Locks and tie-down straps have both been around forever. The Lockstraps combine two separate items into one simple system. The strap itself, is nearly identical to other good quality motorcycle tie-down straps on the market. It is a wide woven band with carabineer hooks on both ends. There is an extra length of strap on the topside that is intended to hook over the handle bars and then attached to the top carabineer. This is an integrated “soft-strap” system similar to other nice tie-down straps.
Lockstraps puts a new spin on the tie-down by adding a three digit combination lock on the clip of the carabineers. With out your three digits, the clip cannot be opened. The idea is to deter criminals from taking your bike (or whatever else you strap.) The strap is also reinforced with steel cable for the full length. This will make the strap very difficult to cut.
I’m sorry to say it, but crime happens often. Fortunately for us, thieves are lazy. Therefore, the more difficult it is to gain access to your moto-goodness, the less likely it is to disappear. The Lockstraps are very easy to use and it will deter most thieves and slow down the others.
One problem I see with the lockstraps is that the straps, when loosened, could be easily removed from the bike. This could be done by clipping the brake line and/or throttle cable and then also removing the handlebar cross bar if you have 7/8” bars. Suddenly your bike is no longer secured.
Lockstraps have an answer to this. The end of the strap is extra long. This remaining end can be looped through the frame or another substantial part of the bike and then locked into the carabineer.
My initial thoughts on the lockstraps were positive. It was made out to be an easy way to keep my bike protected. After review, I feel like it may not be the best value. To get the most protection out of the Lockstrap, you need to loop it around the frame. This lowers the convenience. With the convenience only slightly better than a separate cable lock/tie-down set up, and the price slightly more; I feel like the Lockstraps are not for everyone.
Overall, I would give the Lockstraps a 3 out of 5. The idea, from what I can gather, is to deter thieves from opportunistically stealing your dirt bike. It will probably do this but for the price of one Lockstrap, you could get a much more secure cable or chain lock.
For more information about the Lockstraps visit http://www.lockstraps.com/
This Post is Tagged With:
cable locks, locks, Lockstraps, motorcycle theft, tie-downs
