Kryptonite New York 3000 lock review

This lock is good for two things. Knocking people out and securing bikes. I’m very glad to say I’m only planning on using it for the latter.

I’ve already talked about the first time I had a bike stolen and don’t want to talk about it again or my eyes will swell up. Hence, with my recent move to Swiss Cottage I decided it was about time to step up my bike lock to the next level. To ramp it up. To push the boundaries. To take it to the professional level. To go up to the next gear.

I think you get the picture.

The lock I decided to buy for myself needs no X-factor style introduction but I will give it one anyway. It has won many safety awards, kept many bicycles safe on lonely nights left outdoors and has made many would be bike thieves cry at their inadequacy. It is the Kryptonite New York 3000 NYL.

Okay, perhaps that is a little extreme. If a thief is dedicated enough they will get through any lock.

However, people smarter than me and with much deeper pockets have tested out the lock and they found it to be extremely resistant. The lock completely resisted the first attack which involves a hammer, a steel bar, bolt cutters, a chisel and an axe!

The second attack involves a portable angle grinder! It took a total of 1 minute 5 seconds to get through it which in the world of bike locks is a very long time indeed.

Therefore it is a lock that provides great peace of mind.

Comparison of different Kryptonite U/D locks

The Kryptonite New York 3000 lock comes with a bracket to attach to your bike, 3 keys including one with a tiny light and various guarantees. You get a free replacement set of keys as long as you have noted the key registration number (I’ve already lost one my keys!)

There is also a second guarantee though it’s one of those with so many terms and conditions you would struggle to get the money. Basically as long as you send back a copy of your bicycle receipt and some other documents to Kryptonite within a few days of purchasing the lock then you are guaranteed up to £1200 if someone breaks the lock and steals the bike.

Unfortunately I haven’t managed to attach the included bracket as it didn’t fit onto my bike frame so I’m just carrying the lock around in my bag.

What you need to ask yourself with this lock is how much you value having peace of mind against how heavy a lock you want to carry around. The Kryptonite New York 3000 weighs in at roughly 1.9kg.

I’ve been using the Kryptonite New York for about a week now and I’ve felt much happier about leaving my bike locked up. When locking the bike around just the frame I find I find the diameter large enough to lock it around most objects. When I use the proper locking technique which is around the back wheel and through the middle of the frame the diameter is a little short but this is a problem with all bike locks not just this one.

The below picture is a comparison of the Kryptonite New York 3000 with my standard D lock and as you can see it is a lot thicker.

I tend to complement the Kryptonite with a chain lock and I think I will be very surprised the day someone bothers to go to the trouble of breaking through both the locks.

Overall I’m happy with my choice though I probably would get most the security benefits with another one of the locks such as the Kryptonite Evolution Series 4 and at the same time benefit from a little less weight.

What I like about the lock

• Peace of mind – I know it is a beast of a lock that is not easy to crack
• 3 keys – I like the fact you get three keys and free replacement keys because it is the sort of thing I’m likely to lose

What I don’t like

• Weight – it is heavy to carry around and a big additional weight for anyone cautious of how much their bike weighs
• Size – not easy to carry around and takes up a lot of space in my bag but not majorly more than most D locks

Where you can buy the Kryptonite New York 3000

Here is a quick comparison of some of the prices. Note: this is likely to change over time.

• Amazon.co.uk – £56.95
• Evans cycles – £79.99
• Wiggle – £71.99
• Jenson USA – $79.95
• Amazon.com – $59.95