# Several Bike locks...No key.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/several-bike-locks-no-key/567838>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 16, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/several-bike-locks-no-key/567838 "2011-01-16T17:27:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![deanc2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/53a042/32.png) [@deanc2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deanc2000)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/several-bike-locks-no-key/567838/1 "2011-01-16T17:27:47Z")

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I moved about 2 yrs ago. I had been very much into cycling at that time, but hadn’t touched the bike since I moved. I’ve misplaced/thrown out the keys to all my bike locks during that time, by mistake. I’m now dusting off the old bike for transportation purposes. Is there a way to regain use of these locks? Do I need to go to a locksmith? Or just chuck them and buy new bike locks?

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**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/several-bike-locks-no-key/567838/2 "2011-01-16T17:41:50Z")

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I’d be interested to know if locksmiths can fashion keys from locks… they _usually_ fashion keys from keys.

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**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/several-bike-locks-no-key/567838/3 "2011-01-16T17:46:34Z")

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If they’re good locks, they’ll have serial numbers, traceable to the key design. if they’re not good locks, you shouldn’t rely on them anyway.

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**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/several-bike-locks-no-key/567838/4 "2011-01-16T19:16:10Z")

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Bike locks are cheap and any locksmith type solution would be expensive in relation. It really does not pay to buy an expensive lock anyway. A lock is only a casual preventative for the quick snatch and grab. I could get past any bike lock made in under a minute by either cutting the lock or the cable.

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**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/several-bike-locks-no-key/567838/5 "2011-01-16T23:43:50Z")

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Perhaps a [Bic](http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2004/09/64987) pen?

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**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/several-bike-locks-no-key/567838/6 "2011-01-17T04:25:45Z")

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> [@jasg](#):
>
> Perhaps a [Bic](http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2004/09/64987) pen?

Hehehe, or a bump key? Which I won’t be linking to!

CMC fnord!