OnGuard Bulldog MINI TC 5013TC Bicycle U-Lock

10 Review to this product

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  Robin Means
  June 15th, 2010 on 4:52 am

  Rating

  After removing the ugly yellow plastic pieces, this lock was perfect. It’s small enough to fit into your back pocket (depending on your jeans) and big enough to lock to most bike racks. I like that the key stays in and won’t fall out until it’s locked.
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  Andrew A. Wang
  June 15th, 2010 on 6:35 am

  Rating

  I like the smaller size, I haven’t had any problems so far finding something to lock it to that you might expect and it fits easily in my frame. Having all those extra keys is a great backup, and in a couple months of daily usage I haven’t had any of the keys snap off in the lock. One of the keys is also integrated with a LED light, which is really handy! This is definitely sturdier than my old cable lock which jammed, highly recommended.
• 

  T. Quinn
  June 17th, 2010 on 8:35 am

  Rating

  I am happy to report this bike lock is easy to use and my bike has not yet been stolen.
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  Mathieu J. Champagne
  June 17th, 2010 on 5:19 pm

  Rating

  This is an excellent little lock that I use nearly every day. The locking mechanism seems a tiny bit fragile, but as long as you’re careful it should be fine. The two yellow ends on the lock eventually began tearing so I ripped them off, surprisingly I think it looks better being all black. I feel comfortable locking my bike up overnight with this lock, and I suggest locking it based on what a previous reviewer had suggested (the back wheel through the frame triangle). The bike mount system works ok, and looks slightly cheap, but gets the job done. Overall, this is an excellent lock for an excellent price.
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  G. W. Wang
  June 19th, 2010 on 12:08 pm

  Rating

  Perfect size for the Sheldon Brown technique. Better mechanism than more expensive Kryptonites. Perfect!
• 

  Westlake
  June 20th, 2010 on 3:32 am

  Rating

  The OnGuard Bulldog Mini 5013TC is a very strong, high quality mini U-lock, perfect for use in low to medium crime areas. After a long search that involved reading online reviews, articles, and comments on bike forums I settled on this lock as my best choice. It has worked out well.

  Any U-lock, even heavy top of the line locks from OnGuard and Kryptonite, can be cut with power tools in a few minutes. Still, those power tools make a hell of a racket, and most thieves want to avoid attention. If you live surrounded by neighbors who consider bicycle theft using power tools to be entertaining performance art, the Bulldog Mini is probably not the lock for you.

  For those of us who live in lower crime areas, where the thieves use manual tools, the best mini U locks (such as the Kryptonite and OnGuard minis) can provide protection equal or superior to heavier, more expensive U-locks against brute force attacks. The mini locks don’t provide enough space for a thief to insert a large metal bar or a jack, so he can’t apply the force necessary to quickly break the lock. The Bulldog Mini is strong enough to resist bolt cutters and the other standard attacks. Still, one should keep in mind that a thief with a good hacksaw, some spare blades, plenty of time, and a strong arm can eventually saw through the shackle of any U lock. It is best to park your bike in a location where such activity would be noticed.

  All the Bulldog Mini’s surfaces are covered with plastic, to prevent scratching the bike. The lock comes with a carrying bracket that attaches to the bike frame. Five flat keys are provided, including one key with a built-in light. The 3.5″ x 5.5″ measurement cited in the ad describes the inside of the U locking area, not the entire lock. The lock is large enough to go around a good-sized knobby mountain bike tire and a standard parking meter post. The most recent version of the 5013TC looks a bit different from the old, with a more cylindrical crosspiece and different coloring: mostly black, with some yellow. They are good looking locks.

  If you buy a mini lock, consider using bicycle guru Sheldon Brown’s lock strategy. (Google “Sheldon Brown’s lock strategy” for more info.) According to Brown, a U-lock should go around the rear wheel and through the rear frame triangle to the parking meter or other secure attachment. The U need not enclose any portion of the frame. The rear wheel cannot fit through the triangle, so the prospective thief must cut all the way through the rear wheel and tire — not easy to do. The alternative to this strategy is to secure just the frame.

  One lock alone will not secure both wheels. Another U-bolt would be overkill where I live. I have a 4′ cable that I can loop into the Bulldog and around both wheels, but I don’t usually bother with it except when there is no post to which I can attach the Bulldog. Cables can be cut by bolt cutters, so they don’t provide much security anyway.
  
• 

  Steven Walker
  June 20th, 2010 on 7:12 am

  Rating

  After an error from Fedex – which was not the shipper’s fault – I received my lock. It is sturdy and strong, and – in retrospect – well worth the wait. Yes…this is a great lock. Worth every penny. I will shop via bikesomewhere.com again.
• 

  BeforeISleep.net
  June 21st, 2010 on 12:11 am

  Rating

  I am very impressed with the OnGuard Bulldog MINI. It is not too heavy, but feels very solid. It comes with a large key with an LED light, and four non-lighted spares! Also has a nice mounting bracket with very user-friendly instructions and lots of pictures.

  I actually use it to lock up my Segway’s “LeanSteer” frame for extra protection in shady areas. I wasn’t sure if it would work, but the mounting bracket is very adjustable.

  Highly recommended!
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  Jose Sanchez
  June 21st, 2010 on 5:24 am

  Rating

  When it comes to bicycle looks, every choice you make is a trade off. Top of the line locks are pricey , and also heavier and more cumbersome to carry. Less expensive and more lightweight locks are easier for a thief to bypass.

  Overall this particular U-lock offers a good balance of weight, security and price. In low to moderate crime areas it is perfectly serviceable on it’s own. In high crime areas, it should be used in conjunction with a more robust chain lock, which would provide an extra layer of security that a thief would have to overcome.

  Either way, it’s a good value either as a main lock in lower crime areas, or as a secondary lock in areas where bike theft is a bigger concern.
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  R. Sewald
  June 21st, 2010 on 11:37 am

  Rating

  In terms of durability and strength, this is a great lock. However, the mini size, designed to cut down on the leverage space between your bicycle and the rack, also make this a challenging fit for larger framed bikes. I have a women’s Giant Cypress (a hybird) and there’s no way this lock will fit around the hefty frame, the wider quick-release tire and the bike rack. The lock will fit around the frame and rack alone.

  If you’re concerned about securing a quick-release tire on a mountain bike or hybrid in addition to the frame (say you live in a college town where kids like to steal things regardless of value just for the heck of it) you may want to consider one of OnGuards larger locks or this lock in combination with a cable lock to secure any parts that are less tempting targets yet are quick and easy to remove.