Yardo 7807F Fingerprint Chain Lock

The ABUS Yardo 7807F Fingerprint Chain Lock is a 7 mm round chain lock that opens with a fingerprint instead of a key or code. It stores up to 20 fingerprints, locks automatically when the chain end is pushed home, carries IP66 and IP68 ratings and sits at Security Level 8 of 15 on ABUS's scale. It comes in 85 cm and 110 cm lengths.

How secure it actually is

ABUS rate the Yardo at Security Level 8 of 15 on their own scale, and pitch it at medium-value bikes in places with a medium risk of theft: the commuter that lives at the station rack, the e-bike outside the gym, the café stop on a Saturday ride. The 7 mm round chain runs into a lock body of coated die-cast zinc, and a double-bolted locking mechanism gives improved protection against forced opening.

Weight against security

The 85 cm version weighs 1246 g and the 110 cm version 1480 g. That is real chain-lock weight, and what you get for it is a lock you never have to dig a key out for. There is nothing to lose, nothing to forget on the kitchen bench, and the whole household can share it.

What it locks to

A chain wraps where a U-lock cannot. The 85 cm chain suits a bike rack or a sign post next to the frame, while the 110 cm chain reaches around a thicker pole, a tree or a fence rail, or takes in a wheel as well as the frame. A silicone cover encases the lock body to prevent scratches on your frame.

Fingerprints and battery

The capacitive sensor recognises your finger regardless of the direction you place it from. The first two fingerprints you enrol are the administrators, then up to 18 more can be added for a total of 20. Enrol two fingers each and the lock still opens on a day you have cut one. Fingerprints can only be cleared all at once, as a factory reset.

Locking needs no fingerprint at all: push the chain end into the body and it locks automatically. The lock runs on a standard CR2 battery, which is in the box and is good for up to 10,000 openings. When it runs low the lock beeps and flashes red, and after about ten warnings it will no longer lock after its last opening, which stops you locking yourself out. Your fingerprints stay stored when you swap the battery.

Looking after it

With IP66 and IP68 ratings the Yardo is suitable for use in the rain and can withstand a spray from the garden hose. Keep the sensor and your finger clean and dry for a quick read, and keep a spare CR2 battery in the shed.