Kryptonite Evolution Series 4 Standard Bicycle U Lock with Bracket 4 Inch x 9 Inch
Kryptonite Series 4 Evolution U-Locks made of 14mm, hardened MAX-Performance steel shackle with double deadbolt design.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars so far excellent
I’m really liking this lock, I feel safe when I use it. Locking up my bike is a big thing, I’ve 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 don’t think anyone has tried to bust it, but I can imagine that they’re going to have some trouble with that one.
4 Stars Great Lock, but Heavy
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 isn’t 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 they’ll 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 I’ve really never needed the dim light it provides. Nice concept, but worthless – you can feel the key hole if it’s 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 I’ve seen just ends up hanging the lock over their handlebars. The lock is rubber coated so it won’t 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. UPDATE, the Bulldog Mini has been increased in size and so it now will fit over larger poles of parking meters.
Note that it isn’t 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 can’t fit over both the tire and the seat tube, while the kryptonite can, but it isn’t 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 he’d 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, it’s 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 doesn’t 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 that’s 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 you’d probably be happier with either of those.
I also have a thin (3/8″) 6′ cable, much thinner than 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. The 7′ cable linked above is too thick to be very handy, though it provides better security. You’ll want to decide whether you want better security or much greater convenience, and then buy the cable to match. I haven’t seen the thin 6′ cables at Amazon, though they are in many bike stores.
5 Stars Solid Lock
Don’t 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 you’re never stuck without backups. Also consider the Kryptonite New York series as those are slightly more secure than the Evo series, but don’t 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.
5 Stars Kryptonite Evolution Std U-lock
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.
5 Stars Great lock, mediocre plastic.
I can only assume the lock has been doing it’s job, since my bike is still in my possession. Although I can’t guarantee that it’s actually been a target of theft 
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 I’d recommend finding another way of attaching the lock to your bike when you’re riding.
Buy/More Info
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It is much lighter to carry around than the Nerf Vulcan that his brother has. 