key question?

[russells ride]

Just got the bike, and was reading through the manual yesterday and noticed in section 3-2 it said "Do not place items that transmit electrical signals close to any key" my question is would that include a sat nav mounted on the bars? i know its not likely because so many people do mount their sat navs there but has anyone ever had a problem with these immobilizer keys on this or any ather bike? thanks steve

 

[Big Blu]

You're OK with the sat nav, receiver only, no transmission.

Regards, Paul

 

[markjenn]

Just thought I'd point out that this doesn't apply to US bikes which have "dumb keys" with no electronics in them whatsoever.

- Mark

 

[woodgnome]

why dont the U.S. bikes have imobilisers fitted ??? ???
maybe there isnt a crime problem like in the U.K. :'( :'(

 

[Tremor38]

why dont the U.S. bikes have imobilisers fitted ??? ???
maybe there isnt a crime problem like in the U.K. :'( :'(

I get a break on my insurance premium with one fitted. Don't know if that's the same in the U.S of A

 

[markjenn]

why dont the U.S. bikes have imobilisers fitted ??? ???
maybe there isnt a crime problem like in the U.K. :'( :'(

Most of the bike theft in the US tends towards the sportbikes and Harleys, so I suspect the average risk of theft is lower. But I don't have any hard data.

Are there other UK Yamahas with the immobilizer (e.g., the FJR and R1)? If so, the dealer infrastructure to support the key (and getting replacement keys programmed) was already built out in the channel. Yamaha doesn't sell any bike in the US with immobilizer keys, so it would have been a significant burden on the channel for such a low-volume model.

And I don't know about the UK, but in the US, there seems to be an undercurrent of mistrust for immobilizer systems. So discussions at Yamaha USA....expensive system of marginal value that customers don't really want that would raise the price of the bike? Turf it.

- Mark

 

[DinX]

Most of the bike theft in the US tends towards the sportbikes and Harleys, so I suspect the average risk of theft is lower. But I don't have any hard data.

Are there other UK Yamahas with the immobilizer (e.g., the FJR and R1)? If so, the dealer infrastructure to support the key (and getting replacement keys programmed) was already built out in the channel. Yamaha doesn't sell any bike in the US with immobilizer keys, so it would have been a significant burden on the channel for such a low-volume model.

I live in Belgium, so a Euro bike with immobilizer. My key is exactly the same type as the one of my previous FJR. I guess they use the same system for different bikes. I also don't know if your local dealer handles the copying of the key. I think they send it to the distributor. When buying your Yamaha here you get 3 keys (2 normal black ones and 1 red "mother key") and a number tag.

I guess the "local dealer infrastructure" isn't a large factor for not installing immobilizer on US bikes.

 

[Tremor38]

I live in Belgium, so a Euro bike with immobilizer. My key is exactly the same type as the one of my previous FJR. I guess they use the same system for different bikes. I also don't know if your local dealer handles the copying of the key. I think they send it to the distributor. When buying your Yamaha here you get 3 keys (2 normal black ones and 1 red "mother key") and a number tag.

I guess the "local dealer infrastructure" isn't a large factor for not installing immobilizer on US bikes.

I don't get the 'undercurrent of mistrust' angle either. There are many U.S. cars that come with a key ring transponder as part of an immobilizer system and they seem to work just fine. I've never had an issue with a factory installed immobilizer..had one on my Blackbird with nary a problem. I also feel that the ID chip into the top of the key is a good idea for motorcycles cause I'd hate to have a 'key fob' come loose and go flying behind me somewhere. ::025::

 

[Firefight911]

I don't get the 'undercurrent of mistrust' angle either. There are many U.S. cars that come with a key ring transponder as part of an immobilizer system and they seem to work just fine. I've never had an issue with a factory installed immobilizer..had one on my Blackbird with nary a problem. I also feel that the ID chip into the top of the key is a good idea for motorcycles cause I'd hate to have a 'key fob' come loose and go flying behind me somewhere. ::025::

It's a carryover from anyone who had a BMW motorcycle and had the EWS ring go bad or had to deal with the recall related to it. ::025:: ::025:: ::025:: As for the key fob loss, no worries, once you are out of range the bike stops so you won't have far to walk to find it. ::025:: ::025:: ::025::

 

[Tremor38]

It's a carryover from anyone who had a BMW motorcycle and had the EWS ring go bad or had to deal with the recall related to it. ::025:: ::025:: ::025:: As for the key fob loss, no worries, once you are out of range the bike stops so you won't have far to walk to find it. ::025:: ::025:: ::025::

Unless you have my luck. I'm one of those guys that can have a screw drop within a foot of me and have it bounce to some unlikely location where it's a b*tch to find ;D

 

[justbob]

With the Kawasaki KiPass system, if you leave the Keyfob laying in the garage and drive away it will not turn off the ignition when you get out of range. It will work just fine until you turn off the ignition and then try to restart it with no keyfob present. Then you will have a much longer walk back home.