# Can I salvage an old bike lock? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 3, 2012, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-salvage-an-old-bike-lock/614622 "2012-03-03T05:06:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-salvage-an-old-bike-lock/614622/1 "2012-03-03T05:06:37Z")
I have an old Kryptonite bike lock but no key. I also have a functioning bike lock _with_ a key, so I’m happy to donate the old one to good will, but if there’s no value anyone can extract from it without the key, I’ll landfill it instead. So - which should I do? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-salvage-an-old-bike-lock/614622/2 "2012-03-03T06:38:59Z")
The Kryptonite lock is a hunk of useless metal without the key. IIRC about 30 years ago you could have Kryptonite send you a new key if you had the registration code to the lock (on some paper at purchase) I think, but that may not be an option anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-salvage-an-old-bike-lock/614622/3 "2012-03-03T06:45:36Z")
There’s no way I managed to save any paperwork from time of purchase. Guess this just goes in the dumpster then? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-salvage-an-old-bike-lock/614622/4 "2012-03-03T15:05:15Z")
it can be repurposed. it is a strong metal loop, mount it wit the U down and you have a strong hanging loop. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-salvage-an-old-bike-lock/614622/5 "2012-03-03T15:10:38Z")
Any competent locksmith can make you a new key for it. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-salvage-an-old-bike-lock/614622/6 "2012-03-03T15:24:17Z")
You might be able to open it with a [Bic pen](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2vLtpVPqhI). ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-salvage-an-old-bike-lock/614622/7 "2012-03-03T16:02:10Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Any competent locksmith can make you a new key for it. True, but the fee may be such that it’s not cost-effective. ---
**Author:** ![CatherineZeta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@CatherineZeta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatherineZeta)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-salvage-an-old-bike-lock/614622/8 "2012-03-04T20:32:39Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > You might be able to open it with a [Bic pen](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2vLtpVPqhI). I don’t know how old the OP’s lock is, but for several years now Kryptonite has been making locks with a flat key to rectify that problem.