TiGr Lock Reviews (Mini) – Tests Revealed, Review, Final Verdict

Finding the right lock for your bike that is both reliable and portable is definitely more difficult than it sounds.

Today, we’re looking at the TiGr Mini Lock for your bike. We'll be judging whether or not it’s something that you should invest your money on to secure your precious bike.

In this post, we’ll discuss the TiGr Mini Lock in detail as well as some of its competitors and look at how it fares overall.

Quick Summary of the Main Product

The TiGr Mini lock is made to secure your bike effectively and it’s a solid product that’s made of Titanium. It has a sleek, stylish and simplistic appearance and it’s extremely lightweight which makes it very easy to store and carry around. It’s a bike lock that is small but looks very secure (Sometimes, a lock merely looking secure can be a very effective deterrent for potential thieves).

As for actual performance, the TiGr Mini lock is definitely a product worth its salt. You even get a mounting clip with it which you can install onto your bike so you can mount your lock onto it when it’s not in use. It’s a great and convenient way to carry your lock around instead of having it dangle off the back of your bike.

The fact that the TiGr Mini Lock is made of titanium whereas most bike locks these days are made of steel gives it an interesting edge. Steel is much harder than titanium which makes it very effective against cutting attacks. On the other hand, titanium is flexible which makes it great against leverage attacks.

The locking mechanism is as simple and old-school as it gets. All you have is a lock and key, it’s as simple as that. The main locking area is durable, of high-quality and very easy to use. Just don’t lose your key.

Features and Benefits

• Small Footprint 

The TiGr Mini lock takes up a lot less space than most of its competitors which is to be expected since it has the word “mini” in its name. It has dimensions of 10.5 inches by 4 inches by 1.2 inches. The fact that it’s so small makes it very easy to take with you whenever you’re out on your bike. You could even store it in your jacket or jersey pocket if you wanted to. 

It also weighs only 0.9 pounds whereas most bike locks have an average weight of at least 2 pounds. This light weight is mainly due to the fact that the TiGr Mini Lock is made from titanium rather than hardened steel.  

• Easy to carry  

As we mentioned above, the TiGr Mini Lock does not weigh a lot which makes it very easy to store and also very easy to carry around with you. 

• Secure Against most Theft Strategies 

We tested the TiGr Mini Lock in a number of ways. These included by attempting to break into it using many different tools and strategies that thieves commonly employ. Judging from our results, we would have to say that the TiGr Mini Lock is a solid mid-level security lock for your bike. 

It was able to withstand wire snips quite easily but we were able to break into it using both a hammer and a hacksaw. However, it should be noted that we broke into it while the lock was laying on the ground. Realistically, the lock would be on your bike and off the ground and in that scenario, it would be much harder to break into it using a hammer or a hacksaw. 

• Mounting Clip 

The mounting clip that comes with the TiGr Mini lock is a very unique feature that is exclusive to this product. It’s definitely an aspect where the TiGr Mini lock shines. This is because the secure mounting clip for the lock coupled with the fact that it’s so light, you’re not even going to notice any extra weight on your bike.

• Two Keys 

As we mentioned earlier, the TiGr Mini lock uses an old-school locking mechanism of a lock and key. Of course, you would be in a bind if you were to lose your key which is why TiGr provides you with two of them so you don’t have to worry. 

• PVC Coating

The bow has a PVC coating all over it. This ensures that when you lock your bike or mount the lock onto the mounting clip, you’re not going to accidentally scratch your bike. We tested this by purposefully scratching the lock onto our bike’s frame and we were not able to notice even a single scratch. 

Pros and Cons

Pros 

• It’s extremely lightweight. It weighs merely 0.9 pounds and if those heavy-duty U-locks and cables are something that intimidate you then this lock is definitely the one for you. It’s very easy to transport and equally easy to store.
• It’s compact and portable. Not only does it barely weigh anything, but it also doesn’t take up a lot of space either. This makes it every biker’s dream in terms of convenience and portability.  
• It’s very easy to use. What could be more simple than a lock and key? Fitting the lock onto your bike frame may require some getting used to in the first couple of tries. However, within a day or two, you will find that you’re used to it and you won’t even think twice about it after that.  
• It’s aesthetically pleasing. That titanium structure with the PVC coating feels very sleek and not only that, the lock also looks very robust. This is generally off-putting to many would-be thieves and they would think twice about trying to steal your bike when they see this lock on it. 
• They have great customer support. TiGr is not a multinational corporation, it’s a small family business based in the US. We can tell by their business model that they clearly care about their business and about their customers. If you run into a problem with your TiGr Mini lock, you can contact them. They will most definitely respond and do their best to get your problem fixed as soon as possible. 

Cons

• It does not provide the most reliable security. As we mentioned earlier, we were able to break into it using a hammer and a hacksaw. This means that if you want security that is rock-solid then you may have to look towards some other product for your bike.  
• It’s fairly expensive. At a price point of $115, the TiGr Mini Lock has a lot of competitors that offer a lot more value at the same price. 

Social Proof

Looking towards the online reviews, it’s easy to see that most of the claims that TiGr has made regarding the lock are true. Most of the reviews we came across were positive with a lot of them praising the lock’s appearance as well as its security. 

One customer said he’s been riding bikes for 20+ years and he always used U-locks. Switching to the TiGr Mini lock was a breath of fresh air for them because the lock is much more flexible and can get around thicker poles. Not to mention, it weighs a lot less too. 

More Recommendations!

Guide to Buy

What is a TiGr Mini lock and how do I use it?

The TiGr Mini lock is a small and lightweight bike lock that comes in an unusual frame. This can be attributed to the fact that it’s manufactured from titanium rather than the typical steel.

The bike lock consists of the titanium bow and a steel locking cylinder. The bow is fashioned with a gap in one corner and you use this gap to fit into the steel locking cylinder which then gets locked. Thus, securing your bike to whatever structure you want to lock into. You may think that it’s difficult to get the bow into the locking cylinder but the flexibility of titanium allows you to do this fairly easily. 

What are some of the different ways in which bikers utilize the TiGr Mini?

There are a number of ways in which the TiGr Mini lock can be utilized to lock your bike. Some of these ways are: 

• Lock the rear wheel and the frame to the rack using the Sheldon Brown method. 

• Lock the front wheel and the frame to the rack. 

• Lock just the frame to the rack.

It’s a good idea to apply lock lubricant such as WD-40 or Lock-Ease to your TiGr Mini lock’s locking mechanism from time to time. This can help keep the locking mechanism from becoming rigid. It can also discourage the buildup of grit and grime and also restore smooth function to the lock.

Where can I buy a TiGr Mini Lock from?

How secure is the TiGr Mini Lock?

The TiGr Mini lock is a mid-level security lock which means that it can protect your bike from most common tools. However, if given enough time and resources, it can definitely be broken into. This is why we recommend that if you are using this lock, don’t leave it in high-risk areas for extended periods of time.