Kryptonite’s Evolution Mini is the U-lock of choice amongst bike messengers and bike messenger wannabees. That it is easily recognizable by the bright orange suppository of plastic which sheathes the cylinder may have something to do with this.
I’m no messenger, but I do like to lock up my bike, and as my old U-lock was making some rather disturbing clicking noises as I turned the key, I picked one up last week. Obviously it works, because I still have my bike.
The Evolution Mini is popular because it is tiny but strong. At 3.25” x 5.5” it can easily be tucked into a belt, is barely big enough to wrap a wheel, frame and thin post (a good thing) and is still heavy enough to make you confident it’ll do its job. On Kryptonite’s own scale of one to 12, it measures a nine. This is meaningless in the real world, but for in-range comparisons it means you’re nearing the top end. .
After strength, the most important feature is ease of use. The Mini is very easy to use, although the size causes a few problems. The key slides in smoothly, and as it is in the middle of the straight section you aren’t constantly guessing which end has the hole. A plastic, rotating cuff keeps the rain out. The U-part itself has a kicked out “Bent Foot” at one end which hooks into the straight section, and then the other end is secured by the lock mechanism. It all goes together and comes apart easily and smoothly, with no forcing or rattling.
A small U-lock is desirable because it means you can fill the interior gap with bike, making it a lot harder to cram a jack or lever inside. The downside it that it limits your locking options, and you’ll often end up jamming the bike up against a post and jiggling it to fit the puzzle together, which is bad for both blood-pressure and paintwork. The Mini has this trouble, but with a standard sized bike parking hoops you can squeeze things in.
Still, small also makes it easy to carry, and if you’re not getting all hipster and sticking it in your belt you can use the included frame-mounting bracket. Once clamped in place, you slide in the lock using this rather mean-looking metal cleat. It’s a pushbutton release so you won’t have the lock hopping out when you hit a pothole.
One other fun feature is the key itself, or at least one of them. Two are normal, but the third looks like a car-key and has a push-button LED inside to light your way. It’s a little chunky, and you shouldn’t really be locking your bike in such dark corners anyway, but still, it looks cool.
The keys can also be registered at Kryptonite, so a replacement can be sent should you lose all three. You can also use the number to order more locks that use the same “keyway” to keep your fob from getting overloaded.
In conclusion, the Kryptonite Evolution Mini deserves its rep, and looks very nice, too, as bike locks go. Don’t buy it if you have fat wheels, fat tubes or usually tie-up to a fat post. Do buy if you value strength and ease of use in a small package. $60.
Product page [Kryptonite]
See Also:
- A Junkie Stole My Bike: Why All Locks Are Not Equal
- Twist a Pen, Open a Lock
- England Gets NYC-Reject Bike Racks
- Exploding Lock Marks Thieves, Ruins Bike
