Los Angeles is a tough town, and things tend to disappear-like the mountain bike off my front porch or the wheel off my Subaru wagon. That last theft got me really riled up, and opened my eyes to the vulnerability of my beloved Ninja, perched unprotected in a back-alley parking spot. Since an IAAC (Infrared Automated Assault Centurion) remains just a figment of my imagination, I went for the next best thing: a lock and chain from Xena Security.
I wanted something with serious visual impact, and nothing else out there says "Don't bother" like Xena's oversized XUL103 U-lock and XCL200 chain. The lock's robust stainless-steel body would stop a .50-caliber round, and the fat, 18mm shackle would take forever to cut through with a hacksaw-never mind a bolt cutter. The chain is equally burly, exactly the type Mr. T would covet. Made from gas-hardened, 14mm-thick links, it's long enough to wind through the bike's frame, wheel and whatever you're locking it up to. A soft nylon sleeve covers the links and protects your paint.
As if its overbuilt construction wasn't enough, the lock also features a built-in alarm, something Xena has incorporated into its disc locks for nearly 10 years. The weatherproof module is buried deep within the lock body and channels sound out of an outlet near the base of the shackle. Give it a jostle and the lock chirps a warning. Keep at it and a piercing, 110-decibel alarm will bring me outside, baseball bat in hand. I pity the fool who tries to jack my bike!
Xena XCL U-Lock And XCL Chain
Price: $149.95 lock, $119.95 chain
Contact: Xena Security
www.xenasecurity.com
Verdict
4.5 stars out of 5
Enough heavy metal (and decibels) to deter any would-be bike thief.