The Master Lock U-Lock is a relatively compact design that works on the principle of minimising space for angle grinders, bottle jacks and other brute force tooling, making it as awkward as possible for a thief. For the most part, it’s felt reassuring hefty, the locking mechanism slick and reliable, and the lock generally pleasant to use. However, while the shorter shackle potentially makes a thief’s life trickier, if used as your only lock it might limit your locking host options. Also, it was more readily defeated by the angle grinder than some U-locks around the £50 mark.
> Buy now: Master Lock U-Lock for £35.95 from Windwave
Tipping the scales at 1,158g (plus 63g for the mount), the Master Lock U-Lock is lighter than most of the others we’ve been putting through the big road.cc lock-breaking test, but still feels reassuringly solid. It meets the Sold Secure Diamond rating, which is the highest going and indicates a lock that will withstand resistance to prolonged attack. Sold Secure is an independent company that assesses the strength and durability of locks and is recognised, if not insisted upon, by insurance companies.
The U-lock’s 10.4cm-wide body and 14mm diameter shackle are made from hardened steel, designed to resist prying, cutting and sawing. It’s treated to a paint-friendly, abrasion-resistant black PVC coating that is also designed to protect the steel against corrosion and weathering, which can weaken the lock over time, especially if you’re commuting to work year-round and/or living in coastal areas. The mechanism also has a sliding cover to keep grit and other nasty stuff out.
A straight-cut disc key has been standard on better quality locks for many years, and the limited lifetime warranty (against manufacturing defects) and four keys are also reassuring.
Keeping locks lightly oiled is a good thing in principle, but speaking with a locksmith recently, be mindful about doing this too frequently, and be equally mindful about your choice of lube. He recommended sparing use of a well-known PTFE-infused blend over a household water displacer on the basis that he’d seen mechanisms gum up with contaminant. This ultimately places too much loading on the mechanism, resulting in failure.
User friendliness
The 21cm shackle is relatively short but still practical. It best suits contexts where you’ve removed the front wheel and are locking this to the bike and a bike parking stand or similar. Basically, you want to be filling the lock and foiling tools. Despite its length, the Master Lock is pleasant to use, and from the packet the locking mechanism was slick and secure.
Front wheel removed, lock fed through both wheels and frame, there’s sufficient reach for railings and loop type street parking, while keeping the lock above ground (and therefore, less vulnerable to blunt force attacks) and presenting minimal room for power tools and other forms of blunt force attack.
However, the relatively short shackle does limit your options somewhat, which was my primary reason for carrying a longer second lock, especially when riding in the capital. I’d tether the frame and rear wheel to something secure and immovable via my monster chain lock, the front wheel to frame using the shorter U-lock.
That said, I’ve typically carried the Master Lock in a pannier, knowing I could stop off at the supermarket or similar come the close of a group outing, especially on my fixed gear winter trainer, which employs a locking skewer on the front wheel to deter opportunist pilfering.
Mount
There is the option of mounting the lock to your bike as it comes with a simple two-piece mount, with soft, rubberised shims and long hex bolts. It easily entertained standard diameter steel seat tubes, with scope for oversized fare.
That said, a rack mount option would be nice – I did find it a little large for the main triangle of smaller compact geometry frames, especially when two bottle cages are thrown into the mix. Also, a kilo is pretty much the upper end of its capacity, and I was aware of some modest flex (but thankfully no annoying chatter) when tackling back lanes and potholed tarmac.
I installed the bolts with a drop of wet lube rather than grease, and have needed to snug them down using a 4mm hex key twice during the test period. The lock slots in and releases from the jaws by depressing a button. Intuitive and easily done wearing winter-weight gloves.
Performance & Value
So, to the road.cc lock-busting test with Dodgy Dave… Perhaps unsurprisingly, the bolt croppers failed to make any impact, but when the angle grinder was unleashed it took 42 seconds to cut through one side of the shackle before it was twisted free.
That’s longer than the cheapest lock in our test lasted, the £30 Halfords 23cm D lock (33 seconds), but not as resistant as the £50 Advanced 23cm model, which survived angle grinder attack for an impressive 94 seconds, or the £49.99 Squire Matterhorn Compact Security Cable Pack, which resisted for 58 seconds.
> Which type of lock is best for your bike?
While the Master Lock wasn’t particularly remarkable alongside similarly priced D/U-locks, it proved more resistant to angle grinder attack than some more expensive folding models, including the Hiplok Switch (£74.99), Kryptonite Evolution 790 (£124.99) and Abus Bordo 6200K (£125).
It also proved more resistant than Oxford’s £56.99 Shackle14 Pro Duo U-Lock, which bit the dust in 25 seconds.
Conclusion
To some extent, much will depend on the value of your machine, where you live and lock up, and how long for. Having lived in London’s seamier districts for 12 years, my benchmark was 10% of my bike’s value, what complied with my insurer, and generally spending as much as I could afford on top. This meant defaulting to a 2.5kg mix of chain and U-locks to make things trickier for the light fingered.
Overall, I’d describe the Master Lock as worth a closer look for everyday locking duties, but I’d be using it in conjunction with a top security chain model in high crime areas.
> Buy now: Master Lock U-Lock for £35.95 from Windwave
Verdict
Reasonable lock but its resistance to angle grinder attack is less impressive than some competitors
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Master Lock U-Lock
Size tested: 10 x 21cm
Tell us what the product is for and who it’s aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
Master Lock distributor Windwave says: “The Master Lock No. 8279EURDPRO U-Lock features a 10,4cm wide hardened steel body for maximum strength and reliability. The 14mm diameter double locking shackle is 21cm long and made of hardened steel, offering extra resistance to prying, cutting and sawing. The disc key cylinder prevents picking. The Limited Lifetime Warranty provides peace of mind from a brand you can trust.”
It’s certainly a solid feeling lock and generally pleasant to use. However, the short shackle does limit options when it comes to street furniture. Also, while the frame fit carry bracket is serviceable enough, it makes the lock tricky to carry in the main triangle, especially on smaller compact geometry frames.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
From Windwave:
Hardened steel body resists cutting, sawing and prying
Double locking shackle withstands 2 tons of pull force
Protective vinyl coating helps prevent scratching
Integrated disc keyed locking mechanism for maximum pick resistance
Sliding dust cover protects keyway from dirt and moisture
Carrier bracket included for easy transportation
Insurance approved: Sold Secure, VDS
Now with Sold Secure Diamond Rating
We’re please to announce that the 8279EURDPRO lock has passed the new Sold Secure Diamond rating for bicycle locks ensuring the highest level of security for your bike or ebike.
Lock feels solid and is pleasant to use. PVC coating is also friendly to the bike and other surfaces and should protect the lock from the elements.
Generally good, taking everything into account. However, testing confirmed it was more vulnerable to angle grinder attack than others around this price point. This would be an issue if you were planning to use it as your sole lock in a high crime area. To some extent, it will also depend on how well you use the lock, ie, making it as difficult as possible for the thief to attack it without considerable effort or damaging the bike might encourage them to look elsewhere.
Generally well made and no obvious signs of wear, used on an everyday basis. However, it is more vulnerable to certain forms of attack than others at this end of the market.
Good specification for the money and should help with insurance. However, there are similarly priced competitors that have stood up better to angle grinder attack, though the Master Lock also proved more resistant than folding locks costing £75 upwards.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Size limitations and considerations regarding the mount aside, the Master Lock U-lock is pleasant to use. While the Diamond standard will help with insurance and, unsurprisingly, the bolt croppers failed to make any impact, it proved more vulnerable than some when the angle grinder was unleashed. It took 42 seconds to cut through one side of the shackle before it was twisted free. This is generally superior to the folding genre of locks, which cost a good bit more and can be defeated by angle grinder in 30 seconds or less, but it didn’t rival the resilience of some other U-locks.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Well finished, solid feel, slick locking mechanism well protected from the elements.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Mount, though not poor, could be improved.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
It’s at the cheaper end of the locks in our test, which go from £30 to £289.99.
It lasted longer against angle grinder attack than some more expensive models – Oxford’s £56.99 Shackle14 Pro Duo U-Lock, the Hiplok Original and Hiplok Switch, both £74.99, the Kryptonite Evolution 790 (£124.99), and the Abus Bordo (£125) – but was outperformed on that front by others costing the same: Halfords’ £50 Advanced 23cm D lock survived for an impressive 1:34 minutes, and the £49.99 Squire Matterhorn Compact Security Cable Pack lasted 58 seconds.
Did you enjoy using the product? Generally, yes.
Would you consider buying the product? Yes, for general locking but as backing singer to a heavier duty chain or similar in high crime areas.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Worth considering, but there are stronger locks for £50.
Use this box to explain your overall score
Much will depend on the value and genre of your bikes, where you lock up and for how long. It’s by no means a poor lock, but I’d be using it as a secondary defence in higher crime areas. In terms of bang for buck, there are models costing less that put up more resistance when subjected to the angle grinder.
About the tester
Age: 51 Height: 1m 81cm Weight: 70kg
I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,
