DataTag 4 Alarm, any good ?

CN do a decent deal on fitting these alarms, are they any good though.
Anyone here used them ?

Thanks
--

XJ900 Trike ** GS850 Trike
XV1000 TR1 Chop ** XLH1200 Sporty Chop

[Rot 13 it]

 

no alarms are "good". Some are worse than others.

 

You'll get the usual barrage from those that hate alarms (1) but I've
had no problems with any alarm or immobiliser fitted to a bike. If
it's fitted correctly and you keep the bike on an Optimate when it's
not in use then you should be ok.

While I accept that many people will ignore the sound of an alarm
going off it's nice that if I hear an alarm going off at home I can
select a carving knife from the kitchen drawer and go postal on
whoever is fucking with one of the bikes rather than just finding it
missing when I open the garage door.

(1) For every 5 people out there who've had a problem you need to ask
how many alarms have been sold and used without a problem. I'd be
surprised if the percentage of real problems even ran as high as 0.5%
of the number of alarms sold.

 

That dear old chap, Andy tugged on his pipefull of old shag and said:

I have to say I tend to agree - never had a problem with an alarm or
immobiliser - not even a flat battery - but I don't leave the bike
unused for months on end.

I suspect that you get what you pay for (and no more) in terms of both
the quality and robustness of the alarm as well as the fitting.

 

I've had/fitted various sorts. I'd personally stay clear of
Datatool/Spyball etc. They are complex, if they fail they immobilise you
all the way to a workshop. I found the units and the fobs prone to some
failures. Regular false alarms. Battery draining can be a problem. They
are *incredibly* expensive.

The units I liked were Solalarm. They were a fraction of the cost but I
see the 835T has been hiked somewhat, probably as the competition are so
much more. It's a good unit though. They do an 840 around £55 though.

www.sola-larm.com/motorcyclealarms.html

I believe there is another affordable range, "Accumen"?, no experience
of them though.

I've just ordered a Xena XN18 alarmed disk lock (and the "Claw" chain
holder). Nice loud alarm, easy to fit/remove. Visible. Hard enough to
remove for the amateur scrote. £90 from HG.

www.xenasecurity.com/product/motorbikes/XN18/page1

HTH

 

Hog wrote

I have a mid range one on the Bloo GS, it has not given me any problems.

Which is more than I can say for the high end all singing a;; dancing
Thatcham approved thing that goes off, or doesn't as the case my be,
when it wants to that is fitted to the Red 7/8GS.

 

In the deal you get
Datatool S4 Alarm Imob
Optimiser Charger
Datatool Electronic tagging kit
Oxford ground Anchor
Oxford hardcore chain and lock

£349 fitted at home
--

XJ900 Trike ** GS850 Trike
XV1000 TR1 Chop ** XLH1200 Sporty Chop

[Rot 13 it]

 

How much discount do you get on your insurance for having that lot?

If you get even 10% and multiply it by 5 then it can be a reasonable
saving on the initial cost. My insurance with CN is £300 per year so
even if I took the renewal figure as remaining the same I'd be getting
£150 off over the next 5 years.

If you haven't already got any of the above then the price is
competitive but only if you really want them all.

 

Got one on my new gixxer as it's the Suzuki approved / standard alarm.
It gave me some gyp for false alarms in the beginning and got taken
back to the friendly dealer who duly sorted it out - dodgy batch of
somethings from the supplier they said - it's been good as gold
since.

It does seem to go into a sort of stroppy hibernation mode if left for
more than a couple of weeks where it will ignore the remote until you
move it or turn it on - then the alarm goes off but can be stopped
with the remote.

I don't think that it's likely to stop anyone nicking the bike but my
insco seemed pleased that it had one. I suspect that once the value of
the bike comes down and it no longer matters that I will get the thing
removed.

I guess it might discourage theft from a public carpark. Maybe. Not
convinced though.

 

well so for

EBike £217 with breakdown cover

CN £360 ditto

Bikesure £400 ditto
--

XJ900 Trike ** GS850 Trike
XV1000 TR1 Chop ** XLH1200 Sporty Chop

[Rot 13 it]

 

CN were talking £10 discounts for alarms a few years ago so I haven't
bothered. The Xena is for my own convenience and peace of mind.

 

I had a "Laser" on the Zed, but it went and died onme for no obvious reason
(vibration probably). As it had an in-built immobiliser, I had a bit of
trouble getting the bike running, so it had to come off.

Trouble is, you can end up with a criminal record at least by arming
yourself with a kitchen knofe. And using it, of course. I did exactly that
when I was 15 and it was purely down to my age that I "got away with it". I
doubt I'd do it again anyway.

It's that kind of thinking that's made me look for another, more reliable
system. I hate just walking away from my bike knowing there's no defences in
operation other than the poxy steering lock. I've just not found "the one"
yet.


I'd be

Given the number of blokes I know who have taken alarms off bikes, and the
numbers that my pal at the alarm installer I used has taken off, I reckon
it's a bit higher, but who really knows. I still want one again.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

I'd say that generally, the "offers" on bikes fitted with alarms are nothing
but bullshit. When I first got quoted for the Zed I told the tart I had an
alarm but whasn't sure which one, so she quoted me for an unalarmed bike.
When I rang back with the name and model of the alarm (approved by them
too) she told me there was no price difference.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

I've never had alarm or immobiliser problems where it's gone wrong,
but I have had several occasions where I've had to jump start a bike
or run inside to grab a different bike's keys.

This year I'm organized and have optimate leads on the two bikes that
give trouble[1].

[1] One doesn't have an alarm but still draws enough current to drain
the battery, especially as the battery is about due for replacement.

 

Interesting, although the insurance side doesn't bother me I want to
try and stop it being stolen.
--

XJ900 Trike ** GS850 Trike
XV1000 TR1 Chop ** XLH1200 Sporty Chop

[Rot 13 it]

 

I expected a token nod at the fact that I had an alarm, but it wasn't the
case, but on the "stop it being stolen" front I'm not convinced an alrm that
simply makes a noise is a deterrent these days. If the alarm stops the bike
starting, then it's a better bet but they're the ones that stop you getting
going when they **** up.


You'll be fine anyway


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19