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review

Abus Bordo Granit X-Plus link lock

6
£99.99

VERDICT:

6
10
Sturdy and compact, easy to swap between bikes but not cheap and it has a flaw
Weight: 
1,658g
Contact: 
www.zyro.co.uk

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Abus give the Bordo Granit X-Plus their top bike security rating of 15 so we weren't expecting it to be a pushover and indeed it's not. The compact design will appeal to aesthetes too, especially those with fairly deep pockets.

The lock itself is constructed of six linked plates that secure into a solid looking base with a six cylinder lock protected by a good depth of metal. The plates fold out to give a reach similar to a U lock but they fold down to a very compact unit that stows away in a plastic case that you can attach to your frame with two straps. It's a lot neater than a big U lock though at over 1600g there's still plenty of heft.

The last time we tested a link lock we managed to snip it in about 20 seconds so the bolt croppers were the first weapon to be deployed, but the Bordo is made of strong stuff: you could see the blades of our 3ft croppers bending as they tried their hardest to breach the lock. After a couple of minutes we'd managed to quite severely nick the metal so we though we'd try a twist with the persuader but the link design means it's very hard to get any purchase. whacking the linking rivets didn't really have any effect and there was no obvious way to attack the lock so in the end we went back to the croppers, which would probably have got through eventually but weren't anywhere close by the time our five minutes were up.

When the dust had settled there looked to be some minor cosmetic damage but the lock was intact and still happy to fold up on itself. Now for the bad news. One of the things that had been broken and lost in the attack was a plastic plate on the underside of the lock. It didn't look to be significant but it turned out that it was: the next time we opened the lock the barrel mechanism fell out of the lock and springs and spigots went bouncing under desks and behind cupboards. End of lock.

On the face of it the Bordo is a good alternative to a U lock if you don't like the idea of a big heavy lock rattling away in your frame. It's compact and the mounting straps and case keep it firmly anchored. It's easy to swap between bikes too, making it a good choice if you've got a big stable. £100 isn't cheap though, and you'll have to hope that someone doesn't have a go at snapping it. They're unlikely to succeed, but they might land you with a lock that falls to pieces next time you want to use it

Verdict

Sturdy and compact link lock that's easy to swap between bikes. Pity about the design flaw that means the barrel can come loose after an attack.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Abus Bordo Granit X-Plus link lock

Size tested: 85cm

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
6/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes untill it fell to bits

Would you consider buying the product? No

Would you recommend the product to a friend? No, I'd point them at the Abus Granit U lock which is among the best we've tried

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 190cm  Weight: 96kg

I usually ride: whatever I\\\'m testing...  My best bike is: Genesis Equilibrium with Ultegra 6700

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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