The tex-lock eyelet and u-lock is a bit of an evolution from the original tex-lock which paired a textile covered 6 mm chain with either a small padlock (which they called the U) or a slightly larger u-lock (which they called the X).
While the original was a very interesting and innovative idea, because the locks were so small, in most cases you had to use the textile part to secure your frame (although you can just about get the X lock around a Sheffield bike stand).
And the textile part by itself isn’t really secure enough to protect your bike frame on its own, in my opinion.
So now tex-lock have paired the textile covered chain with a slightly larger u-lock, which can be used to secure your frame, while the textile eyelet is used to protect your wheels. And this can be a very secure combination.
So I gave them a go...
Let’s see how secure they really are, how easy they are to carry around and use, and what are the best alternatives if they’re no quite right for you…
A versatile "all bike" protection system, that is relatively lightweight and very secure when used correctly.
Summary
Tex-lock Eyelet & U-lock | |
|---|---|
Cell | Cell |
Check price: | |
Shackle thickness: | 13.7 mm |
Combined weight: | 4.3 lb (1.95 kg) |
U-lock size (internal): | 5.5” x 3.35” |
Other Security Ratings: |  |
Tex-lock Eyelet & U-lock Pros
Tex-lock Eyelet & U-lock Cons
How secure is Tex-lock Eyelet & U-lock?
It’s important to remember that each part of this pair has a completely different security level and that if you do decide to buy this combination, that you must lock your bike accordingly (more on this below).
The u-lock is a very secure bike lock indeed, with a Pedal Diamond rating from Sold Secure (their second-highest award) and 3/5 stars from ART (indicating it is suitable for motorbikes as well as bicycles).
The tex-lock u-lock has a clever triangular shackle
It has a clever shackle that, despite only being 13.7 mm thick, has a triangular profile which makes it very difficult (I would say virtually impossible) to crop with bolt cutters, and gives it a fantastic strength to weight ratio.
The shackle locks on both sides to resist leverage attacks
The shackle locks into the body on both sides to prevent leverage attacks and means that it would need to be cut twice to make enough space to get it off your bike. And the small size makes it more difficult to attack.
The textile part of the lock is much less secure.
It consists of a 6 mm hardened steel chain encased in a thick textile sleeve. Everyone knows that a 6 mm chain, (hardened or not) is just not secure enough to lock your bike with. This is because any thief with medium-sized pair of bolt cutters will make short work of 6 mm chain.
The textile covered 6 mm chain is much less secure than the u-lock
However, because the chain is covered in this thick layer of textile, the bolt cutters won’t work without first cutting through the material (since the cloth will jam the jaws!). So a thief would need two tools (or a fair bit more time) to crop the chain.
A thief could also use a hacksaw to cut through the textile and the chain. But it’s another tool for the thief to carry.
All that being said, this textile part of the lock could be defeated relatively quickly and easily with the right tools. Which is why it is explicitly not rated by Sold Secure and is only rated by ART in combination with the u-lock.
Which means, you should not generally use the textile part of the lock to secure your bike frame. It should instead be used as secondary security to protect your wheels. Except in very specific circumstances (see below).
Using the textile part to secure your frame is NOT a good idea!
So in conclusion, how secure is the tex-lock eyelet and u-lock?
If you use the u-lock to secure your frame and the textile covered chain to protect your wheels, then you have a very secure combination indeed. The u-lock is unlikely to be defeated by anything except an angle grinder. And the textile part will provide far more protection for your wheels than those pathetic cable lassos that are commonly sold with u-locks.
Using the u-lock to secure your frame is a much better idea!
However, if you use the textile covered chain to secure your frame (with the u-lock simply joining the two ends), then that is a very unsecure combination.
If you are just leaving your bike for a couple of minutes and can’t find a rack that fits the u-lock, then this might be acceptable occasionally. But it is not secure enough to do this regularly.
Is the Tex-lock Eyelet & U-lock easy to carry?
The u-lock is one of the lightest Sold Secure Pedal Diamond you can currently buy. The only Pedal Diamond rated lock that is lighter is the Master Lock Mini 8278 EURDPRO [Amazon] (which also has a slightly smaller internal locking space).
Weighing the tex-lock u-lock
Note: the Seatylock Mason 140 is the same weight as the Tex-lock u-lock. This is because it is exactly the same lock (they are probably made in the same factory, with different branding added towards the end of the production process). More on this later.
But weighing just 2.1 lb (974 g), the Tex-lock u-lock is around the same weight as 2.5 cans of Coke. Which is pretty light for such a high security bike lock.
The tex-lock u-lock weighs the same as 2.5 cans of Coke
Add to that, its diminutive size (in total it’s just 7.9” (20 cm) long and 5.5” (14 cm) wide), and you’ve got a small, lightweight lock that should be easy to carry.
However, if you want a frame mount, you will have to pay extra. So you’re limited to throwing it into your bag, or forking out more cash for the tex-lock frame mount or a third party frame mount from elsewhere.
The u-lock is so small it almost gets lost in my bag!
And of course, what we’re reviewing here is a pair: the u-lock and the textile covered chain. And together, they weigh considerably more: 4.3 lb (1946 g), which is around the same weight as 5 cans of Coke.
The combined weight of the eyelet and u-lock is much heavier
Plus, as a pair, they are considerably more bulky.
Again, you are limited to throwing them in a bag, or you might be able to wrap them both around your seat post like I do below. The textile covered chain will protect your paintwork, and the eyelets provide a nice anchor for the u-lock!
This transport option will work with some bikes, but not all!
Whether this works for you will depend on how your bike is set up, though!
Is the Tex-lock Eyelet & U-lock easy to use?
This is where I think the tex-lock eyelet and u-lock combination really comes into its own. Because it provides full bike protection (frame and both wheels) in a really easy way, that offers a high level of security (if used correctly).
The correct way to use the pair, is of course, to lock the frame with the u-lock and then thread the textile part through your wheels and connect it to the u-lock.
U-lock secures the frame and eyelet secure the wheels = very secure combination
The textile part is available in 3 different lengths: 80 cm, 120 cm and 160 cm. I was using the 120 cm version, and it was plenty long enough to get around both wheels in a variety of different ways.
Even if you choose the shorter version, you’ll probably be able to secure both wheels, as it can be used as a noose, meaning that you don’t need to double the length of the rope to get it around your wheels and back again.
Using the eyelet as a noose increases the usable length
The soft textile casing will slide smoothly through your components without damaging your paintwork, and it is very easy to attach the ends to the accompanying u-lock. I had no complaints about locking my bike like this.
However, it’s important to remember that the u-lock is one of the smallest available. Which means there is very little internal locking space, and you’ll be very limited to what you’ll be able to lock it to.
tex-lock u-lock internal dimensions
Indeed, the internal dimensions are just 5.5” x 3.35” (14 x 8.5 cm).
As you can see when I use it with a Sheffield stand, I can only just get it around the frame of my skinny city bike, the wheel and the stand. You may struggle with bigger frames and fatter wheels.
tex-lock u-lock around seat stays: a very tight fit!
However: if you’re also using the textile eyelet to protect your wheels, you only really need to get the u-lock around your frame. So as long as the bike stand isn’t too thick, you should be OK with almost any size bike.
There is another way to use the tex-lock eyelet and u-lock combination, though. That is to secure the frame with the textile eyelet, with the u-lock simply joining the two ends together (without fastening around the frame itself).
Only the eyelet is around the pole and the frame = not very secure
This might be tempting if you’re trying to lock your bike in an area where there aren’t any bike stands, or you’re in a rush.
However, in this case, only the textile eyelet is preventing your bike from being stolen. And I highly recommend that you do not regularly lock your bike like this: the textile eyelet is not secure enough to prevent a theft when used this way.
If you’re just nipping into a shop for a couple of minutes and there are no bike stands around, then it might be OK. And it’s certainly far more secure than using a cable lock. But if you can use the u-lock, you should.
Keys and Keyhole Cover
You get 3 double-sided slider style keys with the u-lock, plus a key code card to order more. And the mechanism is protected by a keyhole cover that automatically parts when you push the key in.
3 keys and a key code card for ordering more
This key and keyhole cover combination is my favorite because: 1) you don’t have the extra step of sliding a cover away (like you do with Kryptonites) and 2) they don’t suffer from misaligned discs (like Kryptonites do), which can really slow down the locking and unlocking process.
I like these keyhole covers best these days
The slider mechanisms may not be as pick resistant as the disc detainers, but you don’t need to worry about that as they are secure enough and no one is robbing bikes by picking locks anyway!
Conclusion: Is the Tex-lock Eyelet & U-lock worth it?
The tex-lock eyelet and u-lock combination is not cheap! The price varies according to which length of textile you choose. And you can check the price here. But regardless, you will be paying between 130 and 200 Euros.
tex-lock eyelet and u-lock boxed
However, as a combination, the tex-lock eyelet and u-lock is pretty unique. Your wheels will be far more secure than they’d be with a u-lock and a cable lasso, or even a u-lock and a thin chain.
Of course, two u-locks or a u-lock and a thicker chain will obviously be more secure than the tex-lock.
But they will also be heavier.
In very particular circumstances (low risk, short time) the tex-lock eyelet also allows you to lock your bike in places that would usually be inaccessible to u-lock users, such as lampposts, traffic lights etc.
So if that’s something that you would find useful, then the combination of small u-lock and textile covered chain is a relatively lightweight package that can be extremely adaptable and very secure, when used correctly.
If quite expensive!
You can also buy the u-lock separately if you don’t fancy the textile part. However, as we’ll see below, there may be a better value option to this…
Alternatives to the Tex-lock Eyelet & U-lock
Looking for something cheaper?
If you like the idea of the lightest Sold Secure Diamond u-lock, but you’re not bothered about the textile lock part, then check out the Seatylock Mason 140 [Amazon].
Because it’s exactly the same as the tex-lock u-lock. And I mean exactly. It must be made in the same factory, as it’s indistinguishable. And of course it has the same Sold Secure Diamond rating, by the way.
But it is often a little bit cheaper. So check out the price of both and go with the lowest price option!
Looking for something lighter?
If you like the idea of the all bike protection that the tex-lock eyelet and u-lock combination give you, but you’re not so keen on the 4.3 lb (1946 g) weight, then there are other, more lightweight options.
For example, you could buy the above Seatylock Mason 140 (or any other small Sold Secure Diamond u-lock) and pair it with Seatylock's new X LOCK wheel axles. These provide a secure replacement to the quick release skewers on your bike wheels. (They also have nuts for solid axle wheels).
This combination will be significantly lighter than the tex-lock eyelet and u-lock. And once installed, it will also be a bit easier to use on a day-to-day basis, as your wheels will always be protected, so you only have to worry about the u-lock.
You won’t get the option of using the textile eyelet around your frame when locking opportunities are sparse. But remember that’s not a very secure option and should only be used as a last resort anyway.
Tex-lock Eyelet & U-lock Specs
Tex-lock Eyelet & U-lock | |
|---|---|
Cell | Cell |
Check price: | |
Shackle thickness: | 13 mm |
Combined weight: | 4.3 lb (1.95 kg) |
U-lock size (internal): | 5.5” x 3.35” |
Other Security Ratings: | |
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Think this is a clever extension of their x-lock/chain-with-textile combination. As you said in your review of their original offering, the x-lock allows you to lock to (some) bike stands and protect wheels and so on with the textile/chain, and then you can use the chain-with-textile to secure the frame for short stops in low-crime zones when you can’t find a suitable stand, immobilizing the bike with the x-lock; same with this, except it’s a more secure u-lock, and you can lock to any bike rack I’ve ever seen.
I might get it for the next bike I buy my daughter. I usually get bikes for her with a dyno-hub in the front wheel, so need something that’s better than a kryptolok-style cable to secure it but also doesn’t weigh too much.
I meant to add that the image on this page you show of the bike locked to a piece of wide street furniture nicely demonstrates using the u-lock like a padlock on the chain-with-textile; but, as with the x-lock, you have the option of doing this but also immobilizing a wheel b locking it to the frame (either wheel, in fact, unlike the x-lock, which is only big enough to immobilize the rear wheel), which would constitute a less attractive target, as the bike can’t be cycled off if a thief cuts away the textile and crops or grinds the chain.
That’s a really good point Dermont, and an oversight by me.
In fact, when I get a minute, I will take another photo to illustrate this.
It’s a much better way to lock your bike.