Can you accomplish near-total motorcycle security for around $200?
Well, that’s how much my setup costs and, at home or on the go, it locks
my bikes to an immovable object, immobilizes a wheel and sounds a
piercing alarm if the bike or locks are messed with. Read all about it
in this Xena XX15 Disc Lock Alarm and Chain Adaptor review.
The full setup pictured here includes a Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Chain ($100 on Amazon), plus the Xena XX15 disk lock alarm and chain adaptor combo ($100 on Amazon). We’re going to focus on the Xena products in this review.
The Gear
The XX15 is the biggest, strongest disc lock alarm in Xena’s range. The
lock body is a very large, single piece of stainless steel with a large
cutout that will fit around any brake disc, leaving plenty of room for
the 14mm carbide steel locking pin to pass through.
Inside that stainless body is a motion detector powered by an
included CR2 Lithium battery. If the bike or lock are jostled in any
way, it gives you a few seconds of warning beeps before sounding a 120dB
alarm. It’s as loud and as sensitive as any of the more-expensive
alarms that install inside a motorcycle and is probably harder to
defeat. There’s no way to unlock, open or even touch the XX15 without
sounding the alarm and penetrating its stainless body will be
exceptionally difficult.
You access the alarm module and battery by using a special tool
(included) to slide a lever inside the base plate that will be totally
inaccessible if the lock is clamped around a brake disc.
Addressing customer complaints that its previous disc lock alarms
were too sensitive to certain environmental occurrences like wind and
passing trucks, Xena has redesigned its alarm sensor to remove those
variables without reducing its sensitivity to tampering.
The stainless steel chain adaptor neatly slots into the disc lock
without reducing the depth of its aperture. It can accept any security
chains up to 14 mm in diameter and the shackles of those chains protects
most of the adaptor’s length, eliminating any potential
vulnerabilities.
The Good
Eliminates the need to modify a bike’s wiring harness in order to install an alarm. Won’t drain your bike’s battery.
Excellent battery life; a single CR2 in my previous Xena lock lasted over a year of daily use.
Adds two layers of security in a single, convenient product.
Can’t lock without using the key, meaning there’s no chance of accidentally stranding yourself.
Hugely strong and immensely reassuring security.
Anti-tamper, anti-drill, anti-pick, anti-freeze lock.
Shockingly loud alarm can be heard blocks away, from inside your
house or even outside your garage. Being near while it sounds is an
extremely unpleasant experience.
Thieves will be forced to crop your chain or remove your anchor long
before they’ll be able to defeat the XX15, with it sounding that 120dB
alarm all the while.
Attaching a disc lock is much quicker and easier than looping a chain
through the wheel and doesn’t cover your hands in road muck and brake
dust.
The disc lock/chain adaptor combo effectively increases the useable
length of your chain as it no longer has to wrap through wheel and tire.
Anyone who’s ever tried to pass a chain around a thick lamppost or been
forced to lock up in otherwise awkward circumstances will appreciate
the extra four to six inches that nets you.
The warning beeps double as a reminder if you hop on the bike after
forgetting to remove the disc lock. No need for a lanyard or other
reminder.
Great for road trips. Park your bike outside your tent or motel room
safe in the knowledge that, if anyone touches it, you’ll be alerted.
The Bad
The XX15 is large and heavy, making it difficult to squeeze under the
seats of modern bikes. If you don’t need the chain adaptor, the smaller,
cheaper XX6 is just as effective.
For purposes of maximum security, the alarm will sound throughout the
battery swap process. We admire the no-loopholes approach, but man does
it hurt your ears.
Using the disc lock as the means to lock the chain to your bike means you’re not securing both wheels.
Inserting the key can be a fiddly process, especially in tight
quarters. I set off the alarm as a result for a few seconds once a week
or so.
The Verdict
Extraordinarily effective security in one affordable, convenient
package. Paired with a quality chain and used with a paranoid mindset,
the Xena XX15 and Chain Adaptor combo will be the most effective tool in
your anti-theft arsenal. A must buy for any urban rider.
The post Xena XX15 Disc Lock Alarm and Chain Adaptor Review appeared first on RideApart.
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