Today we are talking bike locks, specifically the Abus Bordo 6000 Alarm Bike Lock.  It’s a folding lock that is a combination bike lock and alarm all in a nice little package.

Abus Bordo 6000 Alarm Bike Lock Review

Bike Theft is a real annoyance in cities like Austin.  I know first hand how a bike thief can ruin your day by taking off with your 2 wheeled mode of transportation.   Bike locks are supposed to make you feel secure, but bike thieves know otherwise.  Leave a bike alone in a dark unlit area and given enough time, a bike thief can compromise just about any lock.

The goal of using a bike lock or locks is really to deter a bike thief from stealing your bike and moving on to an easier target.

Bike thieves are usually looking for a crime of opportunity, so the less vulnerable your bike appears, the better your chances are for it not getting it stolen.

Abus Bordo 6000 Alarm | Two Layer Security

The Abus Bordo 6000 Alarm or Abus Bordo 6000A is considered a two tiered or two layered security lock.  First and foremost Abus uses hardened steel to make cutting and/or leveraging attacks more difficult.  Secondly it adds a 100db alarm to help draw attention.  It’s similar to a burglar trying to break into a house or car that has an alarm.  The alarm is a secondary layer of added security to door locks and window locks, but if a burglar is able to defeat the locks, an alarm sounds.

Abus also adds vibration detection (smart 3D Position Detection sensors) into the mix.  If a would be thief starts to jiggle the lock, a 5 second warning goes off.  If they continue to do so, a full 100 decibel high pitched alarm sounds, which hopefully either scares the thief away or draws attention to their activities.  In either case, they may move on to an easier, more vulnerable target.

The sensor technology incorporated into the BORDO™ Alarm 6000A can distinguish between picking attempts and the small vibrations which occur when the lock is connected, for example, or a football bounces nearby; in these situations, the lock will emit a small warning beep but will not sound a full alarm. Acoustic signals provide information on battery level and activity status.

Abus Bordo 6000 Alarm | Security Rating

The Bordo 6000 Alarm has a security rating of 10 on a scale of 1-15. Bicycle locks with a security dial rating between 10-15 offer the maximum protection and are intended for use with higher-end bicycles, bikes locked in urban areas and for use in areas of high-theft risk. Fifteen (15) is the maximum bicycle security and is represented by a completely red dial.

The highest security level Abus offers is 20 and geared towards motorcycles to provide maximum security in areas of high-theft risk.

Abus Bordo 6000 Alarm Bike Lock Specifications

Technology:

• 5 mm bars with extra-soft two-component casing to prevent damage to paintwork
• The bars and body are made of specially hardened steel
• Alarm at a volume of at least 100 dB for 20 seconds, followed by automatic reactivation
• 3D Position Detection – detects vibrations and the smallest of movements in all three dimensions and triggers an alarm
• Smart alarm – the lock only emits a small warning beep in the event of minor and brief vibrations, e.g. if a football bounces nearby
• Acoustic signals provide information on battery level and activity status
• Bars are linked with special rivets
• ABUS Plus cylinder for maximum protection against attempted manipulation, e.g. picking
• Retail Price – $169.99

Know Thy Enemy

As a rule of thumb, always try to lock both the bike frame and both wheels to a bike rack.  If that isn’t an option, your next best bet is to lock the rear wheel and the frame to something permanent.  In most cases, your rear wheel will be the more valuable of the two, so locking the rear is a better option.

Choose multiple types of locks rather than the same type.  That way the thief will have to use multiple tools.

Lifting—This is the easiest way to steal a bike.  Simply lift the bike over whatever it’s attached to.  Don’t be fooled if their is a signpost, because thieves can remove the sign’s bolts and up and over the bike goes.

Levering—Thieves love it where you leave a gap for them to work with.  They will use leverage tools like a crowbar or jack to break a lock apart.

Striking—Sometimes blunt force is used against locks, this is usually done in out of way places where noise isn’t an issue.  Thieves may use a hammer and chisel to break or split open the lock.

Unbolting— Let’s face it, most professional bike thieves know how to take a bike apart, so if you just lock your front wheel or your frame, everything else is fair game.  Leaving a bike unattended over night gives them plenty  of time to completely strip your bike, including the pedals.

Cutting—Thieves weapons of choice are bolt cutters and angle grinders.  Having heavy gauge chain and locks can help thwart their attempts.  Again leaving your bike unattended over night gives them plenty of time to try different methods of cutting.  This is probably what happened when my bike was stolen.

Picking—Professional bike thieves will carry picks to open locks if they think that is the fastest method.

The Abus Bordo 6000 Alarm Bike Lock is well made and with the alarm functionality adds an extra layer of security that most bike locks don’t have.

The downside to the lock is it is quite expensive.  Still you get what you pay for and having a reliable lock may help prevent theft.

The Bordo Alarm is available for $169.99.

Check out the Abus website (https://www.abus.com/) for more information.