Kickstart a Bike Lock Company, Own a great Bike Lock

Sometimes a good idea comes along and you can’t help but want to spread the news.

For instance: Why hasn’t anyone solved the problem of the crappy bike lock? Because if you’ve ever used a U-lock, or lost a bike that was near and dear to you because you used a U-Lock (me, twice!), you’ve probably thought, “There has to be a better way!” That way, for a lot of us, has been to go to the hardware store and buy a three-foot length of hardened steel chain and then put a Master padlock at the ends of the sucker. The Master lock isn’t bomb-proof, but it’s a reasonable deterrent, and the chain is a bear to cut because it wiggles too much. Downside: The entire assembly that I built weighed about as much as a gallon of milk, 7.5 freaking pounds. Heavy chain, heavy lock, heavy freakin’ commute!

Is this TiGr lock, still in beta, superior?

I’ll let you be the judge, but based on the videos, linked below, I’d say it sure as hell looks promising. First, the heaviest of two models is only 670 grams/1.5 pounds, which is a whole lot lighter than my chain setup and about one quarter what Kryptonite’s New York lock weighs (2.7kg/just under 6 pounds).

How it’s used and carried is also pretty straightforward. The two-foot-long titanium bow wraps around your bike’s head tube. In the YouTube video showing the lock in action (below), you can see the bow secured via a short Velcro strap around the top tube of the bike frame. If you have a short enough top tube you could even secure the lock cylinder at the back of the bike, behind the seat tube.

Why so light? It’s because the TiGr’s bow is made of titanium, not steel (and certainly not easily cut aluminum). The other vid below shows one of the lock’s inventors trying his darnedest to cut through the bow. Good luck with that.

There are two versions: .75 inches wide and 1.25 inches. There are also two lock cylinder choices, a stainless steel version that’s 120 grams/4.3 ounces or a ti model that’s 90 grams/3.2 ounces. The one catch: You can’t buy a TiGr…at least not in a retail sort of way.

Note that this is a Kickstarter project. Contribute whatever you will, but you’ll get a lock back if you throw down at least $100. I’d say that’s not a bad investment in “securitizing” your bike and supporting a cool new business venture at the same time.

TiGr in Use

Attempts to break lock