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Old September 6th, 2013, 02:12 PM   #1
Trubin
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Angry $600 mistake and how to avoid it.

Just spent intense 2 days in a nerve-racking situation. What happened? Simple, I lost my only key to my ninjette.

If you only have only 1 key to your bike, make a copy right now.

What happen was,

while I was trying to figure out on what to do, My bike was towed by police and I was slapped with a ticket and a tow charge, totaling $300. At the pound I called an onsite locksmith who said he'll make a key to the bike in an hour wanted to charge me $300 After I got the bike from the pound at 11pm I couldn't move anywhere. The locksmith was working on the key from the gas tank and was unsuccessful turns out gas tank only has 5 out of 6 notches and he failed making the last notch after 5th attempt and hours of going at it he gave up at 5 am and left me at my bike. I chained my bike to the pole on the top to my steering column, so that it would be hard to use bolt cutters. I slept in my car outside the tow pound next to my bike. Woke up at 8 AM and saw 3 police officers trying to tow my bike again. One of them holding a grinder to cut my chain. I explained the situation but they ended up giving me a ticket for not having a licence plate on my bike $65. I finally called my dad and told him what happen. He helped me get a van. When I got back with the van I needed a hand to lift the bike into it. Asking for help from the police impound and all I got back was a speech on liability, insurance and possible health related accidents... not to mention how I should always have a licence plate "at all times". "Yes sir, OK, I understand, but can you please help me?" Anyways I got the bike loaded up thanks to local joggers and a good buddy of mine who came over during his lunch break. I got it back home safely and parked in the garage. I cant ride it but at-least its safe.
for now my options are:
DIY Replace all the locks (ignition, gas tank, rear seat) $250
Take out ignition and go to a different locksmith (quote) $100

I never had the metal tag on the second key, Manual is clean (no code written), I called dealers and they don't have my key codes on file. If anyone been in a similar situation like this let me know whats the best solution.

Moral of the story:
If you only have only 1 key to your bike, make a copy right now.
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Old September 6th, 2013, 02:29 PM   #2
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a R6 comes with 2 keys




make two extra, hide one on the bike in case you get stuck
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Old September 6th, 2013, 02:46 PM   #3
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if it was me, i would have disabled the steering lock (with my foot) and hotwired the bike to go home.
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Old September 6th, 2013, 03:02 PM   #4
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The seller I bought my 250 from only had one key (or so he says). The day I picked it up, I made 3 copies of it. I keep one in my backpack, one at home, and one I stick up my ass just in case.

Another moral of the story: if you need help, don't be afraid to ask for it
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Old September 6th, 2013, 04:09 PM   #5
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Sounds like some stand up police officers
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Old September 6th, 2013, 04:20 PM   #6
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Yeah....There's a copy of mine floating around somewhere.

But there's been times when I've gotten scared that I locked my key inside the passenger trunk or however you call it.
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Old September 6th, 2013, 04:40 PM   #7
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The key code is right on your steering head. Many kawasaki dealerships can make the key right from that number.
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Old September 6th, 2013, 04:55 PM   #8
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and one I stick up my ass just in case.
been to prison i see.
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Old September 6th, 2013, 06:12 PM   #9
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What happened to your tag?
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Old September 6th, 2013, 06:34 PM   #10
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Your first mistake was parking in a place where they can tow you. The harder it is for then to tow the less likely they will. I.e. park on the sidewalk inside scaffolding or use the citi bike racks so they can't tow your bike without having to carry it. And they won't.
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Old September 6th, 2013, 06:49 PM   #11
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That's some daring ****. Lol I'm surprised they haven't utilized any sort of wheel lock for motorcycles though.
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Old September 6th, 2013, 08:41 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alex.s View Post
if it was me, i would have disabled the steering lock (with my foot) and hotwired the bike to go home.
How do you disable steering lock with your foot?


Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex View Post
The key code is right on your steering head. Many Kawasaki dealerships can make the key right from that number.
A friend helped me remove the ignition lock I have 2 numbers on the ignition switch. but I don't think any would help usually should be at-least 5 numbers.

Oh, just saw also in the back there is 2 numbers 1 letter and then 2 more numbers I home that could be it.
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Old September 6th, 2013, 08:48 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by tc.young View Post
Your first mistake was parking in a place where they can tow you. The harder it is for then to tow the less likely they will. I.e. park on the sidewalk inside scaffolding or use the citi bike racks so they can't tow your bike without having to carry it. And they won't.
Yea I was thinking of putting it on a side walk but that sidewalk on 46th st between 9th-10th is so narrow, plus the restaurants have their bicycles outside. I wanted to be less of a dick and there were cars between my bike. No more Mr. Nice guy.

Quote:
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That's some daring ****. Lol I'm surprised they haven't utilized any sort of wheel lock for motorcycles though.
You would just come back with your own wheel. Or your own disc. I don't think I mentioned but they haven't actually gave me a ticket until I was in the pound, they used my documents to issue me the ticket and faked the time on it, that's why it took them so long to "locate" the paperwork. And when they tried towing me the second time they took my registration and wrote me a ticket. You try to be nice with them and they always take advantage. Its very hard to see the Vin that is on the frame when sometimes some letters are scratched up or tapped up. I'm not going anywhere without my drift now, let them abuse their power in-front of the camera.
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Old September 6th, 2013, 11:51 PM   #14
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Quote:
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A friend helped me remove the ignition lock I have 2 numbers on the ignition switch. but I don't think any would help usually should be at-least 5 numbers.

Oh, just saw also in the back there is 2 numbers 1 letter and then 2 more numbers I home that could be it.
It's on a plate on the left side of the steering head, the full keycode all in one place.
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Old September 7th, 2013, 06:37 AM   #15
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Man, I wish I were closer. It only takes a few moments to pick the seat lock and it (at least on the pregens) has all six wafers. From that I could make a key pretty easily by dismantling the lock and measuring the wafers. I've done it for bikes I've bought that didn't come with keys (generally wrecked or parts bikes).

The next time you run into any situation where you can't ride back to a secure location you need to make it a priority to get the bike home first, above all else, usually by enlisting the help of a friend or relative with a truck or trailer. Once you get the bike to a secure location then your options for inexpensive remediation are wide open because you have time. Lots of folks out there like to take advantage of people without time by overcharging for their services.

On pregens, the key code is on the ignition lock and the seat lock. Of the two, the seat lock is way easier to pick and thus remove to get access to the number. The ignition lock is very difficult to pick and to remove it requires significant disassembly of the bike and drilling. It would not surprise me to learn that the newgens are the same way.

Call all the locksmiths in your town to find out if any have a code book for your year bike. In my town, a small hole in the wall locksmith, ACME, has code books for pregens through 2007, and can cut a new key from the Z-code on the lock housing. The Z-code is the key code number, like Z5056. It's not just dealers, and sometimes even dealers don't have all the code books.

Anyhow, once you get a new key made, preferably two keys, put one away for safe keeping. If you lose a key, use that spare to make copies, do not use the spare itself because it will wear and thus make future copies that are also worn.

Sorry you had to go through this, you should make your focus on how much knowledge you can learn from the $600 you spent to get it.
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Old September 7th, 2013, 08:11 AM   #16
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It's on a plate on the left side of the steering head, the full keycode all in one place.
its only 4 numbers? is that same code you have on a metal plate that came with your keys?
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Old September 7th, 2013, 09:37 AM   #17
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Yes.
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Old September 7th, 2013, 11:04 AM   #18
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Old September 7th, 2013, 11:10 AM   #19
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Thanks for the heads up- I called my dealer and they have blanks for $12 and a locksmith down the street.
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Old September 8th, 2013, 02:09 AM   #20
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When I acquired my my Ninja yesterday there was only one key. I went to a local hardware store (Ace) and they had blanks. $4 and 10 minutes later I have two spares.
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Old September 8th, 2013, 06:58 AM   #21
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Next time just roll up to the bike rack and chain your bike to the rack. No more problem.
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Old September 8th, 2013, 09:08 PM   #22
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What an awful way to learn that lesson! Helpful info to know about finding the code on the bike itself. Luckily my ninjette came with the little tag. I wrote the # down on the title once it came. Never going to lose it!
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Old September 9th, 2013, 06:29 AM   #23
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When I acquired my my Ninja yesterday there was only one key. I went to a local hardware store (Ace) and they had blanks. $4 and 10 minutes later I have two spares.
We're blanks good sometimes they might use cheaper metal and it would bend when opening the trunk or the gas tank?
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Old September 9th, 2013, 06:35 AM   #24
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Yes I have had 4 beers before this post, i got off work 2 hours ago, but if you only have 1 key for any vehicle you are retarded.
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Old September 9th, 2013, 06:49 AM   #25
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Yes I have had 4 beers before this post, i got off work 2 hours ago, but if you only have 1 key for any vehicle you are retarded.
Its not even 10am
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Old September 9th, 2013, 07:31 AM   #26
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Its not even 10am
Daytime drinking ftw.

My gf had only 1 key but I ordered 2 blanks from ebay. We both have 2 each now with a spare blank key incase either of loses one.

Cheap insurance ftw.
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Old September 9th, 2013, 03:41 PM   #27
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We're blanks good sometimes they might use cheaper metal and it would bend when opening the trunk or the gas tank?
Keys are almost always brass, usually nickel-plated for cosmetic reasons. Nobody that I know of makes steel keys because they would destroy the brass innards of the lock cylinder. If the gas cap lock is hard to turn, you need to dismantle it to clean and lube it while you can, once you break a key off in the lock it's a right chore to deal with it.
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Old September 9th, 2013, 03:49 PM   #28
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Daytime drinking ftw.

My gf had only 1 key but I ordered 2 blanks from ebay. We both have 2 each now with a spare blank key incase either of loses one.

Cheap insurance ftw.
Day drinking is awesome....morning drinking is for alcoholics
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Old September 9th, 2013, 04:00 PM   #29
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Old September 9th, 2013, 09:01 PM   #30
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Its not even 10am
your 10 am was my 10 pm today.
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