OzSTOC
Honda ST1300 Section => Electrics & Electronics - Volts, Amps and Fuses ST1300 => Topic started by: Biggles on April 02, 2014, 10:37:09 PM
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While sharing the cabin in Ballarat, Diesel and I agreed on our paranoia about losing our chipped bike key. For instance, if mine had fallen into a sewer drain and vanished, I'd have to wait for my spare to come from Brisbane. If, as Diesel does, I carried my spare, I'd have all my eggs in one potentially vulnerable location.
Like a few others, I have bought the pair of blanks from Hong Kong for $10 and had them cut. I cut one down for the fuel cap and panniers and the other will start the bike if I hold the chipped key next to it until the FI light goes out.
:think1
What if I were to get a copy of the chip? So I enquired at my local Mister Minit and for $100, they would make me a copy chip. For $180 they would put it in a key and cut it. All I wanted was the chip because I could then use my blank key and leave it in the ignition while I paid for my petrol and start the bike using the proximity aspect.
Why bother? Well, it gives me redundancy without taking my spare out of the drawer at home. And there are times with the bar risers, that the key just doesn't want to go in- folk have been known to break them. Also, on IBR rides, turn-around time can be critical.
So here's what the chip looks like, and my rough cut holder frame:
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e136/Pixtor/HondaKeyChip_zps46d878d2.jpg)
I then encased it all in my favourite mouldable epoxy thusly:
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e136/Pixtor/HondaKeyChipinTag_zpse7c57fa6.jpg)
then put that tag on a recoil line to my belt with my mini key (useful for opening the tank when the tankbag is on) and I feel much better about my key status.
$100 isn't cheap- I actually got it for $90 because I have a loyalty card for MM- but with the blank and the cutting thereof, I have a spare for around $130. When I tried to get a spare through the Honda system, they match the bike computer to the key- dandy when it works, which it didn't for me and I ended up selling the 2004 ST13 with only one key. And, the Honda FI will only accept four different keys, so don't get the losing habit, or you'll have to use the Biggles system.
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Good one Bill :like I keep my spare key in a flat container in my jacket, but you have got me thinking.
:beer
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Good ideas there. I might check whether it works for some other brands. Perhaps the chip could be surgically implanted :think1
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Good ideas there. I might check whether it works for some other brands. Perhaps the chip could be surgically implanted :think1
Tell your surgeon it's 21mm long and 2.5mm diameter. Should fit in your index finger so you only need to point at the Trumpy and it will start. Way cool!
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We carried our spare keys to Ballarat in our luggage in a small leather pouch. I placed mine in my seat bag and Mrs Sabie placed hers in her seat bag as well.
The bags come into the motel with us each night and if someone wants to go through our bag (They'll need to go through Mrs Sabie First and that would be a suicide mission) the keys are out of sight and tucked in a concealed pocket within the seat bags.
That was our solution. The leather pouches are only slightly bigger than the key, so they are small.
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On shorter rides, I carry my spare with me and I have the key code in my iPhone just in case I were to lose both. On longer rides I usually carry my riding buddies spare and they carry my spare, worked well on a round Oz trip. Of course if you go separate ways for a few days you swap back to your own keys . . .