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review
Locks
Protector 13mm security chain 2.0mProtector 13mm chain

Protector 13mm security chain 2.0m

9
by dave atkinson
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published May 12, 2009

0
£68.75

VERDICT:

9
10
Tough last line of defence for bikes locked in sheds or garages
Weight: 
6,950g
Contact: 
www.torc-anchors.com
How we test

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Weighing in at a hernia-inducing 6.95kg the Protector 13mm chain isn't something you'd want to carry around but for keeping your bikes secure in the shed or garage it's an excellent last line of defence, especially when used with a ground anchor or Shed Shackle.

13mm refers to the diameter of the chain links which are neatly welded and shrouded in a cordura sleeve to protect your frame. Even so, you should be careful: this is a heavy chain, and if you were to drop it on your Aluminium downtube I can imagine it'd carry enough heft to leave a dent.

There's a range of Protector chains, from 10mm to the 16mm which resembles something you might find attached to a ship's anchor. Pragmasis guarantee that the 16mm chain is impossible to bolt crop by hand; the same guarantee doesn't extend to the 13mm links that we tested but after five minutes of huffing and puffing with three-foot bolt croppers we'd barely marked the thing. Obviously there's no point having a beefy chain like this if you're using a padlock from the pound shop, so make sure you get a decent lock too. The chain is pictured here with a Squire SS50CS Stronghold Padlock which Pragmasis also supply (£45.25), and that we'll be testing soon.

Verdict

For static applications a beefy chain is hard to beat, and the Protector is beefier than most while remaining very usable. An excellent last line of defence against the crooks. Not cheap, but cheaper than a new bike...

road.cc test report

Make and model: Protector 13mm security chain 2.0m

Size tested: 2.0m

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
10/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
10/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Did you enjoy using the product? Not exactly enjoy, but it worked very well

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 36  Height: 190cm  Weight: 100kg

I usually ride: Schwinn Moab, urbanised with 700cs  My best bike is: Trek 1.5 with upgrades

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

Security chain
Protector 13mm chain
Bike security
Dave Atkinson

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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