The Abus Bordo 6200K is a folding lock with a neat bracket that includes space to store the key. At a shade over 1.3kg, it’s about the right weight to carry around on an acoustic bike, and it can lock your bike to a wider variety of objects than a U-lock. On the other hand, it’s quite expensive and it scores pretty low in our security test.
I’ve been using an Abus Bordo 6500 for years on the e-bike I share with my wife. I mainly chose it because the carry pouch can be mounted somewhere inside the frame, out of the way of panniers. My second requirement was that I wanted a single lock that could lock the back wheel to the frame and also to something solid, which rules out a U-lock.
This has worked well for us over the years, apart from two small niggles. The folding lock circumference is just not quite big enough to easily take in the frame, the back wheel and a Sheffield stand. It does it, but it takes a bit of fiddling. The other niggle is that I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve set off with the bike and the lock, but not the key.
This incarnation of the Bordo, the 6200k, fixes both those things.
Firstly, the six legs of the folding lock are a little longer, which moves the process of locking around a Sheffield stand from doable to easy. For comparison, the old lock rectangle (two legs at top and bottom, one leg on each side) measures 225x95mm, whereas on the 6200k it’s 260x120mm.
Secondly, the carrying bracket has space for the key, which means it’s pretty hard to forget it. It’s about 300grams lighter as well, which also feels like an improvement, for ease-of-use anyway.
Ease of use
And ease of use really is why you’d want to buy this lock. The bracket is well thought-out. With a spring-loaded retention mechanism, it’s super easy to get the lock out and store it away, and as I mentioned above, it’s pretty much impossible to forget the key.
The bracket attaches either via a pair of bottle bosses with bolts, or anywhere where there’s enough length of tube via a pair of steel straps. I used the bottle bosses, but the steel strap solution looks like it would work equally well – certainly much better than with the Velcro straps of the old design, as seen on the lock Dave reviewed a while ago.
If you want to use the lock on more than one bike, then Abus sells the bracket separately.
Security
Abus states on its website that this lock is rated Sold Secure Pedal Cycle Gold. That might have something to do with the fact that the lock uses the same XPlus key cylinder as its most expensive D-locks. This really is secure and should stand up well against lock picking.
Abus also scores the lock 13/15 on its own security scale, and states that the lock is ‘recommended for securing high-value two-wheelers’.
Sadly, our testing says otherwise. While it stands up to 2ft bolt croppers, it doesn’t put up much of a fight against a cordless angle grinder. Dodgy Dave took about 13 seconds to get through one of the legs, which was more quickly than the majority of the locks we reviewed.
I’m happy to use this lock to pop to the shops, but wouldn’t trust it to leave a desirable bike anywhere for a longer period – especially not in the dark.
> How to lock your bike when you’re out and about so it’s there when you come back
In use
The bracket and lock combination weighs just over 1.3kg (it’s 1,154g for the lock alone), which is about as much as I’d want to carry on a non-electric bike. I live near the top of one of the hills of Bath. The form factor takes up about as much space as a water bottle, which means it doesn’t get in the way when riding.
Like I mentioned above, this lock works best if you want a single, substantial looking, not too heavy solution to easily lock together the rear wheel, the frame and something solid.
Value
I can’t argue that £125 is anything but very expensive for a lock that doesn’t slow a thief with a cordless angle grinder for much more than a dozen seconds.
We tested a D-lock from Halfords that costs £30 and it took Dave more than half a minute to get through that one with an angle grinder.
If you want more protection from an angle grinder, then the Litelok X1 might be a good one to look at. Dave gave up after more than two minutes (the maximum amount of time we gave him on the grinder), and it doesn’t cost that much more at £149.99.
If it’s the form factor of a folding lock you want, we also tested Kryptonite’s Evolution 790. It costs around the same, at £129.99, and stood up to the angle grinder a little longer at 23 seconds, but also weighs a bit more at 1.5kg, and the bracket design isn’t quite as neat.
> 6 of the best bike locks — stop your bike getting stolen with our selection
Conclusion
Even though Abus itself scores this lock relatively highly for security, I can’t in all honesty recommend buying it on that basis given that our own testing had the lock apart in less than a quarter of a minute.
However, if what you need is a substantial looking lock that doesn’t weigh too much, is super nice to use and can lock your bike to bigger objects through the rear wheel (and you don’t mind spending to satisfy these requirements, even if the lock is substantially less secure than most cheaper D-locks) then it might be worth a look.
Verdict
Great lock in terms of use and portability, but not so great in terms of security
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Abus Bordo 6200K (weigh below includes the mount, it’s 1,154g for the lock alone)
Size tested: One
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?
Abus says: “Lock your valuable bike not only securely, but also conveniently: With a locking circumference of 94 cm, the BORDO 6200K allows you to quickly find a suitable place to connect – even with bulky objects.
“This folding lock is particularly flexible thanks to its rotatable lock body. This allows you to rotate the opening for the locking bar to where you need it. To transport the lock, fold it up like a folding rule to a compact size. Then stow it in the lock holder supplied, which can be easily mounted on the bike frame. The holder also has a practical compartment for keys.
“The ABUS XPlus cylinder and the robust bars made of hardened steel with additional profiling ensure the high security of the BORDO 6200K, which is manufactured in Germany. Steel discs protect the rivets from attacks with saws. The bars are coated to protect the wheel from damage to the paintwork.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Abus says:
Bars made of hardened steel with plastic coating to protect against paint damage on the bike
360° rotatable lock body for more flexibility when locking
Objects with a scope of up to 94 cm can be enclosed
ABUS XPlus cylinder for extremely high protection against manipulation, e.g. picking
Quality lock made in Germany
Lock holder with practical key compartment
2 keys included
Locking type: key
color of facets: black, black
Width: 67.5mm
type of cylinder: XPlus
circumference: 94cm
Weight: 1,320g
It certainly looks well made.
I take performance to mean ease-of-use here, not security. For security, see the full review.
I’ve been using a previous generation of these for years and bar a few scuffs, it still works perfectly.
It’s about as heavy a lock as I’d want to carry around on a non-electric bike for daily use.
You can get a much more secure lock for much less money. Other factors come into play though, such as usability, ease of carrying and the fact you can use it on bigger objects than you can a D-lock.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
The bracket mounts easily on a bottle cage; the lock is unobtrusive and doesn’t rattle when riding; the key storage means I never forget the key; and the lock is relatively easy to use and goes around relatively big objects. Shame it doesn’t stand up better against an angle grinder attack.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The ease of use, by which I mean both what it will lock around and how easy it is to store on the bike. I also particularly like that the key can be stored in the bracket.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
It really isn’t very secure for the price; a cordless angle grinder will get through it in no time at all.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
It is undoubtedly an expensive lock; you can easily get a more secure D-lock at a much lower price. Kryptonite’s Evolution 790 is a fiver more.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes, if ease-of-use is more important than absolute security.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? It would really depend on their priorities.
Use this box to explain your overall score
On the one hand, this lock is very easy to use and the form factor means it’s possible to lock your bike around bigger objects, especially if you want to include the rear wheel, which is what I like to do. It’s not too heavy, the bracket works brilliantly and the key storage inside the bracket is a particularly neat idea.
On the other hand, Abus scores this lock relatively high for security, which is not borne out by our own testing, so overall I’d say it’s average, especially given the price.
About the tester
Age: 44 Height: 1.78m Weight: 77kg
I usually ride: All of them! My best bike is: Ribble Endurance SL disc
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, club rides, mtb, Zwift
