Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Chain and Disc Lock Review

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?

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.