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review
Locks
Abus Granit Futura Mini U-lockAbus Granit Futura mini U-lock 2

Abus Granit Futura Mini U-lock

8
by dave atkinson
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Apr 26, 2011

2
£54.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Easy to stow, light and secure: a great lock to keep in your bag
Weight: 
695g
Contact: 
www.abus.de
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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Measuring just 21x12cm, the Abus Granit Futura Mini is small enough to fit in the pocket of your jeans and strong enough to beat most thieves. It's light, too, and under 700g, and not too pricey either.

The Futura Mini is dinky, but don't think it'll roll over under attack. Ours was barely marked by the big bolt cutters and the persuader - even with the help of a 2 ton bottle jack - wasn't able to remove it from its post. It survived five minutes of attack intact, although it's worth mentioning that once we'd finished bashing it about it wasn't actually possible to open the lock; the key snapped in the (presumably bent) mechanism.

The Futura Mini doesn't come with a mount, but that's sort of the point: you can fit it in your pocket for a pub run, or just lob it in your bag. It's light enough that you don't feel like you're dragging a sack of spuds everywhere. I've been using one on and off for a year now, and found it really handy. You'll struggle to lock frame and wheel with it (it is possible, just), or more than one bike, but for general security duties on a day-to-day basis it's excellent.

Verdict

Easy to stow, light and secure: a great lock to keep in your bag.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Abus Granit Futura Mini U-lock

Size tested: n/a

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?

Application:

Recommended for two-wheelers with a high risk of theft

Lock available with extra wide shackle or alternatively as an extra slim version with extra weight advantages

Operation:

Attach two-wheeler to a fixed object (e.g. lamppost, road sign, fence)

Technology:

Special hardened shackle and ultra light material offer high protection against attacks

Drill-protected ABUS -Plus locking system

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

Stayed put but wouldn't open after attack

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The size and weight

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Can limit your locking options

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 38  Height: 190cm  Weight: 98kg

I usually ride: whatever I'm testing...  My best bike is: Genesis Equilibrium with SRAM Apex

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, cyclo cross, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

D-Lock
Cycle security
Abus Granit Futura Mini U-lock
Abus
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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2 comments

Avatar
rootes | 13 years ago
0 likes

nice little lock, but too narrow when compared with other mini locks and thus you can not use it with a lot of standard street furniture..

shame really if it was a little wider it would be an ace little lock

Avatar
mccann.ben | 13 years ago
0 likes

Nice little review...
I am in the market for a lock.
Do you by any chance know what rating it is Bronze/Silver/Gold?

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