I think we’ve all been there before where we need to set the bike down for a few minutes to run into the gas station or Taco Bell to get some drinks and food and didn’t have a lock, just hoping you won’t come out and have your bike missing. It doesn’t take more than a couple of seconds for somebody to grab your bike and take off before you realize that your pride and joy just got jacked. I mean, let’s be real… Bikes are expensive and it’s never a bad idea to invest in something that’s going to keep it from being damaged or stolen. Just like you put a hub guard on to keep you from wrecking your hub when you grind, tossing a lock on your bike could be the difference between being robbed or having somebody think twice before they try.
The guys at Subrosa have been working on their war on theft for a little while now, but we have never really taken that in-depth of a look at what they have to offer in the ant-theft department. We recently got our hands on their Combat and Warhead locks and figured it would be a good time to talk a little bit about just what makes these guys so important. Let’s do this!
Let’s start out with the original lock from Subrosa, the Combat lock. This little guy might not appear to be all that big and bad, but even something as simple as this can be the difference between somebody just hopping on and going or having a struggle and causing a scene keeping them from getting at it. The Combat lock has a die cast SK5 steel latch inside of that high-impact ABS composite plastic grenade case with a retractable 32″ long, 1.5mm thick stainless steel braided cable making for a reliable lock without much bulk or weight to lug around.
The Combat lock is pretty simple, you simply push the black lever and pull the cable to the length you need, wrap it around your bike and a permanent object, plug it in and you’re good to go. It’s pretty compact and discrete. Obviously if somebody is running around with cable cutters, it would be pretty easy to get past this, but let’s be real… Most people don’t. The braided cable and body of this lock is strong enough to hold up to most abuse a criminal could throw at it other than cutting it. It’s also small enough that you can carry it in your pocket or easily toss it in your backpack if you have one. (Edit: Yes, we know if somebody pulled out allen keys they could undo the bars and take the bike… Cable cutters would be faster. It’s just an example… Settle down.)
That’s with all 32″ of the cable pulled out. Plenty of length to wrap around a pole, fence or really any object that you can get your bike or even a backpack or something close enough to wrap around.
The Combat lock comes in orange only with a weight of 3.7 oz. and two keys just incase you get crazy and lose one. The lock is available for $19.99 on Dan’s Comp or you can have your local shop get ahold of Sparky’s Distribution to get you one ordered up today!
Here’s a few examples from Subrosa on proper ways to use it and things not to use it for.
Maybe you want a little more beef to feel better about leaving your bike out of your sight for a little while. The Warhead lock is just that. This lock has a steel locking mechanism inside of a high-impact ABS composite cover with a 10mm thick, 22mm” stainless steel braided cable. There is also an XL version of this lock which uses a 7′ long cable instead. Obviously this one is much different than the Combat lock and designed to be much more difficult to get through. The 22″ version weighs in at 9.8 oz. and the 7′ version weighs in at 1.15 lbs.
This lock is not nearly compact and light weight, but it will be clear that you don’t intend on letting your stuff go without a bit of a fight. Once again, this lock isn’t bullet proof by any means, so to speak, because somebody with some beefy cable cutters could get through this, but it’s pretty unlikely they will have some on hand. The biggest goal Subrosa was trying to accomplish with these locks were to prevent your bike from being stolen in a shorter term scenario. Obviously if you give somebody plenty of time to find something to get through this, they will, but this is going to hold your bike in place for anyone looking for a quick grab. You will probably want to haul this around in your backpack when you aren’t using it. The longer cable is ideal if you’re worried about somebody yanking your wheels off your bike for example. This lock comes with 2 keys as well.
Like we mentioned above, the Warhead lock is available in two versions; 22″ and 7′, both sizes come in orange with a smoke grey cable. The 22″ version is available for $16.99 on Dan’s Comp and the 7′ version is going for $19.99 on Dan’s Comp. You can also have your local shop get ahold of Sparky’s Distribution to get you one ordered up as well.
If you’re looking for something that’s more heavy duty and more long term, there are more heavy duty locks out there that are available. Hit your local shop because they will have what you need or know where to get it. Ultimately though, locks are to keep the honest people honest and simply just a way of slowing thieves down. As long as you keep your bike stored in a safe and secure place when you aren’t using it, these locks should be all you need on a day to day basis when you have it out.
You can find out more about Subrosa and their products by visiting their website — SubrosaBrand.com
