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For a quick stop at a café, beer garden or bakery, mini locks offer a lightweight and space-saving way to protect your bike against opportunistic thieves. They fit in your jersey pocket or saddle bag, but are no substitute for a proper anti-theft system. We’ve compared six models, from Abus to Zefal, priced between 13 and 40 euros.
Mini padlocks for a quick stop
Two of the locks tested secure the bike with a thin coiled cable, whilst four models use metal-reinforced straps based on the principle of a lockable cable tie. All the models tested feature a combination lock. In practice, however, there are significant differences: some combination dials are precise and easy to operate, whilst others require the precision of a watchmaker’s fingers.
There are also differences when it comes to pack size. Whilst the compact locks fit easily into a jersey pocket or small saddle bag, the cables and strap are not always just as easy to stow away. For road cyclists who count every gram and every cubic centimetre, this is an important consideration.
Cable or metal strip?
The thin coiled cable is flexible and can easily be wrapped round a bike rack, a banister or a table leg. The plastic sheathing protects the paintwork from scratches. However, a cable generally offers less resistance to forceful attacks than a stronger metal cable.
Strap locks appear more compact and, whilst operating on the same security principle, are often harder to pick. However, their rigid design can make them more difficult to fasten. In our test, we therefore assessed not only their resistance to tampering, but also their ease of use in everyday life. A lock that’s fiddly to open and close quickly loses its appeal during a quick stop at a café.
Zefal K-Traz Zip 3 XL
The Zefal K-Traz Zip 3 XL* is almost identical in design to the Abus Combiflex. Its slightly lower weight is due to the narrower cable, which nevertheless proved to be durable in testing. The combination lock is easy to operate and the number dials are easily accessible.
However, the slide lock is a little difficult to access. This makes it less user-friendly, particularly when you need to lock it quickly and easily. The Zefal is therefore best suited as a lightweight and practical deterrent against a quick grab by an opportunistic thief. Anyone leaving their road bike unattended in a busy area should nevertheless remain within sight.
Matthias Borchers
Editor
