Lost keys

[Callum]

Have recently lost / mislaid my bike keys. I have a B H atome cross X pro , very nice bike but...currently cant charge it as my key operated charing panel is locked . I contacted BH who, rather bizarrely , asked for a photo of the key and number of the key. Neither of which, sadly, I have .
The lock looks reasonably simple and the key is a cyylinder type with notches.
Rather than getting the whole thing redrilled does anyone have any suggestions ? I was hoping that BH had a record of bike frame and the key required to unlock it seemingly they dont.
Thus I have a very nice but totally useless bike sat sitting in shed. Frstrating isnt the word. Any sensible suggestions very gratefully received.
Kind regards Callum

 

[sjpt]

Several people here have suggested jiggler keys. I've never tried them myself and can't suggest any particular set or kind of jiggler.

 

[Andy-Mat]

Mostly keys for devices come in twos. Which means that one is for daily use and the other in your "Safe place", properly labelled.
Obviously something went wrong with the "system".
Does the cylinder have a number stamped on it where the key goes? This may be enough to get a new key.
If it was me (having been a locksmith for 7 months in 2007), I would pick the lock/cylinder to get it open, which is really (sadly for security!) dead easy to do! There are plenty of videos on YouTube showing you how. Drilling out is also easy, but ruins the lock, which may be irreplaceable. You will need a set of picks, which ebay may be helpful to you. See here:-

Transparent Padlock Training Lock Practice Keyed Padlocks Training Skill Pick~ | eBay

15pcs Unlocking Lock Pick Set Key Extractor Transparent Practice Padlock Tool. Flawless Mushroom Head Air Cushion CC Cream Concealer BB Foundation Make Up NEW. 1 x 100% Fully Functioning Lock.

www.ebay.co.uk

Remove the cylinder and either buy a new one, or get a key made for it.
Either way, its not a 5 minute job, but employing a locksmith will probably set you back 50 -100 UK Pounds, assuming you take the bike to him at his shop of course. Getting him to call will cost even more, especially a Yellow Pages locksmith....a new bike may prove cheaper!
Do not use yellow pages for a locksmith, there are too many companies that will really "diddle" your wallet!
Assuming that there are no lock smiths anywhere near you, then I suggest a 1/8" drill in the middle of the key slot of the barrel, followed by a larger drill, that leaves around a millimeter of the"barrel". Pick all the bits out and try to turn what is left of the barrel. It's fiddly......
best of luck.
Andy
A good place for such a bike key is with your car and house keys, on the same ring!

 

[guerney]

Mostly keys for devices come in twos. Which means that one is for daily use and the other in your "Safe place", properly labelled.
Obviously something went wrong with the "system".
Does the cylinder have a number stamped on it where the key goes? This may be enough to get a new key.
If it was me (having been a locksmith for 7 months in 2007), I would pick the lock/cylinder to get it open, which is really (sadly for security!) dead easy to do! There are plenty of videos on YouTube showing you how. Drilling out is also easy, but ruins the lock, which may be irreplaceable. You will need a set of picks, which ebay may be helpful to you. See here:-

Transparent Padlock Training Lock Practice Keyed Padlocks Training Skill Pick~ | eBay

15pcs Unlocking Lock Pick Set Key Extractor Transparent Practice Padlock Tool. Flawless Mushroom Head Air Cushion CC Cream Concealer BB Foundation Make Up NEW. 1 x 100% Fully Functioning Lock.

www.ebay.co.uk

Remove the cylinder and either buy a new one, or get a key made for it.
Either way, its not a 5 minute job, but employing a locksmith will probably set you back 50 -100 UK Pounds, assuming you take the bike to him at his shop of course. Getting him to call will cost even more, especially a Yellow Pages locksmith....a new bike may prove cheaper!
Do not use yellow pages for a locksmith, there are too many companies that will really "diddle" your wallet!
Assuming that there are no lock smiths anywhere near you, then I suggest a 1/8" drill in the middle of the key slot of the barrel, followed by a larger drill, that leaves around a millimeter of the"barrel". Pick all the bits out and try to turn what is left of the barrel. It's fiddly......
best of luck.
Andy
A good place for such a bike key is with your car and house keys, on the same ring!

That training kit looks very interesting - I tried to pick my shed padlock last year... watched a lot of youtube videos and went at it with shims for ages, then picked at it using paperclip picks and a paperclip tensioner for hours. In the end I smashed the clasp off with a crowbar lol. Not at all as easy, as it's made to look.

 

[wheeliepete]

Have recently lost / mislaid my bike keys. I have a B H atome cross X pro , very nice bike but...currently cant charge it as my key operated charing panel is locked . I contacted BH who, rather bizarrely , asked for a photo of the key and number of the key. Neither of which, sadly, I have .
The lock looks reasonably simple and the key is a cyylinder type with notches.
Rather than getting the whole thing redrilled does anyone have any suggestions ? I was hoping that BH had a record of bike frame and the key required to unlock it seemingly they dont.
Thus I have a very nice but totally useless bike sat sitting in shed. Frstrating isnt the word. Any sensible suggestions very gratefully received.
Kind regards Callum

If you have owned the bike from new, the key no. may be recorded on the paperwork/handbook you got with the bike, if you still have it.

 

[Andy-Mat]

That training kit looks very interesting - I tried to pick my shed padlock last year... watched a lot of youtube videos and went at it with shims for ages, then picked at it using paperclip picks and a paperclip tensioner for hours. In the end I smashed the clasp off with a crowbar lol. Not at all as easy, as it's made to look.

One does need to:-
a) fully understand the configuration of the internals which takes some time for a "newbie"
and
b) have fingers that are sensitive enough to "feel",
c)to notice which pin "hangs" first, and all the subsequent "hangs" of all the other pins.
Often only 3 or 4 pins on small cheap cylinders - Easy Peasy!.
Another way is to buy an electric pick, which removes a lot of the needed "skill".....
See here:-

or make your own possibly:-

I have had one for years and I always use it first and 9 times out of 10, it opens the cylinder.....
A cheaper mechanical pick is this, though I did not find in on ebay UK:-

28-tlg Dietrich Lockpicking Lock Pick mit Nachschließen 1 Schlösser für Anfänger | eBay

Entdecken Sie 28-tlg Dietrich Lockpicking Lock Pick mit Nachschließen 1 Schlösser für Anfänger in der großen Auswahl bei eBay. Kostenlose Lieferung für viele Artikel!

www.ebay.de

Best of luck to you all
Andy
PS. I forgot tom mention "Raking" for opening many cylinders, especially on padlocks and cheap locks... See here:-

 

[Maureene Coots]

I was wondering if locksmith n14 is able to get you a new pair of keys and fix the lock issues. Usually, they deal only with house doors and locks, but there are exceptional cases like yours. Their background knowledge and experience will help you unlock your bike without causing any damage.
Anytime, I suggest making two pairs of keys and keeping one in a safe place.