In this case, 'HD' does not stand for the picture quality of your television screen, but for Heavy Duty.
This has a double meaning in this case, because lifting this one and a half meter long chain with padlock will require the use of a bit more than just your little finger. As a lock, it was given the necessary labels and adulation. The HD Chain is ART-approved (4114) and you can unleash half a workshop of tools on it: it stays closed.
The hardened, square chain links are (square, so however you look at it) just under 10 mm thick. A black, hard-wearing sleeve protects the chain itself. The padlock with double locking mechanism has a locking pin of 14 mm. We're pretty sure: a pair of scissors won't be enough if you ever lose the keys. Fortunately, you get three of them and Oxford provides a key service that allows you to order additional copies later if you lose them.
This is a lot of chain, a lot of lock and worthy of the name 'heavy duty'.
Does this mean your bike will always be safe from now on? No, everything can be broken. This chain does not have a lot of weaknesses, but that will make people look for other solutions to break it. This theft protection is like all others: the more difficult you make it to steal the bike, the less people want to take up the challenge. Visible security raises the threshold, but a 100% guarantee can never be given.
Tip of the RAD-house: The key must be pushed into the lock almost as far as the plastic handle allows. You should hardly be able to see 5mm of the metal part of the key. This may take some getting used to, due to the construction of the lock. Once you get the hang of it, however, this is a lock-chain combination you will love.
