The one on the right is rubbish, the one on the left is quite good
Two smart bike locks with alarm system that can only be operated via app. Two of them are the "Abus SmartX 770A". One of them drives me to despair, the other works perfectly.
Some things have stood the test of time so much that it feels strange to do without them. Keys for locks, for example. With the "Abus 770A SmartX" you don't need one, but nothing works without a mobile phone. That's interesting on the one hand, but risky on the other. If it doesn't work, you're left looking stupid. And the stars are not favourable for the lock, there are many negative reviews. Not just with us. Is this expensive piece of steel really so bad, even though it's supposed to be smart? The first answer is: unfortunately yes. The second: no longer true.
The initial situation
"Perfect for E-Bike" is written on the packaging. There are three reasons why the SmartX is particularly appealing to riders of high-priced e-bikes. Firstly, it is a beating of a shackle that weighs two kilograms and comes with Abus' highest in-house security level 15. Secondly, the lock is so expensive that it is hardly worth buying for a simple everyday bike. And thirdly, it has a built-in battery. Nothing works with the Abus 770A without power. If your mobile is empty, you have a problem - because the U-lock can only be opened via the app.
Lockpicking attempts are therefore impossible. It also has an in-built alarm function to scare off potential thieves if they tamper with it. I am already familiar with this alarm function from the Abus Bordo Alarm 6000A. If it is active, the lock first emits five warning tones when it detects movement. If the lock is moved further, the main alarm then goes off. During my test, this occasionally caused some stress when unlocking the lock, as the Bordo Alarm still has a good old key. And in order to use it, you usually have to move the lock. The elegant solution of being able to open it completely without the (pre-)alarm is obvious.
Abus has not only taken up this idea with the 770A SmartX, but has followed it through consistently. Away with the key. If the interaction with the SmartX app (iOS / Android) works, then you only need to operate the slide switch on the lock to open it. If this doesn't work, you'll go crazy with a probability bordering on security level 15. The concentrated frustration can be found in the comments on the app. Excerpts: "There's also -1000 points, the lock is closed and won't open" - "I want my money back!" - "You always have to get your phone out and restart it if necessary, it's a pain." Since there is a software update and occasionally positive reviews, I'm still in good spirits.
The first attempt
My first impression is positive. The app is tidy and guides you through all the necessary steps to set up and personalise one or more locks. You can grant and revoke access to your lock to other people and adjust the keyless function. For example, you can define how close you need to get to your lock before it unlocks when a connection is established. If you allow the app to be active in the background, you can close it and leave your mobile in your pocket as long as Bluetooth and GPS are active. The app will also show you the last place where you had a connection to the lock. It cannot be tracked.
In the first few days with the Abus 770A SmartX, I initially doubted myself. Sometimes everything worked as I imagined it would. Then again nothing at all. Am I doing something wrong? Does the app have all the rights? Why do I have to carry my bike out of the garage on my shoulders instead of simply being able to open the lock? At some point, I no longer have the confidence to use it. I have pretty much every problem that other lock owners complain about. It's unreliable to unlock. The alarm does what it wants. It often cannot be armed. There is also a gap several millimetres wide in the plastic housing around the slide switch. None of this is acceptable, especially not in this price range.
I contact the manufacturer by email, report on my test and describe the problems with the lock. Within five minutes, I have Nicolas from Abus on the phone. The topic is understandably unpleasant for the company. Almost everywhere there are complaints about the lock, there is also an apology with a request to get in touch. There are obviously locks in circulation that should never have been in the hands of customers. The unsightly gap is a visible sign of this. But there is also something very wrong on the inside. As it is not a software problem, we agree that I will be sent a new test lock.
The second attempt
I've been travelling with the second chance lock for a good two weeks now. It works as promised. Anything else would have been one disappointment too many. What does that mean now? What's convincing, what's not?
I now trust the technology. And in the December cold, it's nice not even having to take my gloves off to operate the lock. Press the slide switch once, then the Abus 770A connects to the mobile and opens after two to three seconds. This is not much quicker than pulling out a key, but it is very convenient.
When closed, the lock is initially in transport mode. To activate monitoring mode, you must press and hold the slide switch again within five seconds of locking until you hear two high-pitched beeps. As soon as you are no longer connected to the lock, the alarm is armed and reacts to vibrations.
What the piiiiiep!
If I could change one thing about the Abus 770A, I would mute it. I don't like the constant beeps and don't want to attract attention when I open my bike lock. The SmartX always beeps. Opening and closing once sounds like this: Push the switch until it beeps. Wait for the app to respond and the connection to be established (luckily I can mute my mobile). Open the lock: Double beep. The app buzzes because the lock has been opened. Close the lock again: Double beep in reverse tone sequence. The app buzzes because the lock has been closed. Press the slide switch until a shrill double beep confirms the monitoring mode. It would be great if a few small LEDs could indicate the respective status without any noise. The alarm is a good thing. I could do without all the other sounds.
Advantages and pitfalls
Keyless living can be practical, apart from the noise. You can grant up to eight other people temporary or permanent access to your lock. The alarm, in combination with the hardened steel shackle, ensures maximum security. You can keep an eye on everything in the app, including the battery status of your lock. There is no information on the battery life in the operating instructions. I fully charged the first lock on 10 September and the displayed charge level is currently at 80 per cent. You will be warned in the app when it's time to recharge. However, the lock battery is not the limiting factor. In everyday life, you need to keep an eye on the charge level of your mobile. And its distance from your lock.
I noticed a potential problem when I was on my way to the kitchen and my mobile suddenly connected to the lock. The lock was on the bike. My bike was in the bike cellar one floor below. The connection works at a distance of about two to five metres. As soon as a connection is established, the lock can be opened. If you are sitting in the living room, office or café and your bike is parked in the immediate vicinity, this may be the case. If you are close by, it is better to cut the Bluetooth connection or only allow the connection for a very short distance if in doubt.
Conclusion
The lock is innovative and better than its reputation. Meanwhile, you get a product that delivers what it promises. Whether this is good or bad is up to you to decide. The combination of steel shackle and alarm function makes it very secure, the app is clear and easy to use. However, the lock weighs quite a bit and you are completely dependent on your mobile. This may be forward-looking, but it doesn't offer me enough advantages in everyday life. The risk of standing in front of the lock with an empty mobile phone battery and not being able to access my bike is too great for me. I'd rather take a key with me for a few more years.
Michael Restin
Senior Editor
Michael.Restin@digitecgalaxus.chSimple writer, dad of two. Likes to be on the move, shimmies through everyday family life, juggles with several balls and occasionally drops something. A ball. Or a remark. Or both.
