Who carries that plastic "emergency" key?

[FLrider]

When I bought my bike they gave me 2 full size keys and 1 of those emergency plastic keys that you are supposed to put in your wallet. I don't know what's in your wallet but if I put one more thing in mine, it's going to explode.

 

Rode the bike to the store the other day and must have dropped the key to my bike somewhere in the store. Couldn't find it. No one turned it in. Couldn't get home. Worried that, whoever found it, would unlock my bags or compartment an make off with the contents or worse, take off with the bike.

 

Wish I carried the plastic key...

 

So, I rolled the bike right up to the front doors, right in front of the surveillance cameras and told the store manager I would be back in an hour.

 

Had to catch a cab home, get the real spare and take the cab back.

 

By the time I got back to the store, they had found the key.

 

How many people here actually carry a spare key with them?

[ltljohn]

When I bought my bike used it came with 8 real metal keys. I always keep a spare key in my jacket pocket.

[Joe Frickin' Friday]

re: plastic and other spare keys, you may find this thread to be of interest.

 

FWIW I also carry spare car key when I'm driving. Car key and "other keys" are on two separate rings. The "other keys" ring stays in my pocket, so even if my dedicated car key gets lost or locked in the car, I can still avoid having to pay a locksmith or cab driver.

[skyskier]

I carry mine tucked back in the end of my wallet. I really don't notice that it is there, but I have cut down on what I carry in my wallet in the last few years. I use to carry way more stuff in there than I needed.

[Tim Wilson]

I keep mine under one of the cheek pads of my helmet, held in-place with 3M removeable adhesive putty.

[Beech]

I like that helmet trick for sure. I have a key ring left over from my Harley days. It is a snap from a horse halter I use to have with my keys, a beer bottle opener, a 4 inch crescent wrench and a mini screwdriver set from aerostitch. Bulky but I know it is there. I have both bike key spares on it. When I go on an out of town trip in one of the cars I always take a spare and have it in a bag not in the car. I have had to mail my mini tools on the key ring home from Las Vegas airport, so if I fly the keys stay home. I use to keep a key for one of my bikes in my wallet and always wondered why the airport buzzer went off in the old days of the simple screening. Anyway the short is never ride your bike with out taking a spare key. beech

[RichEdwards]

On long rides I carry a spare key in a zippered pocket in the thigh area of my riding pants. On my RT I had a key hidden inside the fairing (never used it). But on local rides, I carry just one key...so the lost key and taxi ride could happen to me too.

[marcopolo]

I always carry a spare key when I'm riding. It's in a little zippered pouch which also contains my registration and insurance papers. That pouch goes in my tank bag; I never ride without the tank bag.

[yempaul]

I keep mine under one of the cheek pads of my helmet, held in-place with 3M removeable adhesive putty.

 

That's a good idea ...

 

Well i normally carry the plastic key tucked in those small compartment of my pouch ... Never had the chance to use it tho'

[Motodan]

Plastic spare key wired up inside pop off RT mirror...difficult for anyone to find even if they know the mirror is easily removed.

[VinnyR11]

I keep mine under one of the cheek pads of my helmet, held in-place with 3M removeable adhesive putty.

 

That's a good idea ...

 

Well i normally carry the plastic key tucked in those small compartment of my pouch ... Never had the chance to use it tho'

 

+1 I've lost a couple of spare keys that I had duct taped or secured in some other way to the bike. Over the years they worked loose. Luckily I've never needed it.

 

I'm going to find a good spot in my helmet. My fear is that I'll forget it's there when I replace my helmet, and wind up chucking it out with the old lid.

[LeftCoastMan]

Mine's in one of several hundred pockets in my jacket. I also hope I don't forget it's there, but I always take my jacket with me, even on the hottest of days. I like the helmet and hidden mirror ideas better.

[Smoky]

On my old bike, I carried the spare key, an extra credit card, and $100 cash discreetly taped in the side panel. Never used it, and remembered to remove it when I sold the bike.

 

New bike doesn't have side panels removable without tools, so I'm putting that stuff behind a mirror before I start traveling this year.

 

Metal key, not on a keyring with other keys, mostly stays in the ignition, I usually remember to remove it at night, but not otherwise.

[Username]

Rats. I don't remember where the spare key is. Now I have to tear everything apart to find it. I used to always carry a spare wired to the inside of the fairing, but lost the last one on my VStrom. I will have to get a spare metal one done.

[Bullett]

I don't carry a spare. On trips with Jan he has my spare and I have his in the side case.

[Redbrick]

Plastic spare key wired up inside pop off RT mirror...difficult for anyone to find even if they know the mirror is easily removed.

 

Good idea!!....Mine plastic one is taped to a "Secret" place on the bike but I'm considering moving it to your "Secret" place....

[bimmers]

When traveling in car I always on longer (out of state) trips take a spare with me.

On the bike I had not even thought of it for day trips. Longer ones a good idea.

Have to find a good spot for the plastic key - on me - taped to the phone maybe?

 

h

[tallman]

One spare full size w/ring that has other bike related keys (cable lock, locking GPS, house, GIVI), one spare small size taped inside my annual registration in my wallet with my insurance card.

Now that we have a trailer, one additional spare will go in the truck.

 

I try to always put my keys in the same place (pocket) every time I stop and get off the bike.

Then I check before walking away.

That way I know where the key is.

I also put the key ring in the same place so I have trhee keys on me when I leave the bike.

 

Be prepared.

[CoarsegoldKid]

Lose key. Plastic key in wallet. Lose wallet too. Spare key in jacket. Lose jacket too. I'm up a creek without a paddle.

[xbubblehead]

Plastic spare key wired up inside pop off RT mirror...difficult for anyone to find even if they know the mirror is easily removed.

 

Great idea. After reading this post it took me bout 45mins to locate my plastic key. I had a spare metal key at the bottom of the "glove compartment" but since reading this post I have moved it. Plus I'm gonna do the plastic key behind the mirror trick.

[notacop]

THe extra set of keys (plastic) is always in the right pocket of the 'Stitch along with a few more ear plugs...just in case.

[R Shortley]

Wonderful Idea!! I just zip-tied the plastic key onto one of my mirror bodies. It's inside, out of the way and invisible unless you know it's there (black key, black zip tie, black mirror body). Lots of holes, shapes, etc. to get a zip tie into a secure location.

[Charles Elms]

BMW key inside left mirror. Givi key inside right mirror.

Extra BMW key in inside jacket pocket.

[LeftCoastMan]

I just moved my key behind the mirror. Now let's hope that some thief isn't reading this thread and checking off who has their key behind their mirror.

[graydude]

SHHHHHHH, Plastic key in a double top secret place taped to the bike. Spare GIVI key is inside the lockable top bin. Plactic key gets me into the top bin and GIVI key. SHHHHHHHHH

[nbooth]

If I'm out of the area, I take my tank bag and keep the spare in the interior pocket.

[rickmoen]

I used to carry the plastic key on my key ring. The cover on the side of the key came off and the chip fell out. At the time, I couldn't figure out what the two parts were and I tossed them. BMW covered the replacement plastic key on warrantee. I also got another "real" key for $60.

[PabloH3]

I'm a new owner of a 2010RT so forgive the noobie question. But how do you access the back of the mirror to hide a key. Also I was told by my salesman that the plastic key was a "valet" key, that would only work to remove the bags. I didn't realize until reading this thread, that it will also work on the ignition

[TomfromMD]

I attribute the fact that I have never lost a BMW key to the fact that the plastic spare is always in my wallet, along with the plastic spare for my '99 BMW 328i. Unfortunately, the newer BMW cages don't come with plastic spares anymore.

 

Tom

[Fubar]

I guess I'm odd man out.

For normal, local driving, the spare key is in a drawer at home with all the other spare keys. A spare key to the house is in my wallet. Also keep the garage door opener in my jacket which I always wear. My cell gets me a ride from one to the other and back.

Long trips finds the spare metal key in my pocket and I rarely take my pants off while riding.

[marcopolo]

...and I rarely take my pants off while riding.

 

That's probably a good thing, for a whole bunch of reasons.

[Fubar]

...and I rarely take my pants off while riding.

 

That's probably a good thing, for a whole bunch of reasons.

Yes, sunburn is ALWAYS an issue in FL, even in the winter.

Strangely, a night ride in the rain sans trousers sounds quite appealing. Ah, but where would I put my wallet? Never mind.