Kryptonite Kryptolok Series 2 955 Mini Chain Lock

The Kryptonite Kryptolok Series 2 955 Mini. That’s a bit of a mouthful! But the most important part of the name is the last word. Mini. This really is a small bike lock. In fact it might surprise you, just how small it is.

Is that a bad thing? Well, I don’t think so. In fact it’s diminutive size actually has loads of advantages. I’ve been using the newest version of the Mini 955 for a couple of months now and I like it a lot.

So let’s take a look at how secure it is, how easy it is to carry around and what it’s like to secure your bike with this lock on a daily basis.

How secure is the Kryptolok Series 2 955 Mini?

The 955 Mini, is one of those Kryptonite locks that used to be Sold Secure Silver but has been bumped up to a Gold rating.

And I’m not entirely sure why, because I can’t see what’s changed!

The chain links are still 9 mm thick with a square profile. And they’re made from 3T Manganese Steel which is the lowest grade of steel that Kryptonite use in their chain locks.

This is the same steel that’s used in both the less secure Keeper range and the more secure Evolution range. While when you get up to the New York chains, they use 3T Hardened Manganese Steel for “maximum strength”.

Maybe its the (patent pending) “talon” style deadbolt that’s new (as I don’t think I remember it on the Silver version). Or maybe its an improved end link design (also patent pending).

Whatever it is, the Mini 955 has moved up from Silver to Gold. And that’s unusual as locks usually move down the ratings as Sold Secure use more wide ranging attacks. For example a whole load of Silver rated folding bike locks have just been down graded to Bronze!

But whether it’s Silver of Gold, the 9 mm links are still vulnerable to bolt cutters! And if the chain is close to the ground (where a thief can use the ground for leverage) even medium size bolt cutter will crop the 955 Mini.

My solution to this is to keep these thinner chains as far from the ground as possible. Because even a 9 mm chain made from Kryptonite’s lowest grade steel, will be impossible for most (if not all) bike thieves to crop if they can’t use the ground for leverage.

More on this later!

So the Mini 955 is a Gold rated lock that’s suitable for high risk circumstances. However, I would say it’s at the bottom end of that rating and you should adapt your locking technique if you want to be sure this lock will protect your bike in most circumstances.

Is the Kryptolok Series 2 955 Mini easy to carry?

All chain locks are heavy. But because the 955 Mini is well, a mini chain lock, it’s actually much lighter than most.

Weighing 3.90 lb (1.77 kg), it’s still heavier than most standard size u-locks though, despite offering significantly smaller internal locking space.

In fact only the highest security standard size u-locks are heavier than this medium security mini chain!

It actually weighs around the same amount as 4.5 cans of Coke. Which is a fair load to be carrying around. So you need to think carefully about how you’re going to do that, because chain locks don’t come with frame mounts!

You could throw it in a backpack, pannier or saddlebag. And the great thing about this mini chain is that it actually collapses down in to a pretty compact package. So it won’t take up a lot of room. And it’s not heavy enough to be annoying in a bag.

But what if you don’t carry a bag and don’t have panniers? I only use my saddlebag for going to work. So the rest of the time, there’s nowhere obvious to carry the chain (on my bike at least).

What a lot of people do it wrap the chain around their seat post. And again, the great thing about the 955 Mini is that because it’s so short, this is really easy. Once locked, it makes a nice tight fit around your average seat post, with very little of the chain hanging down.

To be honest, I barely noticed it while I was riding around. There might be some movement and noise on country trails, but in the city, the snug fit and thick nylon sleeve kept everything pretty motionless and quiet.

Kryptonite do actually make frame mount that will work with the 955 Mini (and the 1055 Mini). It’s a fat canister that will screw into the holes meant for your water carrier or strap around your frame with Velcro.

I haven’t actually used it myself, but it’s reasonably priced and it gets pretty good reviews [Amazon]. It’s pretty big, so you’ll need to make sure you’ve got enough room on your frame. And to be honest, if you can wrap the chain around your seat post, I’d see how you get on with that, before buying this.

You should have some idea about how you’re going to carry the Mini 955, before you buy it though. It will slide easily into a bag and isn’t so heavy it will be annoying. And it should also fit nicely around most cyclists seat posts.

So I would say that yes, in my experience the 955 Mini is fairly easy to carry around on a daily basis! 

Is the Kryptolok Series 2 955 Mini easy to use?

Chain locks are generally pretty easy to use. And this is largely down to their flexibility. Getting them around your bike and whatever you’re locking it to is straightforward. And then fastening one end to the other is easy.

With longer, thicker chains, the bulk a weight can sometimes be a bit cumbersome and they can be trickier to handle. But this isn’t a problem with the 955 Mini, as it’s so short and thin!

I actually found it easier to use than most folding locks, simply because it’s more flexible than a folding bike lock.

It’s important to remember that this a mini chain lock though, measuring just 21.5" (55 cm) in length.

This gives it the same internal locking space as a mini u-lock (despite weighting more than a standard size u-lock). I measured it against some of my other mini u-locks and found to be somewhere between the Mini-7 and Mini-6!

Now that’s pretty small. The Mini-6 won’t even go around the seat tube and rear wheel on my thin framed (and wheeled) bike!

But the thing is, because the 955 Mini is a flexible chain, it gives you loads more locking opportunities than any mini u-lock. In fact in my tests, I could use it everywhere I could use a standard size u-lock.

So it had no problem locking any wheel and frame on a Sheffield bike rack. And it would fit around your average street sign and lamppost too. But just like a standard u-lock, it wouldn’t fit around the fatter lampposts (which longer chains and folding locks would).

Because portable chains, (with thinner links) are vulnerable to bolt cutters, I prefer to keep them as far from the ground as possible. As I mention above, if the thief can’t use the ground for leverage, it’s almost impossible to crop even thinner chains like this.

With longer chain locks it can be difficult to secure the frame and one wheel, without preventing the chain from being manoeuvred close to the ground.

But because the 955 Mini is so short, if you wrap it around your rear wheel and seat stay, you’ll protect your frame, your wheel and keep the chain far from the ground!

Of course you could also wrap it around your top tube to keep it even further from the ground. But then neither of your wheels will be protected.

Either way, a least one of your wheels won’t be secured. And for longer stays (or even shorter stays with quick release wheels), this is risky. There are loads of options for protecting your wheels (and seat) and it’s worth reading about them in more detail to find one that works for you.

It’s also worth saying that you’d have the same issue with a u-lock or folding lock. So it shouldn’t put you off this chain lock.

You’ll get the standard 3 keys with the 955 Mini. And the integrated mechanism (rather than a separate padlock) adds to the ease of use because I find it slightly speeds up the locking process.

But ultimately, it was the short length that made this lock so easy to use. For sure you’ll have less locking opportunities than with longer chains. But for me, who usually uses bike racks and the occasional lamppost, this wasn’t an issue.

And the shorter length means the 955 Mini is easier to handle and easier to get round your bike in the most secure way.

Wrapping Up

I like the Kryptonite Kryptolok Series 2 955 Mini a lot. It’s easy to carry wrapped around my seat post. It’s easy to fasten around my bike. It gives me plenty enough locking opportunities in the city. And if I keep it far from the ground, I feel it offers me enough protection for my medium risk level.

We shouldn’t forget one important thing though...

Chains locks are heavy. And the 955 Mini is heavier than most standard size u-locks (such as the Kryptonite Evolution Series 4) that are both more secure, while also offering the same number of locking opportunities.

So I think you need a good reason to pick this chain over a standard u-lock. And for me it comes down to a choice between how you carry your lock around.

If you’d prefer to wrap a chain around your seat post, go with the 955 Mini. If you’d prefer to fasten a u-lock to your frame, go with a standard size u-lock.

As a Sold Secure Gold rated lock it’s definitely a lock for high risk circumstances, as long as you keep it off the ground. It’s not a super high security lock through, so if your circumstances are super high risk you’re best off with a beefier chain (or u-lock).

Not sure what type of lock is best for you? Check out my complete guide to the best bike locks!

Alternatives to the Kryptolok Series 2 955 Mini

If the Kryptonite Kryptolok Series 2 955 Mini isn’t quite the right bike lock for you, don’t worry, as always, there are plenty of alternatives.

Looking for something more secure?

Of course it’s more heavy too. In fact it’s 13% heavier, weighing 4.4 lb (2 kg). But in the hand this is barely noticeable. So the real questions is: do you want to pay a little bit more for that extra security?

Read my hands-on review of the Kryptonite Evolution chain lock (Series 4 1055 Mini).

Looking for something longer?

But you can also wear it around your waist like a belt so it’s super easy to carry around. The chain links are 10 mm thick, so it’s likely to be closer to the 1055 Mini int erms of security. And of course it’s rated Sold Secure Gold.

So if you’re looking for more locking options without sacrificing portability, it’s a great alternative. Check out my hands-on review of the Hiplok Gold chain lock.

Looking for something lighter?

The 88.5 cm version weighs just 2.8 lb (1.31 kg), which is over 25% lighter than the 955 Mini, despite giving you much more internal locking space (and therefore more locking options).

So if weight is a priority but you don’t want to sacrifice the practicalities of a chain, check out the Litelok! You can also read my hands-on review of the Litelok Original.

Kryptolok Series 2 955 Mini Specs

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