High-end Bike Security – Abus GRANIT™ Super Extreme 2500

The Abus GRANIT™ Super Extreme 2500 is one of a new breed of high-security U-locks designed to offer increased protection for bicycles, particularly in high-theft areas. Virtually impervious to traditional bike lock attacks, the Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500 has been designed to resist even prolonged attacks with a battery-powered angle grinder. With its substantial build and advanced security features, it aims to deter even the most determined thieves.

In our area in Milwaukee the thieving bastards have been targeting fat-bikes and cargo bikes so let’s take a look at the Abus GRANIT™ Super Extreme 2500 from a fat-bike perspective.

Design and Build Quality

Weighing approximately 2.25 kg (4.9 lbs!), the Super Extreme 2500 is definitely heavy, reflecting its focus on security. The lock features a 14 mm square parabolic shackle made from specially hardened steel, further reinforced with a Wolfram Carbide material to resist cutting attacks. The shackle is coated with a plastic layer to prevent damage to the bike’s frame during use.

Oh, what is “wolfram carbide material” you ask? I didn’t know so I asked Mr. Google:

Wolfram Carbide, also known as tungsten carbide, is created by chemically binding tungsten with carbon.

Properties Include:

• Composition – Equal parts tungsten and carbon atoms
• Chemical formula – WC
• Hardness – Up to 2300HV
• Melting point – 5,198 °F (2,870 °C)

So now you, and I, know a bit about Wolfram Carbide I guess.

Anywho, the lock’s body houses the ABUS XPlus™ cylinder, known for its high resistance to picking and manipulation. Additionally, the lock employs ABUS Power Cell technology, offering maximum protection against impacts and attempts to break it open.

Security Performance

In tests conducted by Bennetts BikeSocial (a motorcycle-focused website based in England ’cause, you know, motorcycle riders need locks too), the Super Extreme 2500 demonstrated impressive resistance to various attacks. Bolt cutters and sledgehammers were ineffective against it and when subjected to an angle grinder attack, the lock endured multiple cutting discs and a required significant amount of time before being compromised. Chalk one up to the good guys!

There are videos galore on YouTube if you want to see someone eventually kill one of these locks with an angle grinder but it not only takes multiple discs to cut through them, even when a thief would get through one side, they’d still have to do another cut on the other side to release your treasured bike. The torsional stiffness is that good! Plus, the time it takes means a thief will likely move on before entirely defeating the lock

It is worth noting that some testers discovered a specific method that allowed the lock to be defeated more quickly using an angle grinder. While this technique requires precision and may not be commonly employed by opportunistic thieves, it is a consideration for those seeking the highest level of security.

Usability and Transport

Given its weight and size, transporting the Super Extreme 2500 can be challenging. I’ve been tossing it in my backpack but if you want to attach it to your bike, ABUS includes the USH 2500 frame mount, designed for easy attachment to the bike. The mount uses coated metal straps to secure the lock to the frame. I haven’t installed the mount on my bike but did a couple of dry fits to see where it might work and an Old Man Mountain rack may be the ticket. If I feel the need to use the mount I’ll update this story with my thoughts. For now, since I often ride with a backpack anyway, that does the trick.

The lock’s generous internal dimensions (104 mm x 223 mm) offer ample space to secure the bike frame and wheel to various immovable objects, enhancing its versatility in different locking scenarios. With a caveat. For my preferred locking method, i.e. grabbing the wheel inside the rear triangle and locking to the rack or pole I couldn’t quite get it to fit my 45NRTH Husker Du 4.8 x 26 tire on a Surly My Other Brother Darryl rim. It was SO CLOSE! It worked fine for my 4.0 x 26 Husker Du on a Sun Ringle Mulefut rim using this method. Of course, even with the larger-tired bikes there are plenty of locking options using other frame areas.

Conclusion

The Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500 stands out as a formidable bike lock, combining advanced materials and design to offer high-level security. Its substantial weight and size are trade-offs for its extreme protection capabilities. While no lock can guarantee complete theft prevention, the Super Extreme 2500 provides a strong deterrent against common theft methods, making it a worthy consideration if you live in a high theft area. I hate to say it but it is kind of like when you are out hiking with your friends and a bear is chasing you, you only have to be fast enough than the slowest hiker or, in this case, make it difficult enough that the scum-bag bike thief will move on to another target.

Check out our new Pink Pony Rating system! Like a star rating system but with ponies! So, I’m giving this lock 4.5 Pink Ponies only dinging it for the fact that, on my largest fat-bike tires, I can’t use my preferred method of locking. Like I said above, there are plenty of other ways to use this lock to secure your fat-bike.