London Fixed-gear and Single-speed SJS Cycles

no, that one is not the same model .. there was no product code so i couldn't find any info on it .. i think it's an older, out-of-production one. plus, I wanted it in black and they only had yellow, so I got the xzz6 instead..

Just did this minute. Decided would be very good to have one for when my bike is in our shared hall overnight (shared with one person we trust completely but I worry about thieves getting through the front door and stealing the only thing of value in the hall - plus nothing to lock it to). Every time I hear any noise out the front I always worry it's burglars, I'll sleep better with one of these.

Are you going to tell me they've gone bust or something now?! It did seem very cheap.

Oh FFS! So should I ring up and cancel then? I don't care about the colour, is there any advantage to the XZZ6 over the one I've ordered?

If you ordered anything other than an xzz6 it might not fit your chainring. The Xena's are primarily designed for motorbikes, the xzz6 is the only one that says it will fit on bicycles as it has the widest 'jaw'. It doesnt have the product code on that site - so I would double check what you've ordered - even though it looks like the right one in the pic.

Eek sorry Fox! I hope it's all A OK.

No worries, just emailed them now. I could always send it back under the distance selling regs..

well from what I read, the cheap one push out 100db, whether the other one push out 110db.

while it's a 10db difference, it's still a big difference.

The decibel scale is a log scale so as ed said the difference will be pretty big.

Yeah I did Jammy, well spotted thanks, will update when it arrives.

I ordered the one from your link Jammy. I'll check it again when I get home but I think it's just a bit bigger and heavier than Clefty's.

Not sure about quieter - when I set it off in testing I had to throw a duvet over it and run out of the room holding my ears!

just checked it, and it is 110db after all.

Unfortunately I chucked out the box and I can't recall exactly which model it was - but I remember googling it at the time and finding out that it generally retailed for more that the xzz6 and that it was about 100g heavier.

It's currently hanging off my back door handle as an el cheapo burglar alarm...

Not bad not bad. And what thickness stuff can it be slotted around?

Jammy,
nope, but l will tomorrow! Will want to know which model it is as its hard to make out.

You could get anything up to 7.5mm in the slot.

Dunno if Clefty's arms differently or not but this one seems to rely on some metal breaking the plane of the sensor between the slot to set it. So I'm not sure how the ideas of using it on spokes or saddle rails would work, as I expect it would just hang there without the plane being broken, unless it were balanced carefully. It's ideal for my chainring though...

I would test it out more - but it wakes up the neighbours and scares the cats to death!

Nice review clefty.

Yep, I've found it does need metal to break the sensor plane - my saddle rails will not work with it unless finely balanced. I'll update the original review.

They have just emailed me back to say this is the one I have ordered for £19.99 - weird it is elsewhere on the site for that price!
http://www.mandp.co.uk/productinfo/5...isc-Lock-Alarm

110Db and a 7mm gap height - so do we think this will work? I'm guessing yes if the other one is 7.5mm and will fit two chainrings (I only need it to fit one).

Thanks for the review. I bought a cheaper knock-off version and it's crap. I could add another tenner and buy this one.

0.5mm is a really tiny difference, to put your mind at rest, most chainring are usually 4 to 5mm thick (I've just measured the two chainring I have).

Thanks Ed - that's what I thought. Bargain then!

Just measured my Sugino 75 ring and it's 4mm max, so giving the go ahead.

[FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial](1st post... Been lurking here for a while. Howdy!)

Yeah. I did. It's a slice of fried gold.

But... I reckon I need some ear protectors to test it out in the flat before I let it loose on the public. Find the best spot for it. Don't want to be the cyclist equivalent of those annoying pricks whose car alarm keeps going off at the slightest provocation. And there’s no way to turn it off remotely (though that’s hardly cause for complaint given it was 20 quid).[/FONT]

I tested mine outside my block of flats - apart from some confused looks it was fine.
Don't test it in enclosed spaces, I've had it accidently arm in my bag before when a piece of metal touched the sensor - it went off just as I opened the bag to get to it, so I got a face full of pain.
My ears were ringing for ages.

Just had mine drop on the desk - it's having a trial by fire in deepest Camden tomorrow.

May try and scare the cat/girlfriend with it tonight

Mine twarted two scrotes in Southall this afternoon. I heard an alarm go off and nipped outside the shop to check and saw them running. I went to check the bike and a shop assistant came out and said they were hanging around the bike but left smartish when the alarm went off.

Two thumbs up.

Ha nice shorts.

Going to order one of these next week

Going to order one now.

Regarding whether any of the disc alarm locks might not be wide enough for a chainring - I think all disc locks designed for motorcycles would fit the width of any single chainring. Just from sight alone, the disc braking surface appears thicker than bicycle chainrings. Obviously these discs slow bikes down from 160mph or more, so must be thick enough to withstand those forces.

Double and triple chainrings will need closer attention to the gap width. But all single chainrings should be fine.


EDIT:
Fox has since let us know that the thickness of his Sugino 75 is causing a problem.
I'm providing a solution in a new post, plus in the Locks That Work thread.

Looks like the perfect solution for my geared bike which is going to have to live in the garden shed. Thanks for the tip.

Hi Fox,

The 7.5mm was just my rudimentary guess from using a tape measure. Looking at that link again mine is identical to that (I remember the XR1 on the box now - but doubted it yesterday due to seeing them selling it for the higher price elsewhere on the same site).

Dunno about going round two rings but it fits my (quite substantial) White Industries ring with ease...

Xena XR1 arrived today from M&P via Royal Mail signed for post, working ok, drilled a hole in the chainring for the pin to go through:

I've just oprdered three, one for my father's, my mother's and mine, it was my mother who persuade me to get them actually for her bike.

family order! nice.

Oh I know! considering how damaging 110db is to your ears (enough to cause pain if you're less than a metre away), it defintely will work, and perfect for locking the bike without worrying about theft in the back garden.

Received mine today. The thing plays nice with my fixed bike but won't fit on my campag triple on my audax/tourer - bummer. The thing is VERY sensitive and loud!

I notice a small problem with those lock (as mentioned already a few post above) - you need a good amount of space inside the alarm lock to make it effective, it won't work if your chainring is very thin like the campagnolo one I have.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...alarmlock2.jpg

See the black rectangle part inside of the alarm lock just under the locking mechanism? you need to cover that part to make it work, because my chainring is far too thin, it only take one to hold it away so the rectangle part doesn't get obstructed by the chainring to prevent the alarm getting sounded, my best solution is (varies on your bike) to lock it on the track end, it's immovable and it's cover the rectangle part perfectly.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...aalarmlock.jpg

Quite ingenious Ed. A really good idea.

it defintely is, with a bit of room too if the hubs is tighten on the middle of the track end, I also put it on my father's road bike, it fit the double chainring nicely, well the thin part of the lock go inbetween the two chainring, but netherless secure.

My mother's dutch bike however have an completely enclosed drivetrain, but I found an area on the unremovable rear rack where I can lock that thing on, I'll take more picture tomorrow as it's too dark.

Gonna get me one of these beasts fo so yo! I'd like to see that bastard go off in Dalston while i'm getting Pide.

Hmm, I've got the same problem as Ed with my Sugino 75 ring, but I can't fit it on my track ends either. Might try it with the hub further back in the stays.

With regards to those whose chainrings are thicker, like Fox's, or need to cover the width of a double or triple chainring set-up, these below may help. I'm posting them in Clefty's thread, as it may well become a gathering point for those looking for disc alarm locks. Hope you don't mind Clefty. The locks range from £16-£60.

LA-01 Alarmed Padlock £16.99
Oxford Boss Alarm £59.00
SG Heavy Duty £16.99
Xena XBL2-35 £59.40
Xena XPL46 £45.00


Of these, only the LA-01 can be cut easily. The others won't be. Though the Xena XBL2-35 on has a 14mm bar, the construction, and depending on HOW you fit it, will ensure security. The others simply won't be cut off you bike, because the alarm would sound before it has been cut off anyway. I think the Oxford Boss may be the strongest of this lot.

As for HOW to use these, I'd recommend locking around the chainring(s), and including the chain. That simple deterent, means one more thing that the thief would have to cut through. They'd more be inclined then to move on to easier pickings. The Xena XPL46 offers the opportunity also to lock the chainring to a slim-tubed steel bike, if clearances are close enough. One look at this, and a thief would not even bother. I doubt it would get round fat downtubes though, as on my Capo 5.

EDIT: Removed the Oxford Nemesis, as it is not alarmed after all, and added the SG Locks "Heavy Duty" instead. Brought to my attention by flickwg.

OK so i've had this for a week or so now. Quite pleased with it but it isn't perfect for a bicycle.

Strengths: Compact, lightweight, uncommon so it's a good deterrent, loud.
Weaknesses: Too sensitive.

I think this is the perfect extra lock for attaching to the bike if it's locked in a shared hallway overnight, or in a garage. For locking up on a busy bike rack, or on the street .. no. It's just too sensitive. Bump the bike once and it gives off five warning beeps, then immediately goes off for around 10 seconds. This is dumb. IMO, it should sound off a 'beep beep' warning first, like a car alarm, to give off the message that it's alarmed, so please back off. Then sound off. Not everyone that nudges a bicycle is planning to fuck with it, what if it's locked to a lamppost and some pedestrian grazes it, or it's locked to a packed bike rack and someone locks up next to yours?

It will also only fit on the 10/8 o clock position on my chainring, above and beneath the chainstays. I'm pretty sure it would fit 3/32 rings better than my 1/8 ring, as the disc lock alarm won't fit over my chain and ring together. Apparently, it's less sensitive if you lock it to the 6 o clock position, and more sensitive if you lock it in the 12 o clock position. I tried this on my motorbike but it made no perceptible difference..

So, not so great for locking up in public but perfect for using where you are certain your bike should remain still.

I just received a Xena XZZ6 in the post, and I can't get it to arm/alarm. I wonder if it's broken. When I shake it it sounds like a bunch of loose debris is rattling around inside the alarm/battery pack. I think I'll have to return it. I'm very disappointed. I had pronounced it to friends and family as the future of any further bike security... and it's a dud...

I believe the rattle is part of the movement sensor (mine is the same - probably a ball bearing to recognise when it's moved?).

If you having trouble arming it try putting some metal over the sensor manually - I was wondering how to set mine until I put a fork handle over the sensor and it armed itself!

nice. i bet its a pain if you lock it to your spokes/something loose on your bike outside and its very windy?

Cheers for the honest opinions folks.

Happy with the XR1 so far, nice sensitive alarm. So far where I lock at work have had no false alarms or people setting it off by accident, have found it works better with a thicker chainring.

Update 2nd Oct: Also got the XBL2-35 shackle padlock (really solid and well made about £50 off Amazon), use it with with the XC14mm chain, it's good as it can be used with or without the alarm as well. Have had to replace the batteries on the XR1 (have set it quite off quite a lot though and was probably old stock) was easy to get them cheaply and change them over.

Clefty, great job on this thread, seriously buying you a pint at souths next time I'm there

Thanks for the reassurance! I'll definitely try the fork method tomorrow during the daylight hours...