Lost Key & FOB
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 601
Likes: 109
From: San Diego
Lost Key & FOB
HI all - Not sure if there was a thread already discussed about lost key & FOB...I did a search and could not retrieve any discussions about this question so here it goes.
Have any of you--while traveling out of town--lost you key and FOB?
How did you unlock your bike if you locked the fork and set the factory security to on?
Of course you can always call one of those roadside assistance or have a friend drive you to the nearest HD dealer, but apart from that, if you were riding alone out of now where, perhaps took a hike in the woods or jumped in the river, and could not find you keys to unlock the bike, how did you get you bike started?
I'm sure this could pose a "security" issue for some of you as you post your responses as who knows who could be "lurking" here for some other intentions!
But I did some thinking the the other day and perhaps the answer must be in the owners manual but I did not see it. I know I have set my PIN to start the bike without the security FOB, but If lost my actual key--perhaps I could force break the lock and get it started--not sure if that would work.
Have any of you--while traveling out of town--lost you key and FOB?
How did you unlock your bike if you locked the fork and set the factory security to on?
Of course you can always call one of those roadside assistance or have a friend drive you to the nearest HD dealer, but apart from that, if you were riding alone out of now where, perhaps took a hike in the woods or jumped in the river, and could not find you keys to unlock the bike, how did you get you bike started?
I'm sure this could pose a "security" issue for some of you as you post your responses as who knows who could be "lurking" here for some other intentions!
But I did some thinking the the other day and perhaps the answer must be in the owners manual but I did not see it. I know I have set my PIN to start the bike without the security FOB, but If lost my actual key--perhaps I could force break the lock and get it started--not sure if that would work.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 894
Likes: 3
From: Wyalusing, PA
Can't speak to your exact situation but I had a near-miss last summer. I was making a nearly 1,000 mile run home from Oregon to Vegas and had designed the trip to cross the desert in the middle of the night. At my next-to-the-last stop (Tonopah, NV) it was 9:00 PM and about 6,000 elevation. I decided to put my jacket on and thought what a great opportunity to get those effin keys out of my jeans pocket where they like to dig into my leg so I was going to put them in my jacket pocket.
You are right. I forget to take them off the top of my travel bag and put them in the jacket.
Fortunately, I was only about 200 miles from home at that point and only needed to make one more fuel stop. I didn't realize until I was 10 miles down the highway that I had never made the key transfer and after standing on the side of the highway, doing the "pat down" searching my pockets, looking all over the bike hoping they were lodged behind the license plate or SOMETHING, I rode back to the previous town...drove up and down the main drag looking all over the roadway, searched the parking lot of the gas station figuring they bounced off my pack as I came out of the drive...finally...decided F-it. Called and had someone leave a house key under my doormat for me. I figured if anyone finds my motorcycle keys, 200 miles from home, with nothing on the keyring to id them as mine there's not too much danger in getting my bike jacked or my house invaded.
Now, I do have to say that although I don't have a degree from MIT, I had one HELL of a time programming the new keyfob for the alarm!!!
You are right. I forget to take them off the top of my travel bag and put them in the jacket.
Fortunately, I was only about 200 miles from home at that point and only needed to make one more fuel stop. I didn't realize until I was 10 miles down the highway that I had never made the key transfer and after standing on the side of the highway, doing the "pat down" searching my pockets, looking all over the bike hoping they were lodged behind the license plate or SOMETHING, I rode back to the previous town...drove up and down the main drag looking all over the roadway, searched the parking lot of the gas station figuring they bounced off my pack as I came out of the drive...finally...decided F-it. Called and had someone leave a house key under my doormat for me. I figured if anyone finds my motorcycle keys, 200 miles from home, with nothing on the keyring to id them as mine there's not too much danger in getting my bike jacked or my house invaded.
Now, I do have to say that although I don't have a degree from MIT, I had one HELL of a time programming the new keyfob for the alarm!!!
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 307
Likes: 1
From: Mission BC
yep thats the we do it, peace of mind goes a long way
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 441
Likes: 0
From: winter spring,fl
On any trip more than 200 miles from the house I always give a spare set to one of my buddy's I am riding with. Some the first time look at me strange then the lightbulb goes off. The next time they hand me a set of theirs. This summer I will be traveling about 800 miles to meet my brother in DC area. Then we are going somewhere for a week? Might mail him 1 set & carry a spare key somewhere I can get to it.
Banned
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
From: Pine Mountain, Ga.
Said to my son just out of UGA one day...."there is a key for my harley on it somewhere, if you find it, the harley is yours" Mind you I am still riding that harley.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,277
Likes: 4
From: Austin, TX - Some call it heaven.
If you loose the fob and the keys, then you have two systems you have to defeat to get the bike started. You already have your PIN to bypass the security system, so you're halfway there.
Of course that won't unlock the bike if it's locked. For that, you'll either need a locksmith to try and pick the lock (they can be difficult), or call the Moco with the VIN number and get the key code. Not sure if the owner can call the Moco directly, or if only the dealer can. Once you have the code, a good locksmith can generate a new key. The keycode is also on a little black tab attached to one of your keys. It's a good idea to write that down and carry it in your wallet or hidden on your bike somewhere.
Bob - used to be a locksmith.
Of course that won't unlock the bike if it's locked. For that, you'll either need a locksmith to try and pick the lock (they can be difficult), or call the Moco with the VIN number and get the key code. Not sure if the owner can call the Moco directly, or if only the dealer can. Once you have the code, a good locksmith can generate a new key. The keycode is also on a little black tab attached to one of your keys. It's a good idea to write that down and carry it in your wallet or hidden on your bike somewhere.
Bob - used to be a locksmith.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,718
Likes: 11
From: Punta Gorda,FL
I have had my bike 2-1/2 years and still haven't entered my pin number, so I can bypass the alarm, if I lose the fob. I think I'll give it a shot tomorrow.
Tom