ABUS | 551604 Bordo GRANIT X Plus 6500/85cm (33.46 in) black | 85cm/5.5mm

U Locks are the standard when it comes to serious bicycle security, and for good reason: the chunky rigid metal design is substantially more difficult to defeat than more flexible cables.The problem with U-Locks is twofold: one, they can be bulky and difficult to handle, and two, their rigidity can make them difficult or impossible to use when you have no bike rack around. When all you have is a lamp post, they’re just no good.The Abus Bordo 6500 aka Granit X-Plus is a less common style lock, designed to be nearly as strong as U-Locks but without the limitations. Consisting of six metal bars linked together, these “link” style locks fold up into a smaller overall footprint and provide a great deal more flexibility in how they are applied.The 6500 is Abus’s premiere model, and they have designated it with the rating of “Maximum Level 15.” I purchased this when I got a new commuter bike, since I felt my old cable lock I had been using on my old beater would no longer be sufficient.Why did I choose this lock specifically? Well, here’s the rundown:- The unit folds up to a quite compact size, much smaller than a U-lock or an equivalent chain lock.- The included case may be mounted directly to the frame in place of a water bottle cage, or for a less permanent installation you can place it inside the cage and use the velcro straps. I prefer this so I can use multiple bikes.- The link design allows you to use the lock with a variety of objects that would be impossible with a U-Lock.- In a pinch, you can even lock two bikes up with a single lock.In practice, it’s proven to be quite easy to use. The links unfold easily and locking and unlocking works smoothly. You are provided two keys, so you can always have a spare. The lock is, however, very heavy; my scale reports 1582 grams, which is very close to the advertised 3.5 pounds. Weight is, of course, an inescapable reality of any lock that provides much security, and this isn’t especially heavy for a good quality lock – my Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7 U-Lock with 4-Foot Flex Cable for example doesn’t weigh much less (1297 grams) and that’s not even a full size u-lock.Of course, there’s the big question: how secure *is* this thing? I can tell you that my bike hasn’t been stolen, but that’s one data point and not very useful. According to tests which can be found on the Internet, though, this unit holds up quite well. Earlier and lower tier Abus link locks can be defeated with a sledge hammer against the link joints, but the 6500 appears to be more resilliant against such attacks. The most effective attack vector for this unit appears to be an angle grinder, against which it fares similarly to high end U-Locks. If a thief really wants your bike, this lock will not stop him, but he’s going to need some solid equipment and more time to get through it.NB: I purchased this lock from the Amazon seller Xtreme Bike & Sport since they offered the best price at the time. Be aware that there are actually two versions of this lock, one which has a rubberized coating and one which does not – the one Xtreme Bike & Sport provided is the newer version which does have the coating.

I have an expensive $1,500+ e-bike with fat tires. I wanted the most safe lock possible. The Abus top U-lock was simply too limited due to the bike’s thickness. I decided for the best most-secure alternative… this folding lock. I understand the security limitations of folding locks vs. U-locks. This is rated 15 by Abus, same as their corresponding top U-lock, but it only gets 2 stars on the ACE tests when the U-lock get’s 3 stars. It simply is not as secure. But I store the bike at night, so most times it is not “alone” for extended periods.The quality of construction is very good. Handling it seems always very solid. The rubber casing allows me to explore different placements without chipping or scratching the bike. The lock carrier/holder is versatile, using velcro straps. It comes with two keys, one with LED light. But frankly, I just use the plain because I like everything streamlined as possible.After a month of use, the lock allowed me to secure the bike in different places and forms.I mostly appreciate how quickly I can place it and remove wherever I can manage to lock it. It turned out to be the perfect solution for me.I guess it takes five stars (until the day I get robbed… 🙂 )

This lock is really heavy duty. It made of high quality materials and give any one the try to steal your bike a hard time. I planning on buy more from the company.

I have this and a Kryptonite U Lock. This lock comes in handy whenever I’m not able to lock up to a standard bike rack. However it can be awkward and difficult to maneuver.

Heavy and strong. Easy to lock my bike and easy fold and stow. I first tried to install it on my horizontal bar using my second set of water bottle mount screws, but it got in the way of using my water bottle on my vertical bar. This lock is pretty big. Also, when mounted horizontally using the water bottle two screws the lock holder sagged on one end. Id plan on using the included straps if mounting horizontal, they worked fine.