There was a great one a few years back at Le Castellet in France for the Bol d'Or. This gang had organized a huge tractor trailer, and were offering safe bike parking. So people would wheel up their bikes in the truck, and pay a fee to park it. When the truck was full, they simply closed up and pulled out!
I don't think it was attempted a second time...
(10-13-2014, 01:10 AM)Henrik_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Were I live it is so common it is usually the first thing I check. Geneva, Switzerland, is just next to the French border, and we get these crews with a mini van that come from Lyon in France. Often they just stop behind a bike, a couple of guys get out, lift up the bike and put it in the back. Within five minutes they are gone over the border. I had a 6 month old VFR800 stolen that way at 5PM in the city center in front of my office. Luckily we have good insurance...
A painfully obvious omission from the Geneva Convention. It's overdue for a re-write.
Lots of bikes get stolen in San Diego. In fact, my ZX6R was taken by someone who was able to cut through a heavy duty chain. I imagine it was thrown into a waiting van or truck. With our proximity to Mexico, most end up going south, never to be seen again. From what I've read, HD's and super sports are the preferred bikes. Then again, who can resist the new CB?
(10-13-2014, 01:20 AM)Henrik_imp Wrote: [ -> ]There was a great one a few years back at Le Castellet in France for the Bol d'Or. This gang had organized a huge tractor trailer, and were offering safe bike parking. So people would wheel up their bikes in the truck, and pay a fee to park it. When the truck was full, they simply closed up and pulled out!
I don't think it was attempted a second time...
I laugh only because my bike wasn't one of them! Brilliant and horrible at the same time. I can imagine the police report: "Yes, officer...I drove my motorcycle into their truck and parked it. No, I didn't know who they were. They told me it was safe parking. No, I don't want to buy ocean front property in Oklahoma. Well...how much land are we talking about?"
Both of my keys are slightly bent, probably from the seat latch. Fiddly to get in and out of the cylinder now. Pain in the butt, really, and Honda simply needs to upgrade the key/latch/ cylinder.
(10-12-2014, 02:59 PM)Pterodactyl_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Me too. Bent the key in the usual seat lock fiasco, straightened it by hammer (as carefully as possible or else I was facing a day or two in downtown Kyogle) so that it worked. Workable but not smooth so I now use the other (spare) key and use the first as backup. And, yes, as others have remarked, the steering lock pressure needs to be removed before unlocking and turning the ignition on. A squirt of lubricant down the keyhole also is beneficial.
Cheers
Be sure to use a dry lubricant such as graphite powder or else you risk gumming up the tumbler mechanism with grit that sticks to wet lubricant (such as WD40).
To the OP: Never had that problem. Never had any problem whatsoever with my ignition/ignition key. I always lock my steering stem, even when in my garage. My key simply won't go in the cylinder if it is anything but straight. My other Honda is the same way, so I think I can count on one hand the number of times I've had to re-insert the key. Once the key is in, it turns easily, locked or not. I've been using the same key since day 1.
Mostly, I rock up to the bike, stick the key in and away I go. Sometimes, though, it just doesn't want to go in properly. I have no idea why and I can't seem to replicate it. Out of curiosity, and because I had to go to a locksmith anyway, I asked whether he could cut a bike key for me. He looked at it and said he could but that I'd have to get the blank from Honda. I've no idea about the USA but in Australia the blanks are about AUD$45 because of the HISS trickery inside.
No HISS here. I had 2 keys cut for my 13 for $4.50 each from MR Lock locksmith. Had the key blanks in stock. Been meaning to have keys made for 14, just keep forgetting.
I'd be tempted to do the same if I could, if only to see whether holding the HISS key head adjacent to the ignition would allow you to start the bike.
I went to Honda this past spring and was surprised to see they had a key blank for my '78 CB400 so I bought it. Ten bucks and change! Ouch! It's a really really tiny, short key. Very plain. Then I had to bring it to the locksmith to get cut and he did a fine job. I'm sure a new key blank for our CBs would be at least that much $.
(10-12-2014, 08:21 AM)ClassicVW_imp Wrote: [ -> ]My ignition switch is very picky. I must insert the key exactly straight in, no even slight deviation or it gives me trouble. Exactly straight, and it's like butter, so I feel it's normal.
My key acts exactly the same way - unless you very carefully insert it perfectly and in exactly the correct way it won't go into the lock. I just thought it was the way it was designed and it was just me. Never had another bike act like this though.
(10-12-2014, 10:36 AM)Stealth128_imp Wrote: [ -> ]I had the same key issue stopped by the lock smith had him buff it smooth as butter.
I took my keys to Home Depot and had them buffed.Problem solved.