More Information
 On: 2004-08-16
This is a great lock for that cool look and ease of storage and mobility. It is also great because there are many ways to lock your bike with the street cuff. Especially when you have to lock your bike onto bike rails on campus, etc. Sometimes that traditional U-lock gives you a headache trying to figure out how to lock your bike. Overall, for the first impression part of this product I give it an A+.
But....
From what I understand, a security locks main purpose is to secure your investment. In this case it would be our bikes. So what is the point of having a security system if it doesnt protect your investment? Masterlock did do a good job by innovating a security system based off traditional handcuffs. But did they know that there is a very fatal weak point in this product?
The actual incident I encountered....
I have had my bmx for roughly one month and I used the Masterlock Street cuff for my security. One day I didnt feel like hauling my bike 3 flights of stairs to my apartment. So I cuffed my bmx to a 6 foot masterlock street chain that was securing my motorcycle. Next day my bmx was gone. The thief had cut right through the link of the street cuffs. (I have made a website in order to show some pictures of the street cuffs cut in half.)
In conclusion....
The main purpose of a security system is to secure our investments. If the product cant serve the main purpose of a security system. Then it fails to even be considered a worthy product to purchase.
(...)
 On: 2004-08-03
After a thief defeated my $45 U-Lock to steal my my $1,500 bike I started researching alternative security measures. I learned online that U-Locks can be defeated a number of ways... the easiest way is to straddle the "U" part with a small jack, and then bend the shackle until the lock can be compromised.
My research has convinced me that Street Cuff locks are THE best option out there... theres no place for a thief to even PUT a jack, and no way for him to get any leverage to break it with his weight or with a crowbar, sledgehammer, etc. Most thieves will have a jack handy for U-Locks and/or a bolt cutter for cables... theyll give up on these at first glance! Any experienced thief will move on to something he can steal easily with tools on hand.
I wouldnt waste your money on the SS version, by the way... not much extra security for a lot more money, and theyre heavier and more likely to scratch your finish. But having the 9-link versions extra reach really helps for those times you cant get your bike *right* against an anchor. The 9 links also make it very easy to lock a friend or spouses bike up at the same time.
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