For those who’re commuting to work and leaving your bike unattended in a metropolis, it’s not simply your body that it’s essential shield. It’s additionally a smart concept to lock your wheels, as these are sometimes focused by thieves too. The traditional answer is to loop a cable by your wheels and use considered one of the very best bike locks to safe it, and the body, to an immovable object. Nevertheless, that is fairly a cumbersome system.
Self-proclaimed to be the “world’s smallest lock for bike components”, I used to be intrigued to check Hexlox’s anti-theft system to see the way it works – and discover out whether or not one thing so tiny is usually a dependable system for such an necessary activity.
Building
For those who’re utilizing the Hexlox system in your wheels, it consists of three components: a Hexlox thru-axle for every wheel, a Hexlox key and two Hexlox tiny 6mm chrome steel inserts (which match into the bolt of every thru-axle).
Importantly, how does Hexlox’s anti-theft system work for securing your wheels? Primarily, you insert the Hexlox into the socket of the thru-axle, which blocks entry. If a thief comes together with an Allen key, they merely can not insert it into the bolt to unscrew the thru-axle – so that they’re unable to take away the wheel out of your bike.
The HexLox system is easy and weighs subsequent to nothing.
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The Hexlox insert can solely be eliminated together with your particular Hexlox key as the form of the Hexlox key and Hexlox insert are matched precisely (and so they share the identical three-digit keycode which is totally distinctive to the set).
It’s necessary to notice that the explanation why Hexlox inserts keep within the head of the bolt is as a result of they’re magnetic. Nevertheless, most thru-axles that come customary in your bike are aluminum – that means that you’ll seemingly need to buy a metal through axle for the Hexlox insert to work. Hexlox sells an enormous vary, so it’s best to be capable to discover one which is appropriate together with your bike. Or, if you happen to do occur to have a metal thru-axle knocking about, you’ll be able to simply use that.
(Picture credit score: Future)
Hexlox’s system can’t solely be used on wheels, but in addition for basically each bolt in your bike. You possibly can drop the inserts within the bolts in your saddles, seatpost, handlebars, stems, pedals – the checklist goes on. It’s extra seemingly that no less than a few of your bolts could be metal (and can due to this fact work with the magnetic Hexlox inserts), but when not, Hexlox does promote a wide range of substitute bolts for various functions, too.
I put the system to the take a look at on the thru-axles of my commuting bike. Right here’s the way it went…
The arrange and experience
As talked about, most thru-axles are aluminium – and mine aren’t any completely different. To ensure that Hexlox’s system to work, I first needed to swap in entrance and rear thru-axles which have metal heads. The entrance is Hexlox branded, the rear was despatched by Hexlox, however is definitely from Robert Axle.
As each the Hexlox key and insert are magnetic I used to be in a position to choose up the tiny insert with my key and place it into the thru-axle. I then turned the important thing anti-clockwise to lock the insert in place. Actually fast and simple to do.
I additionally like that the secret’s tiny and far smaller than another bike lock keys I’ve. After I added it to my set of home keys I may barely discover that I had added one other key.
The set up course of is fast and easy
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It’s a bit trickier to take away the bolt – even together with your matching magic magnetic key. I discovered that I needed to actually push the important thing in – and be very exact with eradicating the insert fully straight (not even at a slight angle). This isn’t the best factor to do if you’re crouching by the facet of the highway on an impromptu cease – almost certainly when you have got a puncture and must take away your wheel. Fortunately I haven’t really had a puncture on my commuting bike up to now this 12 months (due to Schwalbe’s wonderful G-One Allround tyres), and so the one purpose I attempted eradicating the bolt was for the good thing about this take a look at!
Anyway, because the insert will not be one thing you’ll must take away every day and even every week or month (hopefully), the truth that it’s a bit troublesome to take away isn’t a lot of a problem in my view.
Given the problem and frustration I skilled even eradicating the insert with the proper key, I’m fairly assured it is going to a hindrance to thieves. Most are opportunistic, so in the event that they’re making an attempt to jam of their Allen key however discover it will not match, hopefully, they’ll simply transfer on.
The Hexlox system may be very discreet however will be fiddly when making an attempt to take away a wheel.
(Picture credit score: Future)
I made a decision to attempt to take away the insert with a magnet that I pulled off my fridge door simply to see the way it’d cope and I wasn’t in a position to take away the insert. I don’t have another stronger magnets round to check it with, however Hexlox claims that it’s not potential to take away the insert with a extra highly effective magnet. It says: “The Hexlox is held in place in your bolt with a really small magnet however the important thing doesn’t use magnetic power to take away the Hexlox – there’s a mechanical bond.” I had no success in utilizing pliers to take away the insert both.
After these exams, I really feel assured leaving my bike unattended with only a D-lock and these bolt-blockers. A extremely motivated thief may be capable to drill out the Hexlox insert utilizing a cordless drill. However I’d be shocked at anybody going to that a lot fiddly effort on the wheels – if the facility instruments are being damaged out, it makes extra sense to go straight for the D-Lock.
There are different steps I take to be ok with leaving my bike locked up unattended, resembling close by CCTV and in areas much less frequented by thieves. There’s at all times extra you are able to do to keep off thieves and supply further safety, however Hexlox appears to be a very good stability between safety and neatness for me.
I’ve been impressed by how discreet Hexlox’s answer is. And I’ve additionally appreciated not having to lug a lock cable round with all my issues for work.
By way of getting arrange, it’s fairly straightforward to work out which dimension Hexlox you want for the bolts in your bike. Merely insert an Allen key into the bolt and whichever dimension Allen key matches the outlet, that’s the dimensions Hexlox you’ll want.
Worth and conclusion
A single Hexlox prices £14.00 and Hexlox key prices £14.00, which provides as much as £42.00 for shielding your entrance and rear thru-axles. For those who want a entrance and rear thru-axle to go together with it (as a result of your present setup doesn’t have a magnetic metal head) then that’s an additional £54.99 for every. This brings the total value as much as €151.98. That is actually a steep funding and a substantial quantity greater than merely utilizing a cable together with your D-lock. For instance Kryptonite’s Kryptoflex prices simply £14.99.
