Review of Kryptonite Evolution Series 4 Standard Bicycle U-Lock with Bracket (4-Inch x 9-Inch)

Kryptonite Evolution Series 4 Standard Bicycle U-Lock with Bracket (4-Inch x 9-Inch)
By: Kryptonite Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 20
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Medium duty lock, crumy bracket

On: 2009-10-30

I bought this lock for my kids bike. The bike isnt a high end bike, (I got it used for a hundred bucks or so at a garage sale.) so I figure this and a 4 ft 10mm cable for the front wheel, plus the 5mm seat cable ought to at least make thieves try the next bike over first. The lock is considerably thicker than the older Kryptonite Evolution LS U-Lock lock I got when I traded back my old Kryptonite LS cylinder key lock. And that trade in is the reason Ive kept buying Kryptonite locks. Talk about doing the right thing! Anyway back to this lock. Its rated "9" which isnt as high as the New York version but it looks reasonably tough.

On the key breakage, the folks at Kryptonite must read these reviews because mine came with a note saying, "Dont force the key!". And Ive got another Kryptonite lock Kryptonite New York Noose 1213 Chain Bicycle Lock with Evolution Series 4 Disc Lock Chain Bicycle Lock (4-Foot x 3-Inch) and I ride a lot, and Ive had no problems with the lock. Which is a good thing because cutting that chain and lock off my bike would be a royal pain. This key looks similar so Im not worried. However I will remind the kid to not force the lock.

On the negative side, the plastic dohicky for holding the lock on the bike sucks. Just plain poor design. My recommendation is to put the lock in your shoulder bag, or panniers. Its heavy but youll be happier than trying to make this holder work. I also slid the silver bit off the lock, why carry it around when you arent going to use it?

Powerful lock with a few annoyances

On: 2009-10-09

Overall, I would say this lock is really good. Its going to protect your bike very well in most locales. For extra safety I got a cable lock that I loop through this and around other portions of my bike. Im pretty satisfied with it so far, but I will go over the items that bother me about it. The blue LED key is also pretty awesome.

The biggest issue is it might not fit all bike models well, both in locking and mounting it on the bracket. I ride a Cannondale Quick series bike. I was hoping this would fit around both the Seat Tube and the rear tire for good security, but in most situations it is only able to fit around the Seat Tube because the lock is fairly narrow. If I want it to fit around both I have to position it at a skewed angle which usually isnt possible in many locking situations.

As for attaching the mounting bracket: the Top Tube and Down Tube on this bike model are not cylindrical, instead they are shaped like a triangle, which means you cant mount this lock on either. Having a water bottle cage on either the Seat tube or down tube also makes mounting this bracket pretty difficult. It took me over an HOUR of deep frustration to finally find a place on my bike to mount the bracket and lock where it wouldnt get in the way of my legs when riding. It was midway down on the left side of the Seat Tube with the U of the lock facing upward, but I also had to angle the bracket out away from the bike at a really weird angle, I also had to loosen and angle the silver bracket mount on the lock itself differently.
If you dont plan on bracket mounting this lock then you can ignore all this, but if you do, be warned, you might be in for a LOT of aggravation.
Now that its mounted it works fine, no problems.

The Kryptonite key replacement/registration is a nice feature but a bit annoying. You goto their website, which is unsecured (very obnoxious) and register your personal info and key serial #, except there are two numbers printed on the key and Im not sure which is the serial.

The anti-theft protection offer is also better than it sounds, as you have to jump through a LOT of hoops to benefit from it if your bike is ever stolen.

Great Product

On: 2009-09-30

I live in Eugene OR and just got a new Long Haul Trucker Surly of course and needed a good lock to make me feel at ease. Its done its job!

Broke... Perhaps for the best.

On: 2009-08-16

First off, this lock got jammed in the locked position the fist day I had it. In a way, I was relieved that I had a good excuse to send it back, because it was not the right lock for me.

Choosing the right bike lock is not easy. If you live in a high crime area (NYC in my case) and have a relatively expensive bike (a carbon fiber Trek in my case) you dont want to buy something that seems easy to cut. This is why I opted for the Evolution Series 4. I am sure that it would not have been cut, but there are some huge trade-offs. First and foremost, this lock is very heavy. For me, it was not worth lugging this lock around.

If you are parking your bike outside, only in the day and in the evening, it seems unlikely that your bike will be taken by someone spending an hour or two cutting through a U-Lock. Something less intense than the Evolution Series 4 will probably work for you.

I replaced the lock with the Kryptonite Series 2 and I am extremely happy with it. I have not had any lock problems and it seems secure enough for my purposes.

Great lock, mediocre plastic.

On: 2009-04-16

I can only assume the lock has been doing its job, since my bike is still in my possession. Although I cant guarantee that its actually been a target of theft :P

My real problem is the adapter they provide to clip to the frame of your bike. In temperatures above 50 degrees its fine, but it shrinks when it gets cold and the lock becomes difficult to attach to the frame. I park the bike below 40 degrees, but these cold post-Winter mornings tend to be a pain since the cold makes my hands hurt and even more so when the lock flies off the adapter from me pulling on it and I bust my knuckles open. If you bike in colder climates Id recommend finding another way of attaching the lock to your bike when youre riding.

Great Lock, but Heavy

On: 2009-02-21

I purchased both this lock, and the OnGuard Bulldog MINI TC 5013TC Bicycle U-Lock. These are the two locks that are considered to be near the top of the list for U-Lock security.

The very top is the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboutit Mini Bicycle U-Lock (3.25 x 6-Inch), but I decided against that one due to weight and cost issues. My bike is old and new was only about $1000 when new, and so it isnt going to be the target that a more expensive bike would be.

Between this lock and the Bulldog Mini, both are high security. The reason I was in the market for a lock was that I had a cheap U lock cut with a pair of bolt cutters by an apartment manager unhappy that I had locked a bike to a railing. He sliced through that cheap U-lock silently, like butter, and both of these locks have been tested against that and neither lock was cuttable by bolt cutters. However, both can be defeated by a determined thief with power tools and a couple of minutes.

Both locks give you several sets of keys (at least 4) and let you either write down a code or register the code and theyll send free keys if you ask. Both locks include one lighted key, but the thing is huge and takes up so much room on my key chain that I took it off because Ive really never needed the dim light it provides. Nice concept, but worthless - you can feel the key hole if its pitch black.

Neither lock has a decent mounting system. They both come included with one that really only works on a 21" frame, the biggest bike for the tallest riders, because it needs too much space to pull out to mount it on the seat tube. Me and everyone else Ive seen just ends up hanging the lock over their handlebars. The lock is rubber coated so it wont scratch your handlebars. If you do that, and you will, be sure to remove the mounting piece on the U lock that clicks into the mounting bracket. Click the bracket onto it and twist the mounting piece off. The mounting piece can be seen as the thick collar over the left post of the U lock where it meets the cross piece.

There are three basic differences between this lock and the Bulldog Mini. First is the size. The Bulldog barely fits over my mountain bike tire and the smallest pole, like those used for no parking signs. It DOES fit over a parking meter, but many parking meters have had a pipe slipped over the pole that holds them to prevent people from hacksawing the meter off and this lock will not fit over that outer pipe. The series 4 is big enough to fit everything.

Note that it isnt necessary to lock both your tire and the bike frame unless your frame is really expensive. Just lock the part of the tire that is inside the frame triangle underneath and behind the seat. The bulldog cant fit over both the tire and the seat tube, while the kryptonite can, but it isnt necessary. A thief would never take the time and effort to try to cut all the spokes, and bend the rim to force it through the frame triangle, and if he did hed wreck half the cost of the bike.

Second is the key and locking mechanism. The Bulldog has a key that breaks off easily and the lock has to be fully seated to work. That means you have to shove the crosspiece in as hard as you can and shove the key in as hard as you can to turn the key without breaking it. Because of the small size, its not always possible, and you find yourself looking for another pole about 10% of the time. The series 4 has a much stronger key and the mechanism is more forgiving - it doesnt need to be shoved in and is therefore easier to use. Because it fits around everything, that makes it really easy to use.

The last issue is weight. Here is where the Bulldog has the Series 4 beat. The Series 4 weighs about 3.5 lbs and the Bulldog weighs about 1.75 lbs. It makes enough of a difference that I find that the Bulldog mini, with all of its faults, gets the nod and thats the one I tend to use.

You might also consider the Kryptonite Evolution Series 4 U-Lock 3 x 5.5" as a compromise, but the heavier cross piece of the smaller series 4 is still going to make it weigh more than the Bulldog Mini, and probably not that much less than the regular size series 4, so youd probably be happier with either of those.

I also have a thin (3/8") 6 cable, similar to the 7 OnGuard Akita 5043 Bicycle Security Cable (Lock Not Included) that I place over the ends of the U lock before I lock it that fits through the front tire, and the seat and the mountain bike rack on the back of my bike to keep them from walking away. 6 is the minimum size you need to go through everything.

Kryptonite Evolution Std U-lock

On: 2008-10-22

Fast shipping, strong looking product. Got it for my girlfriend, I use a Kryptonite NY fahgettaboudit chain. Swear by it. Neither bikes have been stolen yet. Used on a college campus and downtown detroit. Kryptonite is the best.

Solid Lock

On: 2008-09-16

Dont spend good money on a bicycle and lock it up with the cheapest lock that you can find. Spend the cash on a good lock, like this one here. This is a very solid and sturdy U-Lock that can take a good deal of abuse without breaking. The entire U portion has a rubberized cover over it so your bike does not get damaged. The key is also a new design, not the old cylindrical key that could be opened with a Bic pen in a few seconds. There is even a key that has an LED built into it so you can see the keyhole in the dark. Kryptonite also has a lifetime key replacement system so youre never stuck without backups. Also consider the Kryptonite New York series as those are slightly more secure than the Evo series, but dont get me wrong, no one will be taking your bike without expending considerable effort and time if you properly lock up with one of these. Great lock overall, although the mount leaves something to be desired. If you plan on mounting this lock on your frame make sure there is enough room somewhere in the frame triangle for it. My Giant Cypress does not have room to frame mount it, so check first if this is critical for you. Otherwise throw it in your backpack and go.

so far excellent

On: 2008-09-08

Im really liking this lock, I feel safe when I use it. Locking up my bike is a big thing, Ive put a lot of work into my bike and someone just stealing it would really suck. I trust this lock to do what I bought it to do. I fits through both my frame and my front tire and I can also get it through a buddies frame too (not in addition to the front tire though). I dont think anyone has tried to bust it, but I can imagine that theyre going to have some trouble with that one.

Ironic Semi-endorsement

On: 2008-08-23

For such a sturdy, heavy-duty, ridiculously strong u-lock, the key used to operate this thing is ridiculously flimsy.

The key snapped off IN THE LOCK the first time I tried to unlock my bike from a rack. >=(

Five minutes with a hacksaw only managed to scratch the steel. Seeing that I had to call in the heavy artillery, I got an angle grinder with a diamond blade. After about 20 minutes of 120 dBA flying sparks, I successfully extricated the bike.

I give the lock 5 stars, but the key rates a big, fat 0.

Heavy, Solid Lock

On: 2008-08-08

This is a nice lock, but contrary to the specs it does not weigh 2.35 pounds. If you pick it up its pretty obvious that this listed weight isnt right. I weighed it on my kitchen scale and it came in at 3.3 pounds, so I dont know where that 2.35 came from. That scale is pretty accurate.

It should also be noted that the theft reimbursement warranty is also only for one bike for one year, whereas OnGuards is for three years.

Its still a solid lock and better than what a lot of people use. I dont regret buying it, but dont buy it because you think its lighter or has a better warranty than the alternative.

Great lock but very heavy

On: 2008-07-07

I have no doubt this u-lock works great, it certainly looks and feels secure. However it is very heavy. I had to buy this size because my bikes tires are somewhat thick (its a beach cruiser type bike) so the mini would not fit around the tire and the frame. If a mini fits your bike you should go for that, if not get ready to lug this heavy lock around. Also, I would recommend that you get a cable as well if you are planning to leave your bike for a long time or overnight. Otherwise the lock is great.

Quality Bike Lock

On: 2008-05-19

attachment that connects it to your bike is hard to get on... but i decided to just hang it around my seat, so its not a big deal. Definitely a quality lock tho, never had any problems fitting it around fences, signs or parking meters. And it seems VERY secure.

Heavy, but worth the weight

On: 2008-02-08

This lock is a beast, but you can throw it on your bike and feel safe about it. I lock my bike up a lot in downtown DC, so I wanted a serious lock to protect my lovely bike. It has a good sized U-bolt which allows you to lock up to just about anything that is fixed to the ground as well as through one of your wheels. The lighted key is really nice for getting into your lock in the dark. I personally dont use the bike mount, so I cant really comment on that.

Remember, no lock is full proof. If a bike thief really wants your bike and has enough time alone with it, he will get your bike. That being said, there is only one lock with a higher security rating than this one. Locks are a deterrent, and with this lock a bike thief is most likely going to move onto an easier target.

Heavy, but it works!

On: 2008-01-07

Its a lot heavier than what I thought. Weve not used it yet but when we go out of town for rides it will certainly come in handy. I do trust it and thats what counts.

Solid Lock

On: 2007-12-28

This is a solid lock that doesnt add so much weight and inconvenience that you will begrudge the security it provides. As other reviewers have said, it fits well around all sorts of bike stands but still fits reasonably well on a bike or backpack. Though they do emphasize the ease of mounting these locks on your bike, remember that you will sacrifice the water bottle holders if you do that (most likely). Also, the insurance requires that you jump through several hoops (before the bike is stolen, mind you). If you dont think that you are going to have your bike appraised and fill out the paperwork, then dont factor the insurance into your purchasing decision.

Great Lock

On: 2007-12-23

This is a somewhat heavy lock, but I live in a relatively high-crime area so Id rather carry around an extra pound than have my bike stolen. This lock might be overkill in a smaller city, but for protecting your bike in a larger city this lock is perfect.

If weight is of high concern if might be better to invest in some locking axles and buy a smaller lock just to lock the frame; however if youre considering buying the smaller version of this lock be advised that it is not much lighter, as the weight comes mostly from the locking mechanism and not the U-shaped bar.

Great Lock

On: 2007-12-22

This is a somewhat heavy lock, but I live in a relatively high-crime area so Id rather carry around an extra pound than have my bike stolen. This lock might be overkill in a smaller city, but for protecting your bike in a larger city this lock is perfect.

If weight is of high concern if might be better to invest in some locking axles and buy a smaller lock just to lock the frame; however if youre considering buying the smaller version of this lock be advised that it is not much lighter, as the weight comes mostly from the locking mechanism and not the U-shaped bar.

Sturdy, but heavy

On: 2007-10-30

It is a quality lock. Like the rubberized outside and the cover for the key hole. I dont like the weight and the caution you have to take to make sure the key is all the way in, otherwise it wont unlock/lock.

CSS

Great Lock, Best for the Price.

On: 2007-09-21

When I purchased this lock, I actually bought two. I just moved to Chicago, with my girlfriend, and she needed a new lock. She had the older/cylinder(barrel) key kryptonite that you can open with a Bic Pen. I only had a flex lock, and my bike was stolen within the first month we moved here. I have bought a new bike, and Two locks. Im now using this lock, in combination with the Bell MaxGuard Heavy-Duty Cable(12mm). I carry all this extra weight, because Chicago is 2nd in the nation(next to New York) for bike thefts. It works great alone, but I feel safe with the flex cable combined. There was another Kryptonite Evolution with a flex cable, but the cable was only 10mm.

If you are buying this for the insurance purposes, then Id suggest looking at the fine print before hand.

The only other Kryptonite lock that is supposed to be tougher than this, would be the Kryptonite NY Fahgettaboudit U-Lock. It was $75 though, and this one was only $42. People wrote that they have problems trying to fit everything with the Fahagettaboudit lock. This one fits both heavy tread tires, my frame, and almost every post/bike stand that Ive attempted.

This is an very well made Bicycle Lock

On: 2007-05-11

Gladly, I have no evidence that the Kryptonite Evolution STD Bike Lock has actually thwarted any potential thieves. However, it certainly looks as if it would make a thief choose a different target. Holding the unit in the locked position, one cannot feel any play, or hear rattling from the joints. The key and lock mechanism have worked smoothly every time. The key only releases when in the locked position. Because it always turns smoothly when locking I feel the chance of bending or breaking the key is effectively eliminated. By the way the key come with a small flash light built in to it. I have been grateful for the keys light on several occasions. The STD sized Evolution lock has allowed proper locking in situations where a smaller lock might not have worked. The mounting bracket connects easily to your bike either inside the frame or on your seat post. I like that you can feel and hear your lock "click" into the mounting bracket. However, even when securely mounted the bracket allows the lock to sway side to side when riding which constitutes a minor annoyance. My experience with this lock would warrant a rating of 4.75 stars.

This is an very well made Bicycle Lock

On: 2007-05-10

Gladly, I have no evidence that the Kryptonite Evolution STD Bike Lock has actually thwarted any potential thieves. However, it certainly looks as if it would make a thief choose a different target. Holding the unit in the locked position, one cannot feel any play, or hear rattling from the joints. The key and lock mechanism have worked smoothly every time. The key only releases when in the locked position. Because it always turns smoothly when locking I feel the chance of bending or breaking the key is effectively eliminated. By the way the key come with a small flash light built in to it. I have been grateful for the keys light on several occasions. The STD sized Evolution lock has allowed proper locking in situations where a smaller lock might not have worked. The mounting bracket connects easily to your bike either inside the frame or on your seat post. I like that you can feel and hear your lock "click" into the mounting bracket. However, even when securely mounted the bracket allows the lock to sway side to side when riding which constitutes a minor annoyance. My experience with this lock would warrant a rating of 4.75 stars.