Trelock SL 460 Smartlock (Nfc, e-key) - Reviews

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5 reviews

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For Trelock SL 460 Smartlock (Nfc, e-key), 5 customer reviews collected from 2 e-commerce sites, and the average score is 3.

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18.5.2020

I bought this lock last December to beef up my bike's security. Frame locks are less popular here in the UK than they are on the continent, but I figured this would help compliment my U lock while posing a decent challenge for the intrepid bike thief.The lock arrives in a very nicely packaged box and all necessary mounting equipment is included. You also receive the NFC keyfob and a charging cable. Note that there are no physical keys for this lock. It can only be operated via NFC. Right out the box I had fun pairing the lock with the keyfob and testing out the mechanism before mounting the lock to my bicycle.The lock has considerable heft to it when you hold it in your hand and the steel internals are housed in a plastic case keeping it from heating up on hot days if you leave your bike out in the sun. The lock's internal diameter is 62mm so you can fit tires up to 60 mm in it and there is a 70 mm cutout for your fenders.My frame had the necessary mounts so installation was easy, but the lock also comes with flexible mounting strips so should be able to fit to most bicycles.In daily use, the lock has proved highly reliable. It does not rattle even when cycling over rough terrain and once I get to my destination I simply slide the locking bolt into place. Unlocking is a breeze too. I simply activate the NFC keyfob and hold it up against the lock. After a few seconds, the keyfob flashes green to indicate the lock is open and I am on my way. Since the lock is powered entirely by the keyfob, you never need to worry about charging it like some other smartlocks. Who wants to worry about that sort of stuff anyways?Trelock also offers plug in chain and cable options which you can use to further enhance your bike security. I would recommend the 150 cm Trelock ZR 310 Plug-In Cable as it is lightweight, easy to carry and long enough to go around your front wheel and a bike stand, thoroughly securing your bicycle. There are plug-in chain options as well, but they are considerably heavier and I am not sure the weight is worth the marginally improved security since (1) the chains are shorter so you often cannot secure the front wheel and (2) all chains use the same plug in bolt which has an eye that is much thinner than the rest of the chain's links. Note: this weak-link problem is not just specific to Trelock.The lock provides decent security. Trelock rates it 4/6 on their security scale and my amateurish attempts at opening the lock were unsuccessful given the novel mechanism. External magnets did not actuate the locking mechanism and I was also unable to shim it. The awkward position of the locking bolt once the lock is mounted will also provide additional resistance to bolt cutter attacks. Having said that, I would still consider this very much a secondary lock.Is this lock worth the money? As a security device, probably not, but if you've made it this far through this review I am sure you already knew that. A cheaper frame lock will almost certainly provide similar security to brute force attacks and also be relatively pick resistant. What you are really investing in here is the NFC technology which at the moment is a bit of a gimmick, unless Trelock comes out with a series of NFC locks that can all be opened with the same key fob. Still it is a lock that somehow manages to put a smile on my face everytime I use its "keyless" opening and for that reason I think it is worth the high asking price.If you are a prospective buyer wondering if you should get this version or just the standalone lock. I definitely recommend the version with the keyfob. Prior to purchasing this, I wrote to the manufacturer and this is what they said:"thanks for the request. Please note that the lock only partially with a phone, with the new update, there are unfortunately always difficulties. But with the E-Key that works fine."The problems with mobile phones not being able to reliably open the lock are a major issue and I can only imagine how awful it must be to find yourself stranded because your lock will not open. However, I can confirm it works flawlessly with the keyfob. Still the fact that the Trelock app has a 1.7 star rating as of May 2020 with the last update way back in April 2018 gives you some idea of the poor support this smartlock has received. When I upgrade to a smartphone with NFC capabilities I will give this feature a proper test and update this review, but at present I would not risk purchasing the SL 460 without the keyfob.