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Keep leaving key in motorcycle. Suggestions f

Hangin_Low said:
Short story: cuz the key is on the side, not on the handlebars.

Detailed version: All my previous bikes have had the ignition right in the middle of the handlebar. My new bike, however, has the ignition on the left side of the bike, out of view, sort of near the choke lever.

The issue I'm experiencing is that though the bike is a good size for me, my arms are too short to reach for the key without worrying I'm gonna tip the damn bike over or my helmet knocking against something. I'm a tiny person, so don't laugh.

A routine I've got in to is to turn the bike off using the kill switch, kickstand down, and then both feet on the ground reach over and take the key out. Or walk around upon dismount and take it out.

Two times now, though, in the past month I've left my key in my bike, and given I'm ADD (seriously, diagnosis and all), I'm racking my brain trying to figure out a way to remember to take the key out of the bike. Visual aids aren't gonna work, because the visual aid would be out of sight. Again, ADD here, so I'm the kind of person who has to attach things to my body with chains and retractable cords or else I'll lose them.

I'm trying to think of a way to run a retractable cord from the key to the handlebars, kinda like disc locks, but it doesn't seem safe to ride like that.

Any suggestions? I'd be deeply appreciative.
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ADD here as well and when I went to school for it they explained to me that I need to associate the object with something I can remember. With that being said when I leave the house or get off my bike I say to myself

KWP
KWP
KWP

over and over.... it stands for keys, wallet, phone. Just do something like that and all will work out. Trust me I know cause I suffer from a bad case of ADD which was ADHD when I was younger.

My mom tells me FOL all the time and it means "Fucking Old Lady" which is my moms way of saying drive like a FOL.
 
I have my bike key attached to a caribeener (sp?) which i clip to my chin strap d-rings = helmet sized key fob.

--S
 
ohio said:
I'm ADD and I develop little mantras I say to myself out of habit, usually in threes. E.g. when I leave the house "keys, wallet, phone,"... when I go skiing "skis, boots, poles."

Try "switch, stand, key." Keep saying it to yourself. You'll build the habit eventually.
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wow dood did you go to Charles Armstrong when you were younger? We have pretty much the same post.
 
Had the same prob on the Savage, only left the key in it once or twice before never doing it again.

Why do they think side keys are a good idea??
 
revnort said:
Stop using the kill switch to turn of your bike and only use the key.................
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I generally get off my bike, and let it idle for 30sec before I switch it off.... :dunno maybe I've spent too much time around turbo'd engines.


A similar problem... how to remember to remove the disc lock; I put the disc lock key AND the ignition key in the disc lock bag.
 
Or.....you might try mounting a switch that bypasses the ignition switch. Put it in a super secret location that is NOT visible by someone passing by and looking at the bike, but is also easy to reach and find when you're on the bike. It could even be a micro switch that activates a relay (maybe latching) which can then handle the current that would normally pass through the ignition switch. Then, even if you forget your key, you're still good to go. Just make sure it's mounted such that should someone be watching you activate it, it's not obvious what you're doing. Maybe two hidden switches, one on either side of the bike, which both need to be pressed simultaneously inorder to trigger the relay. 'All kinds of possibilities.
 
Yeah there is no need to get into the kill switch or key debate, BUT if the problem is forgetting the key, it is a sure-fire fix. Don't use the kill switch.

I have a problem where I use my key to get into the seat and have left it there on more than one occasion. Fortunately I do this in my garage most of the time. The keys have the garage key on them so it is a pain being locked out. After some conditioning I remove the key immediately after unlocking the seat and I now compulsively check for my keys when walking away from the bike and before closing the garage door.
 
Hmm.. I have the same exact problem.. I grew up in a place where I didn't have to worry about leaving the key in the ignition.. Here that's not an option.. but I'm in the habit of leaving my keys in the ignition too.

So, I wire around the switch and use hidden micro switches to power on and off the motorcycle.. Key still works but I don't need it.

Problem permanently solved!
 
ohio said:
I'm ADD and I develop little mantras I say to myself out of habit, usually in threes. E.g. when I leave the house "keys, wallet, phone,"... when I go skiing "skis, boots, poles."

Try "switch, stand, key." Keep saying it to yourself. You'll build the habit eventually.
Click to expand...

glad to know I'm not the only one. ADHD is excellent for motorcycle riding, I find (hyperactive mind, constantly scanning, always on the go, hey, look at that! noticing tons and tons of things), but sucks for, say, remembering to take the key out of the ignition. I've been trying to work on a routine for the bike, but both times I've left the key in the bike, it's been when I had to come in extra early to work, and had to park in a different spot on the lot, and I was so distracted the routine was forgotten. I find that for super essential things like transportation, $, a physical reminder is needed. For instance, wallet is always attached to me or my bag by a chain, can't remove it. If I need to take something to work, it HAS to go right in front of the door, blocking my way. Clothes have to be laid out, in detail, the night before, or it takes me forever to get dressed, etc.

Racking my brain, though, trying to figure out a physical barrier idea that'd prevent me from getting off the bike without taking the key out. (By the way, if any of you want to say I'm retarded, or stupid, sure, while I'm typing out 3 different research reports for work at a typing speed of 117wpm, and having a chat at the same time online with someone about evolutionary neurobiology, sure, go ahead and tell me I'm stupid.)

Several people on page 2 of this thread were helpful, in terms of mnemonics. The flight routine, especially, very helpful. And I like the person who mentioned about FOL, "Fucking Old Lady," that might actually help, turn it into some nasty or highly vivid mnemonic, and maybe put a picture of it front in center of my handlebars, to get it stuck in my head.

Thanks again to the intelligent, helpful people on BARF. :thumbup
 
Ironbutt said:
Hmm.. I have the same exact problem.. I grew up in a place where I didn't have to worry about leaving the key in the ignition.. Here that's not an option.. but I'm in the habit of leaving my keys in the ignition too.

So, I wire around the switch and use hidden micro switches to power on and off the motorcycle.. Key still works but I don't need it.

Problem permanently solved!
Click to expand...

Now I know. Imma find your Ninja and look for switches. Dual Sport EX500 will be mine!!!!:twofinger
 
The jokey response: Buy the optional Honda centerstand for the Nighthawk 250. Then you can turn off the bike via the kill switch, get off the bike, put the bike on the centerstand, get back on the bike. Now you can reach down and remove the key without worrying about balancing the bike.

The non-jokey response: look at the headlight before walking away to make sure the key is not still turned on?
 
V4 said:
practice taking the key out..?
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+1

habit. force routine.

I turn off the bike with key, but even then i forget sometimes. I take my glovse off after i shut the bike off so i can grab the key to store away. that's when i soemtimes forget and get off the bike and mosy on.

force routine of grabbing the key. only way.
 
Ask yourself "Am I so stupid that I can't remember to take out my key?" Then say to yourself "I'm smarting then that and doggone-it people like me"

TT
 
;)

212JnmWgDoL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
 
Ironbutt said:
Hmm.. I have the same exact problem.. I grew up in a place where I didn't have to worry about leaving the key in the ignition.. Here that's not an option.. but I'm in the habit of leaving my keys in the ignition too.

So, I wire around the switch and use hidden micro switches to power on and off the motorcycle.. Key still works but I don't need it.

Problem permanently solved!
Click to expand...

'Curious how you wired it up. Relay? Latching relay? Momentary switches? Two switches in parallel? You aren't running the full current load that the ignition switch sees through the micro switches, are you? Schematic?

Inquiring minds want to know. :teeth

(Leave the details out about where you mounted the switches and exactly what type they are. Just the basic function of your design.)
 
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