ABUS releases new GRANIT Plus 640 u-lock and new urban, commuter helmets
Featuring a new, wider profile, thicker shackle and high-tech key cyclinder.
ABUS is a German brand this is already well known in the US for their high quality, high security locks, some of which we have featured in previous reviews and write-up. They had a few new products to show at the Winter Bike Press Camp event last week including two new u-locks and something completely different – helmets.
GRANIT Plus 640 u-lock
The previous version of this u-lock from ABUS was called the Granit Futura 64 and it is now called the GRANIT Plus 640 and features some important upgrades. It has a 12mm round shackle (old version was 11mm) and it now has a higher security rating than the previous version as well. The security rating is now a 12 (was 11) on a scale with 15 as the max. It comes in two sizes, a smaller red color for the short shackle version, and black for the long shackle. It has a new, wider profile to fit around reinforced parking meters better. The GRANIT Plus 640 also has 4 points of contact on the double bolting shackle which means it locks on both sides and with the 4 contact points, so it can’t just be twisted off after one cut. The shackle would have to be cut twice by would-be bike thieves.
The new upgraded version of the old Futura series with a higher security rating but at the same price.
The coating, color and feel of the GRANIT Plus 640 locks have been modernized for a more sleek look and feel. The key itself has over 7,000 key variations so the chances of there being another lock with the same key are very low. We talked to Joan Hanscom, PR and Marketing Director for ABUS who explained, “Some competitors have locks with much simpler cylinders. So simple, in fact, that the ratio of variations can be as low as 1 in 5. So this means for a given lock sold by a bike shop, 1 in 5 keys could possibly open another lock.” ABUS uses very high technology key cylinder to ensure a high security rating. For as big and sturdy as the locks felt in our hands, they are surprisingly lightweight. Hanscom continues, “This model has been a favorite of urban riders and messengers and we feel that they will be really pleased with the new upgrades.”
The retail price of the GRANIT Plus 640 is $99 US for the shorter 5″ model and $129 US for the 9″ model, so the price has not increased even though the security and rating have. It is available in two sizes: standard and long with the standard coming in red and the long (9″) available in black and comes with a carrying bracket. The smaller size does not, since it is small enough that it can be carried on a belt loop or shoved in a pack. The key comes in two version, one with a built-in light and a standard non-lighted version. These locks will be available in March.
Urban-I commuter helmet with built-in rear blinky
The big news from ABUS at Winter Press Camp was that they are bringing in their line of helmets to the US. ABUS has been making helmets for several years in Europe and they are currently available in Canada. They will bring in their road and mountain helmets later, but for now they are concentrating on what their urban, city, commuter helmet line.
The first helmet is the Urban-I which has a removable visor and a built-in blinky light in the rear. The triangle shaped light has two blink modes (steady and blinking). All the blink lights on ABUS helmets have replaceable batteries, which are #2032 watch batteries. There is a wheel-type fit adjuster in the back and magnetic locking straps (similar to what Lazer uses on some of their helmets).
The Urban-I has an In-Mold construction for durable fusion of the outer shell and the shock absorbing helmet material (which is EPS). It has 12 air inlets and 5 outlets for good ventilation and has removable and washable padding. Soft touch straps are easy to adjust with usable sliders and it also has a bug net. It is availabe in two sizes (MD and LG) and US pricing has not yet been set but the Canadian price is $139.99.
A view of the integrated rain cover loose and on helmet.
Pedelec with blinky and integrated rain cover
Next up, the Pedelec is another urban type lid that has an integrated rain cover that stashes into a compartment in the rear of the helmet when not needed. If it starts to rain, simply pops out the cover, pull it over and hook it on to the two retaining buttons in the front of the helmet. This model features 3 blink modes (solid, chase back and forth over the top, blinking) and the cover does not interfere with the light visibility. It will come in the matt color with green, blue, pink accents.
Like the Urban-I, the Pedelec has a double shell in-Mold construction for durable fusion of the outer shell and the shock absorbing helmet material (EPS) and the “ZoomLite” handy wheel adjustment system. The Pedelec has good ventilation with 9 air inlets and 4 outlets. It also features removable and washable padding, bug net, removable visors and soft-touch straps. The straps use the same Fidlock magnetic closures. It is available in two sizes (MD and LG) and the US pricing has not yet been set but the Canadian price is $149.99.
A view of the entry-level Hyban with built-in rear blinky.
Urban-I commuter helmet with built-in rear blinky
The Hyban is another urban/city model that comes in 4 colors, has the built-in rear blinky, removable visor and bug net. It is their entry-level model and it is a bit heavier, which can be expected for the price point. Like the others, US pricing hasn’t been set, but the Canadian price is $79.99. The Hyban is available in 4 colors (polar matt, green, concrete grey, petrol (blue), velvet black) and two sizes (MD and LG).
Side view of the Tec-Tical Pro coming later to the US.
Tec-Tical Pro v.2 road helmet – sneak peek
Lastly, we got a sneak peek at ABUS’s high end road helmet called the Tec-Tical Pro. This is the helmet that their Bora Argon 18 Team racers use. It features a multi shell In-Mold construction for durable fusion of the multi piece outer shell and the shock absorbing helmet material. The multi density helmet material reduces the weight of the helmet and increases the collision protection. It has increased stability through the ABUS “Safety Tech (AST)” structure strengthening.
Other features include the Zoom precise and very light adjustment system, size adjustment via half ring system and extraordinary ventilation with 20 air inlets and 11 outlets, connected by deep air stream channels. The padding is removable and washable and it has soft touch straps easy to adjust by practical sliders. The visor is removable and it has high passive safety thanks to huge and very intense reflectors worked in to the overall paint scheme.
ABUS will be relaunching their website for North America at the end of February, but you can still find more information at: www.abus.com
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