The lock itself seems sturdy enough. At least one review found it resistant to most attacks. ([...]) It is long enough to capture both the front wheel and the frame, along with a fencepost, which is a good thing if you have a quick-release front wheel (which can be removed in 2 seconds without tools.)
However, the lock is too big to mount inside the frame of my 53 cm road bike. (The mount requires a little clearance above the lock to allow the lock to be slid up out of its mount.) That is not a small bike, and there are many bikes with smaller frames.
Luckily, the lock and mounting system is flexible, accommodating nearly any tube size. The piece that takes the lock can be removed by unscrewing four screws, and rotated 90 degrees. Also, the mounting piece on the lock itself can be rotated by loosening a set screw. Those two things mean the lock can be mounted several different places on the frame. The instructions give several suggestions, with a list of pros and cons of each. One problem with a few locations is that the lock can interfere with your pedal stroke.
The mount itself is not all that easy to attach to the bike. You have to place an thin, H-shaped piece of rubber (included) between the mount and the frame to keep it from sliding around. The rubber isn't attached or glued to the mount for some reason (possibly because it is a last-minute addition) so it is easy to lose. It also doesn't fit the mount exactly. Idropped it few times before I got the mount on securely.
These new mounts use a strap of nylon that you wrap around a frame tube and pull tight, then tighten further by turning a ratcheted bolt that takes up the slack. (That operation requires a metric hex wrench, which you are likely to have because lots of other things on the bike require metric hex wrenches.) You can get pretty good tension on that strap. However, depending on where you put the mount, something (like the rear reflector) can block access to the tightening bolt.
Unluckily, I chose a location that did interfere with my pedaling (it is impossible to be sure whether or not a position will interfere with pedaling without actually mounting it in that position.)
And this is the major flaw with the mount. You cannot reposition it without cutting the strap or probably damaging the mount. The ratchet, being a ratchet, turns only one way. So you can only tighten the strap, you can't loosen it. You can try to turn the ratchet the wrong way, but that usually breaks the ratchet, and this one doesn't seem all that robust. So I am waiting for tech support from OnGuard for advice. If need be, I will just cut the strap and get a new mount from REI (unlike Amazon, REI offers a lifetime guarantee on everything it sells.)
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OnGuard PitBull STD 5003 Bicycle U-LockProduct Description: The On Guard PitBull U-Lock features 8.4 Tons of pull strength plus higher quality lock cores.*Keyed locks include five European-style keys, (1 lighted), all tube QR mounting bracket*Pitbull has 8.4 Tons pull strength plus higher quality lock cores*Unique cylinder offers optimum resistance to picking and reinforced sleeve over crossbar for additional security*13mm ultra-hardened steel shackle provides maximum cut resistance*$2,251 anti-theft protection offer. Item Specifications; Lock Size:4.5' x 9'; Bracket Incuded:yes;
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I am pleased with this lock. Its length makes it easy to secure the bike to things, though it also makes the lock large to store on the bike. Yet the velcro strip that comes with it makes it easy to secure so it isn't in the way. And the bracket is great, with an easy push-button release. A good, medium-high security lock.
