Weight is the honest measure of how much steel a lock actually carries · review
A light 4 ft braided steel cable lock with a preset four-digit combination, best used as a short-stop deterrent or a second lock.
Our conclusion A useful second lock and a poor only lock.
This is the lock many first-time riders buy, and it is here so that we can say clearly what it does and does not do.
A braided steel cable 4 ft long and 5/16 in thick, a preset four-digit combination, a protective vinyl coating and a weight of 4.8 oz. Master Lock lists bikes, scooters, strollers, grills and kayaks among its uses.
A wheel, a helmet or a seat. At an 8 mm diameter, it stops an opportunist walking past and very little else. No independent rating is published, and none is claimed. Master Lock itself presents it as a general outdoor cable.
If your bike costs more than a few hundred dollars, buy this as a second lock with a U-lock or a folding lock. Make a note of the combination somewhere safe, and test it at home before relying on it on the street.
| Type | Cable with combination |
|---|---|
| Length | 4 ft (1.2 m) |
| Diameter | 5/16 in (8 mm) |
| Lock | Preset 4-digit combination |
| Coating | Vinyl |
| Weight | 4.8 oz |
| Model | 8143D |
Not for a bike left alone in a city. A thin cable falls to small cutters in seconds. Use it with a U-lock, or only for very short stops.
The listing calls it a preset combination, so assume you cannot change it.
6.0/ 10
A useful second lock and a poor only lock.
Same category, nearby prices, between bike gear. What remains is the specifications every one publishes — half empty, a column is no use.
| Model | Price | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Master Lock Cable Lock 4 ft, 4-digit combination | $9 | 4.8 oz |
| Sportneer 43205-21875 | $14 | Not published; 1.4 lb (0.6 kg) on the shipping record |
| Kryptonite Keeper Standard (4196) | $47 | 2.05 lb |
| Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7 U-Lock with 4 ft cable | $83 | 3.55 lb (1.61 kg) |
A helmet, a front wheel, or a two-minute stop in low-risk places.
Specifications: the manufacturer sheet for bike gear and the matching Amazon product page. Prices and availability: Keepa. Every figure on this page names its source.
14 mm (0.55 in) shackle · Sold Secure Diamond · 6 ft (1.7 m) cable
A large U-lock with a 14 mm (0.55 in) hardened shackle and a Sold Secure Diamond rating, supplied with a 6 ft (1.7 m) cable for the front wheel and accessories.
Best for: Anyone leaving a bike in a city where theft is a real prospect, and who is prepared to carry the weight.
≈ $89.20
13 mm shackle · double deadbolt · Sold Secure Gold · 3.25 × 7 in · 3.55 lb
A compact U-lock with a 13 mm hardened shackle, double-deadbolt locking, a Sold Secure Gold rating and a 4 ft double-loop cable.
Best for: City riders who lock to a standard bike rack for hours.
≈ $82.88
Folding · 33.5 in opened · hardened steel · Sold Secure Silver · 1 kg
A folding lock that opens to 33.5 inches, made of hardened steel with anti-tamper rivets, with a frame bracket and a Sold Secure Silver rating.
Best for: Riders who need reach around odd racks, with moderate theft risk.
≈ $94.98
Prices quoted in these summaries are dated readings. The live price is shown next to each product.
