This is not for sketchy reasons, I swear. All the primo spaces in our apartment building’s bike storage room are taken up by rusting rotting flat-tired cobwebbed piece of shit bikes that clearly haven’t been used in years. Half their owners probably moved out of the building and left them there. I have repeatedly asked building management to implement some kind of use-it-or-lose-it tagging system so if a bike isn’t moved in a year it gets junked but they’re basically useless and will never get around to doing even minor computer-only things unless you pester them at least six times, let alone something requiring actual effort like this. So.
I want to pick the locks on these bikes and either move them to the back of the bike room or if they’re obviously junk just throw them out. How difficult is it to pick kryptonite u-locks? Is it also possible to re-lock them afterward? Is there any danger of damaging the bike locks? Some of the bikes also use tube-style combo locks which I know can be fairly easily cracked using the screwdriver tension method (and already managed to do this for a tiny 3-combo lock). Any general tips for getting started? Is it basically impossible to go from never having picked a lock to picking a u-lock? Assume time is no constraint, I can hang out there and pick them for however long is needed.
You must log in or register to comment.
Most bike thieves don’t pick the locks, they use cordless angle grinders.
Harbor Freight sells bolt cutters which, can come in handy for other things too.
But like Frank said, check the youtubes. I seem to remember some bike locks being particularly vulnerable to empty bic pens but that was quite some time ago.cylinder locks in general. soda vending machines, snack machines, bike locks, payphones etc.
Yep. Kryptonite switched away from this style probably 10-15 years ago, but you sometimes still see them in use. It’s ridiculously easy to pick, just jam the empty tube from a cheap pen into the lock and wiggle it around.
and if you need something more extensive aliexpress sells plenty of cheap picking equipment.
im probably not a cop so take my answer with a grain of salt but id imagine what you want to do, while innocuous enough is probably breaking some sort of law wrt to accessing things/property that do not belong to you. there may be very little legal difference in moving someones bike, and relocking it versus just cutting the fucker loose and heaving it into the goddamned sun.
if this is the case, just buy some good bolt cutters, or a cheap battery powered grinder and z87/z93 rated safety glasses from harbor freight. quick, easy, relatively mess free. the grinder option appeals to me. im lazy, grinder requires very little effort beyond some wrist strength. its quick, and im all about finishing quick. it makes sparks, and i think sparks are cool. it also doesnt require a shit ton of learning beforehand. charge battery, put on safety squints, go to town.
Yellow or orange hi-vis vest and absolutely no one will give you a second look.
yep. just looking like you belong and have authority or permission to do what you are currently doing goes a long way towards becoming invisible background filler.
There are a huge number of guides and instruction videos on youtube.
As far as I know you if you’re reasonably handy and have some locks to practice on you can learn to pick locks in a couple of hours of instruction and practice.
Just get some bolt cutters. Only move ones that have clearly been there a long time, if no one complains then you’re fine. If you’re concerned about blowback then I’d just harass the hell out of property management more. Picking locks is fucking hard and your time is best spent thinking of how to make it so the lock doesn’t matter. Also if they’ve been sitting around for a while there’s a good chance the locks are rusty and may be impossible to pick.
if you got a tool library you could just get some kind of saw and cut the bike frame
This guy is good at things: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm9K6rby98W8JigLoZOh6FQ
I don’t know how big the locks you’re going after, but you can just look up xmm lock pick set for 20 dollars on Amazon. Bolt cutters are also an option but expect to spend like five minutes going ham on the locks. You kinda just start fiddling with the pick on the pins and turn the torque handle. You can also try drilling the lock off (someone tried this on my car door and only accomplished breaking the lock and preventing keys from going in so YMMV) which sometimes works.
You are pretty blatantly breaking the law here so don’t be stupid and stay safe comrade.
This guy is good at things
Just stick to his earlier content that was actually useful info. In the last year or so the channel has basically become a vehicle to promote his own overpriced lockpicking tool line.
Lockpicking lawyer probably has a video on the lock you wanna pick
If the locks have been out rusting then you probably won’t be able to open the lock, with or without the key.
Rent a power tool, put on high-viz, and start grinding. If you get a question, say you’re from the city council.
Angle grinder
