are not the best when it comes to theft protection, but with the right Kryptonite U-lock and the right locking technique, it should not be a problem.

Keep in mind that some bikes only have the easy-off wheel in the front, while others may have it on both the front and back.

Therefore, if you only have the single Kryptonite U-lock, you need to make sure that the front and back tires are all locked together with the frame, and then locked to a secure place.

What you want to do in this case is to use the simple easy-off method to release the front wheel.

You then take the front wheel and place it right beside the rear wheel, as close as possible.

Then, take your Kryptonite U-lock and slide it through both wheels, making sure to also get in between the frame, so all vital components of the bike are locked up, and finally, lock the Kryptonite U-lock to whatever secure place you want to lock it to.

3. Using A Kryptonite U-Lock and Wire Cable 

Of course, you might not always want to have to remove the front tire and go through a whole ordeal just to ensure that your bike is secure.

In this case, you can get a combination Kryptonite U-lock and cable lock, which helps make it easier.

You can use the cable lock to secure the front easy-off wheel without actually having to remove it from the front fork.

Take the wire cable and feed it through the front tire.

You will notice that this cable has loops on either end.

Feed one loop through the other, thus forming a third loop which the wheel will be held by.

Then, take on of the initial loops, and use your U-lock to secure that against the rear wheel and frame, and finally, lock the Kryptonite U-lock to a secure location.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that Kryptonite U-locks are some of the toughest and best options around.

They are made of solid metal, they are nearly impossible to hack or bypass, and it would take a thief hours to get through, way too long to steal a bike in public.

Just be sure to consider whether or not you have easy-off wheels, and whether or not your life might be easier if you had a combination Kryptonite U-lock and cable.