motorcycle ignitions

[stick]

WhiteHat: Apologies for this thread being mucked up - tried to split it due to a post by someone about illegal activity, but it didn't turn out right... original post by "lockcentral" is quoted below because there's no "join" button. once again - Sorry. - WH.

I have been a locksmith for 7 yars and know own my own place. Now that i am in the yellow pages i am geting calls to help people with there motorcycle ignitions. The thing is i have never done one and have no idea what type of lock its and what tools to use to turn over the ignition. Also all of the people that have been calling me have had motorcycles that were year 1994 and up so i dont know if there is a difference in these years. Please can anyone tell me what kind of tools i need and what kind of lock it is. Thanks

Seems to me like they'd probably be wafer locks. Haven't seen too many though, so can't really tell you.

[Romstar]

Well, since we are talking motorcycles, lets consider the issue here.

In many cases, stuck or broken keys. Occasionally lost keys, or defective ignitions.

So, if the key is stuck you can often get it out by disassembling the lock. Once the key is out, service the lock and reinstall. If the key is broken, you get the piece out of the ignition, and use a code machine to cut a new key. If you are careful, you might even get by with only a duplicator.

If the keys are lost, disassemble the ignition, and look for the lock code. Look up the code in the books, or your code software and cut a new one on a code machine. You might also replace the ignition as you don't know WHERE the old key might be.

Defective ignitions need to be repaired or replaced depending on the extent of the damage and the skill of the locksmith. Not to mention the availability of spare parts.

There is nothing special here. Occasionaly you may find a motorcycle that uses transponders and then you have to deal with that. Once you start dealing with those you are in for spending a tidy sum of money, and a lot of time reading.

Romstar

[MrB]

If the keys are lost, disassemble the ignition

Just to satisfy my curiosity, might an ignition be assembled in such a way that you need the key to disassemble it? (If that were so, I expect you would have to pick the lock as step 1 of disassembly.)

[fighterthiefmage]

I worked at a dealership selling honda, kaw. and suzuki. True, it is easier to pick the tank or seat lock. Sometimes they will have a code but if you pick them they may not have as many pins as the ignition. If they have no code then you have to pull the ignition which is usually secured with tamper proof torx bolts. What aggrevates the situation even more is if the steering is locked and you can barely get to the bolts. If this is the case it is hard to move the bike. It is cheaper to make a key than order a new ignition as then the fuel tank and seat locks will also need replaced. On suzukis the new keys have a little tag with them. The others have codes stamped on the key. The owners manual(sometimes under the seat or sidecover) usually have a place to write the code down and sometimes it is on the sales invoice. Newer bikes are not to bad with finding the correct blank, honda and suzuki only use a few but Kaw. has a lot of blanks for their different models. As far as I know the manufacturer does not keep records of the key codes but sometimes the dealer does on the sales invoice. You may suggest having the dealer pull the ignition as most can cut keys.