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Product Reviews
Planet Bike Fortress Heavy Duty Cable Lock
This 80cm-long cable lock has a heavy duty locking mechanism. New, flat "Bic-proof" keys.
Average Customer Rating:
2.2
out of 5
1 out of 4(25%)customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Fortress Heavy Duty Cable Lock
Review 1 for Fortress Heavy Duty Cable Lock
Overall Rating:
out of
5
Effectiveness:
2
out of
5
Value:
3
out of
5
By:cmac
Location: Toronto
Age: 25-34
Gender: male
Gear Style: Minimalist
MEC MEMBER
plus minus
Date: January 23, 2010
Had this lock for 2 years and the key mechanism was finichy for the past year. needed oil every other week. then the key finally broke off in the lock and I scrapped it.
The good part was that it was easy to strech around poles and it repelled a would be thief on at least one occasion who got about a third of the way through and took off.
I have gone with a u-lock to replace it.
Pros: easy to wrap around stuff
Cons: key sucks
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Review 2 for Fortress Heavy Duty Cable Lock
Overall Rating:
out of
5
Effectiveness:
1
out of
5
Value:
2
out of
5
By:McGillian
Location: Montreal
Age: 18-24
Gender: male
MEC MEMBER
Great Idea, Poorly Designed
Date: November 12, 2009
This bike lock is simple and easy to use, which is great, because convenience is very important in bike security. If it takes too long to use, then it's not really worth doing.
The unfortunate problem is that the system is poorly designed. The lock slides out of the bracket in only one direction, and on most bikes I'm guessing this is the direction of the horizontal bar. This means that you have to position the lock lower down on the bike, increasing the potential of fouling your feet on it.
The keys are rather flimsy and the flat design means that they don't have much strength along one critical axis. I would be rather worried of breaking one in the lock.
The biggest problem with the lock, however, is that it isn't rain proof. I used it maybe twice this summer in the rain and it is now finished. It was nearly impossible to unlock it.
Pros: Simple
Cons: Flimsy, Unreliable, short-lived, Not Weatherproof
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Review 3 for Fortress Heavy Duty Cable Lock
Overall Rating:
out of
5
Effectiveness:
3
out of
5
Value:
2
out of
5
By:electro
Location: Toronto, ON
Age: 35-44
Gender: male
Gear Style: Minimalist
Describe Yourself: Avid Cyclist
fine until cut
Date: July 18, 2009
I'd been using this (and the previous cylindrical-key lock) for the last 8 years all over Toronto. It worked pretty well. Sometimes the the lock got sticky and needed oil. And the key often fell out when open. But I liked it because it was convenient, reasonably light, and would lock to thicker posts.
Anyway, this was all fine until last week when my (expensive!) bike disappeared in broad daylight. No sign of a struggle, so I don't know if the lock was cut or picked. So sad. I won't trust this lock again.
Pros: Lightweight, Simple
Cons: Unreliable
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Review 4 for Fortress Heavy Duty Cable Lock
Overall Rating:
out of
5
Effectiveness:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
By:Nick
Location: Edmonton, AB
Age: 35-44
Gender: male
Gear Style: Performance Driven
Describe Yourself: Avid Cyclist
MEC MEMBER
Saved!!
Date: July 15, 2009
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
I just came home from West Edmonton Mall where I found that someone had tried to hack through my cable lock. They had only got about halfway and either gave up or were run off. My previous lock had a thinner cable and with that one my bike would have been gone. I'm not sure if I will get the same one though, I may upgrade to a longer cable with a padlock. Thankfully most of the places I bike to have secure indoor parking space.
Pros: Good Value
Cons: A Bit Short
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Review 5 for Fortress Heavy Duty Cable Lock
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:Chris the bike commuter
Location: Kitchener, ON
MEC MEMBER
Adequate for low-risk areas, but finicky
Date: November 5, 2008
No one's tried to nick my bike with this on, but that may just be luck. It certainly looks strong, and on a rack full of bikes that may persuade someone to try a different lock. After a couple of years there is a bit of rust stickiness, but some oil should take care of that. As noted elsewhere the key does turn too easily (and can fall back out in the locked position) and it must be fully unlocked when you engage it, so it takes some fiddling.
Re-coiling it is a nice bicep workout, too, but its short length coils nicer than thinner, longer cables. The mount works well for me but it takes up a lot of room. Speaking of length, this is a fairly short cable: you will not be able to use it to lock front tire and frame to those older ground-level bike racks, but its length and stiffness helps thread it through the taller ones easily.
Pros: Versatile, Durable
Cons: Rusts, Hard to use
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Review 6 for Fortress Heavy Duty Cable Lock
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:Hard[*]
Location: NVn
MEC MEMBER
Do not trust this lock
Date: July 23, 2008
My next lock will be fitted with a taser!
Pros: Zero Protection
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Review 7 for Fortress Heavy Duty Cable Lock
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:canuck
Location: toronto
VERIFIED REVIEWER
Not trustworthy
Date: July 10, 2008
Do not buy this lock, just had my bike stolen with this thing being used to protect it. $1200 bike now gone.
Cons: Weak
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Review 8 for Fortress Heavy Duty Cable Lock
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:coteesh
Location: Calgary
My bike was stolen today. Like butter.
Date: June 9, 2008
I had this lock for about 2 weeks, the first time I locked my bike downtown today, I came back and my bike was gone, and the lock was cut with bolt cutters in plain view, after lunch, at the bike rack in front of the Airline Ticket Center, in front of the C-train and 1st St. SW. I didn't realize bolt cutters were so effective against this. The lock is not suitable for locking your bike in the city in my opinion, it cuts like butter.
Pros: Durable, Lightweight, Easy to Use, Versatile
Cons: Bolt cutters-like butter, Weak
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Review 9 for Fortress Heavy Duty Cable Lock
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:j-dawg
Location: Montreal
MEC MEMBER
DO NOT BUY THIS LOCK
Date: May 14, 2008
My girlfriend and I bought two of these locks less than a week ago. I used both locks to lock up our bikes together in front of the house. When I wasn't sure which key went with which lock, I found that either key worked with either lock. I demonstrated this at MEC just before returning them. Buyer Beware!
Pros: LOOKS EFFECTIVE
Cons: DEFECTIVE DESIGN
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Review 10 for Fortress Heavy Duty Cable Lock
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:BikeMike
Location: Victoria, BC
VERIFIED REVIEWER
Awkward to use, Key prone to breaking
Date: March 16, 2008
I struggled with the lock for a year before the key broke (in the lock) and I could finally throw it away. I found it hard to open (adding oil helped a little), and hard to close (ditto) and hard to coil. The "slide in holder" broke as well after a few months. It was a nuisance to carry around.
Pros: Ultra Strong
Cons: Hard to use, Hard to carry, Rusts
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Review 11 for Fortress Heavy Duty Cable Lock
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:D the D
Location: Vancouver
Meh...
Date: February 18, 2008
This is a great example of a good idea went bad.
Very strong lock that is built so poorly that i rather have a weaker lock thats easier to use.
Key turns too easily and wont stay still to allow one to insert the cable into the locking housing.
Its so thick that you can only coil it twice and its extremely difficult to do so, especially in the cold.
DOnt waste time carrying it on the bike and put it in your bag or hang it off your belt..
If it wasn't a gift, i would have used something else.
Pros: Ultra Strong, Durable
Cons: Cumbersome, Hard to use
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Review 12 for Fortress Heavy Duty Cable Lock
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:jda
Location: toronto
had to cut the lock
Date: February 4, 2008
the flat key system failed me. the tumblers became messed up and i could not open the lock. i had to cut the lock.
MEC told me that the tumblers frequently fail.
Pros: cheap
Cons: faulty lock
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Review 13 for Fortress Heavy Duty Cable Lock
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:Spiralcross
Location: Toronto / Hong Kong
Good product for a good price...
Date: October 28, 2007
I own one of the original with the "round" key system for years, [...] came up with the exchange program for a new flat-key updated version a few years back, I had it upgraded! Thank you [...]!Been working in Hong Kong/Beijing/Guangzhou & Shanghai in the past 2 years, bought another bike in Hong Kong, hoping my friend can bring one of these lock over for my bike locking in HK, however, out of stock, just my luck!Love this Lock! Nothing like it here in Hong Kong.Funny thing, you figured it is made in China, nothing even comes close!
Pros: Versatile, Easy to Use, Durable, Ultra Strong
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Review 14 for Fortress Heavy Duty Cable Lock
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:Nate
Location: Winnipeg
saved my bike!
Date: October 7, 2007
I had one for a year, and came out one day to find it halfway cut through, so I guess it works great! I went out right away and bought another one 'cause it obviously isn't easy to get through.
Pros: Ultra Strong, Easy to carry, Durable
Cons: Finicky
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Review 15 for Fortress Heavy Duty Cable Lock
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:Mike G
Location: Toronto, Canada
MEC MEMBER
Finicky But Useful
Date: June 1, 2007
I've had it for almost a year now and I've finally stopped hating it, mostly because I've started carrying it in my knapsack. In warm weather the lock is very easy to manipulate as the metal wires and plastic coating are more malleable in heat. Unfortunately if you have it mounted on your bike this usually means it starts unwinding into your pedals. In cold weather it's fine to have it mounted but it's a real pain in the butt to close. I've had it seize up on me a few times due to rust in the lock. Rain water collects in the locking mechanism and it rusts up pretty fast but some wd-40 to work the rust out and an occasional few drops of bike lube tend to prevent this. All in all despite it's problems I like it, it's the thickest cable I've seen around, and while a cable lock can be easier to get through than other locks, this one would take the thief a while, also because it's a cable it fits bike frames easier. I usually use it in combination with a U lock. If I'm just running in though I only use this lock. All in all, I'd say it's worth the effort. But I'd recommend a Kryptonite U lock with a high tension steel cable over this any day. Also in response to another post about this product, I live in Toronto and have no problems with it, how long you leave your bike somewhere greatly increases it's theft risk, and then there's always bad luck.
Pros: Durable, Versatile
Cons: Hard to use, Rusts
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Review 16 for Fortress Heavy Duty Cable Lock
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:TO Tele Skier
Location: Toronto, ON
MEC MEMBER
Practical - but mine got cut
Date: May 19, 2007
I really like this lock - I used it for many years in Vancouver. It does tend to rust up but this can be fixed by dripping some chain oil into the lock mechanism. It didn't work so well in Toronto - one night a thief cut it and took my (precious) beater bike.
Pros: Versatile, Lightweight
Cons: Weak, Rusts
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Review 17 for Fortress Heavy Duty Cable Lock
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:mister d
Location: Toronto
Really hard to break
Date: April 3, 2007
I had many similar problems to the person above. It was really hard to open and close the lock. I got a feel for it eventually but it was a struggle every time. My girlfriend couldn't even open it at all. The worst part of the lock is that the keys are plastic coated with shiny paint. Two of the keys broke and one of them broke inside the lock. I spent three hours sawing through the steel with a handsaw to get my bike back. [...] i was really disappointed by this product.
Pros: Durable, Ultra Strong
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Review 18 for Fortress Heavy Duty Cable Lock
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:Anonymous
Location: Victoria, BC
MEC MEMBER
This Lock is OK, but Frustrating to Use
Date: March 23, 2007
I have owned the lock for about four months now. It is still very sticky - it jams when I try to open it.
The key turns too easily i.e. there is no stop to keep the key in the unlocked position. Once I get it open and put it around the bike, the key often turns a bit which means I can't get the lock to close. Sometimes it is sticky anyway when I try to close it.
So there is often frustration both opening and closing this lock. This could probably be helped by smoothing the parts during manufacture (there seems to be little ridges left) or by making the pin a little smaller.
The key turns too easily i.e. there is no stop to keep the key in the unlocked position. Once I get it open and put it around the bike, the key often turns a bit which means I can't get the lock to close. Sometimes it is sticky anyway when I try to close it.
So there is often frustration both opening and closing this lock. This could probably be helped by smoothing the parts during manufacture (there seems to be little ridges left) or by making the pin a little smaller.
Pros: Durable, Good Value
Cons: Hard to use
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