Abus Bordo Granit X-Plus link lock

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.