XENA Nightmare XN18 Disc-Lock Alarm
The Ultimate High-Performance Motorcycle Magazine Reviews the Ultimate Motorcycle Disc-Lock Alarm
by Sport Rider staff
The introduction of the disc lock helped numerous bike owners from suffering the indignity of having their bikes stolen by the casual thief. But as is always the case when protecting something valuable, thieves eventually found ways to quickly circumvent the lock. The barrel locks that were so popular in the early days saw a quick demise at the hands of a plastic disposable pen; then compressed refrigerant became a popular tactic, super-freezing the lock and enabling thieves to break the now-brittle metal by smashing it with a large hammer.
Enter the Xena XN18 Nightmare disc lock. Manufactured out of carbide-reinforced stainless steel, the XN18 is designed to thwart any attempts at disabling or breaking the lock. Weighing in a pretty hefty 2.9 pounds (considering its 431/48 x 131/44 x 211/44-inch dimensions), the Nightmare lock is constructed in the now-popular slip-fit lock design, with the entire lock body slipping over the disc and enabling every component to be solidly encased in a virtually impregnable unit. Because of this design and the lock's carbide-fortified construction, the lock is basically immune to compressed refrigerant attacks.
The lock itself uses a high-security four-pin system that is practically pick-proof, and the key barrel (which removes as a single unit to function as the locking pin, which is 18mm in diameter where it passes through the disc) is also carbide-reinforced stainless steel. The gap for the disc is 7mm, making it large enough to slip over the thickest brake disc; depth is 65mm, enabling the lock to fit the vast majority of bikes on the market. (You can check www.xenasecurity.com for fitment.)
The Nightmare lock also features a 110dB siren alarm controlled by dual shock and movement sensors, which have differing sensitivity according to the mounting position on the disc. Powered by a CR2 3V lithium battery (claimed to last about 8 months under normal use), the alarm module automatically arms itself using two infrared sensors that detect the brake disc when the lock is positioned for use. A flashing blue light on the lock signals that it is armed.
The lock's fairly small size makes it easy to stow away when not in use, although its dense heft requires that it be packed securely, otherwise it could wreak havoc inside a tank bag or backpack. Installation on a brake disc is pretty easy, but the key/lock barrel needs to have a groove lined up correctly in order to slide into place, and once the lock is positioned on the disc, you have five seconds to lock it in place before the alarm arms itself. The siren is reasonably loud, but its high-pitched shrill would easily be lost in the din of a busy city street; it is definitely useful, however, in preventing you from riding off before removing the lock. Sensitivity is good without being overly touchy, especially when mounted on the highest brake disc with the bike on its sidestand. And once you feel how stout the lock is, we seriously doubt that a casual thief would want to spend the time trying to defeat it. The Xena XN18 Nightmare disc lock retails for $249.95.
