I was reading a post on someone dropping their keys and having to search to get going again.
I thought I'd tell you, being a locksmith, that if you have a flat, normal key, it's not to difficult to make a key if you have a picture of the original. An experienced locksmith can come pretty close to decoding if you have a picture of the original key, so take a pic and store it on you computer, or in the camera you carry along on trips, or in your cell phone,would be even better.
HD keys aren't too difficult to make from scratch, but why chance yours being that oddball difficult one.
Tubular keys are a bit different. It's a bit harder to get a good photo that the key can be decoded from, but any help may make a difference in the middle of the night

If you have a duplicate at home and you lose the key, and can have a friend or relative fax or email a pic of it, it can be a saver also, but then again, most HD keys aren't that difficult to make, if the person making them has the blanks in stock.
HD uses a ton of different key blanks on the older bikes, and they are more expensive also. Just my viewpoint as a tech.

 

This is GREAT advice, thank you.

 

Interesting thanks. At least w/the round keys, so long as you lose your key after your unlock the bike, you can still ride until a new one can be had. I would be good w/my Fatboy, but for my Sportster, No Key, No Ride!

 

Great advice, thanks for the heads up.

 

I usually carry a tubular key pick when I ride, so I could unlock them most times, but it's usually locked in, so if I lose my key...[]
I have portable tubular key making equipment, but I only carry it when going out to specifically make a key for a bike. I can carry it on the bike and make keys

 

I didnt even think of that. But then again i only use my key when parking the bike somewhere "not safe"

 

That is socool (c:
bet you've made a few folks day. hell maybe ther whole trip...

99%r

 

My locksmith couldn't make a copy of my key. Tried 3 different times and the key wouldn't even go all the way into the keyhole. The dealer only charged me $12 for two spares, which were ordered based on my VIN number. Not a bad price, but they're just plain ugly steel keys. Not even the black rubber around the top.

 

thanks for this post

 

I have to take a pic, of my bike,,, as I loose that sometimes after leaving certain establishments.