REASONS TO BUY
Large and versatile
Super burly
REASONS TO AVOID
Too heavy to transport regularly
Can be a pain to use
Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Chain and Disc Lock Review
Too big and heavy to transport, this lock is best left stationed at a bike rack where you regularly lock up for an extended time
Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Chain and New York Disc Lock
Credit: Kryptonite
RELATED: Best Bike Locks of 2023
Our Verdict
We knew the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Chain and Disc Lock would be enormous and hefty when researching biking-related gear. When it arrived, we were shocked. This 5 feet long chain and mini yet sturdy disc lock weigh over 15 pounds in total. Wowza! As expected, this lock provides incredible security, durability, and versatile locking positions. For obvious reasons, it's the least portable model reviewed, so it's best to leave it at the bike rack you frequent where security concerns are high. Without a doubt, this lock is the most intimidating contender of best bike locks, and it's only suitable for folks who need this type of deterrent.
Editor's Note: We updated this gear review on January 25, 2022, to include additional details on whether or not we would purchase this bike lock and other options we would consider buying.
Compare to Similar Products
| Awards |  | |  | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $179 List $132.96 at Amazon | $72.86 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $143 List $118.57 at Amazon | $80 List $53.84 at Amazon | $51.57 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Large and versatile, super burly | Wearable design, solid security, easy to use | Very secure, mounts to bike, convenient size for locking up | Secure, includes 5 keys, price is nice | Inexpensive, more secure than many in its price range, high quality |
| Cons | Too heavy to transport regularly, can be a pain to use | Not lightweight, uncomfortable with some backpacks, pricey | Heavy, bulky to transport | Clunky mounting hardware, heavy | Locking mechanism stuck a few times, lackluster frame mount |
| Bottom Line | Too big and heavy to transport, this lock is best left stationed at a bike rack where you regularly lock up for an extended time | The innovative design of this wearable chain lock increases this heavy lock's portability, which is great news for regular bike commuters | Our favorite all-around bike lock for high-security needs | This lock provides great security and versatility at an affordable price, and while not our absolute favorite, it's pretty close | This inexpensive U-lock offers versatility and security that is likely to fit the needs and budgets of many cyclists and commuters |
| Rating Categories | Kryptonite New York... | Hiplok Original: Su... | Kryptonite New York... | OnGuard Brute STD | Kryptonite Kryptolo... |
| Security (40%) | |||||
| Ease of Transport (25%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (20%) | |||||
| Versatility (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Kryptonite New York... | Hiplok Original: Su... | Kryptonite New York... | OnGuard Brute STD | Kryptonite Kryptolo... |
| Measured weight (lbs) | 15.1 lbs | 4.3 lbs | 4.5 lbs | 3.6 lbs | 3.2 lbs |
| Type of lock | Chain with disc lock | Wearable chain | U-lock | U-Lock | U-Lock + cable |
| Primary materials/thickness | 14mm 3T hardened manganese steel(chain); 15mm steel shackle (disc lock); nylon sleeve | 8mm hardened steel chain, 600D polyester sleeve | 16mm Hardened Steel | 16.8mm hardened steel | 12.7mm hardened steel; braided steel cable |
| Locking dimension | 60" circumference (chain); 4" x 5" (disc lock) | 33.5" circumference, 2" width | 4" x 8" | 7.5" x 10.5" | U-lock: 4" x 9"; Cable: 4' |
| # of keys included | 3 keys (one with HID light) | 3 keys | 3 keys (one with HID light) | 5 keys | 2 keys |
| Tin snips | No | No | No | No | No |
| Hammer | No | No | No | No | No |
| Hacksaw | No | No | No | No | No |
| Bolt cutters, 36" | No | No | No | No | No |
| Angle grinder | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Number of cuts to free lock | 2 cuts | 1 cut | 2 cuts | 2 cuts | 2 cuts |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Chain and New York Disc Lock consists of a 5-foot chain of 14 mm 3t hardened manganese steel with a nylon sleeve. A 15 mm steel shackle disc lock (coated in PVC) secures the chain.
Performance Comparison
The Fahgettaboudit chain provides enough length and flexibility to lock up both wheels with the frame without removing the front one.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Security
This lock is a serious theft deterrent; just looking at it is intimidating. Sold Secure (an independent lock rating agency) gave it a high rating of "Gold" for bicycles and motorcycles. It also receives a rating of Category 3 from Thatcham Quality Assured, a motor insurers' automotive research center in the UK. Kryptonite themselves gave it a perfect 10/10 security score, unmatched by any other lock reviewed. On paper and in hand, it's a beast.
Power tools are necessary to break this lock.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
In our lab of destruction, this lock fared at the top of the group. Hand tools were useless against this big guy, and it took roughly 45 seconds for us to get through the hardened steel to cut the lock. After one cut, this lock opened up 1/2 an inch. If you lock up responsibly, this means it takes two cuts of an angle grinder to compromise the Fahgettaboudit Chain and Disc Lock. If that doesn't convince you of this model's security, Kryptonite offers a generous theft protection program with the purchase of this lock. If this is important to you, register as soon as you buy this lock.
This lock needs one cut and plenty of hammering or two cuts to remove it from most bike racks.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Ease of Transport
The Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Chain and New York Disc Lock is as cumbersome to carry as it is to say. It's not the toss-in-your-backpack-and-go type. It's intended to remain in one location, such as the bike rack outside your apartment building or office. For testing sake, we rode around town with this model in our backpacks, and we felt all 15+ lbs of it. Uffda.
Our testers tried various methods of transporting this monstrous chain lock, but we didn't like any of them.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
If you must ride with this lock in tow, our best solution was to wrap it around the handlebars, which puts a lot of weight on the front wheel and slows you down, but if you need to move it a few miles, this is the best way to carry it (unless you have a basket or panniers installed on your bike). We would not be thrilled to ride over five miles with it attached in this manner, though, and do not recommend transporting the lock habitually.
It's possible to transport this lock, but it seriously affects the handling and increases the weight.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Ease of Use
Due to its size and heft, this is the toughest and slowest lock in our review to use. Be warned; this lock can chip paint off your bike as you feed the chain around the frame. Carelessness might even result in a dent in the frame, and we were sure to avoid the chain resting entirely on thin spokes when locking it up. Our testers appreciated that top-shelf security means heavy-duty materials, but we were often frustrated when using this lock.
The significant weight of this lock makes securing it a cumbersome chore.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
The Fahgettaboudit Chain and Disc Lock comes with three keys, and one of them has a handy integrated HID light. Kryptonite includes this lock in their Key Safe Program, which means you're eligible for a one-time, free-of-charge replacement pair of keys over the lifespan of this bike lock. We dig that.
Use the sliding dust cover to prolong the integrity of the locking mechanism.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Versatility
The chain of this lock is five feet long, which is long enough to snake through both wheels and the frame without needing to remove anything. Due to its thickness, we couldn't fit it through any saddle stays or use it to lock up our panniers. This heavy chain is functional beyond your biking gear, too, as we used it to lock up dirt bikes outside a watering hole, as well as to secure items in our garage overnight.
Our experts reviewed these two chain locks; the Hiplok (left) features 8 mm thick links, and the Fahgettaboudit Chain (right) has thicker 14 mm links.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Should You Buy the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Chain and Disc Lock?
The Fahgettaboudit Chain and Disc Lock isn't for the faint of heart; it's as burly as bike locks get. It's not practical for running errands or moving from point A to B to C. But, if you meet this criterion: you need ultimate top-security, you're okay with your bike potentially experiencing some wear and tear from the chain, and you can leave this bike lock at your destination, then we think this contender could be a fit. Just remember, if you need to move or carry it, lift with your legs, not your back.
What Other Bike Locks Should You Consider?
The most manageable high-security model to carry is the ABUS Granit X-Plus 540 U-Lock, which weighs less than three and a half pounds and mounts on the frame.
Otherwise, if you're a daily commuter who needs solid security, we suggest the Hiplok Original: Superbright (a wearable option!) or the Kryptonite New York Standard U-Lock.
—
Ross Robinson
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