Brand new owner, new to the forum--FOB questions

[copdocpvd]

Hi all

Picked up my 2013 Saturday from the dealership, got the two minute run-down on the bike and was handed the manual.  Was a little unclear on how the FOB works in the case of emergency/loss, and reading the HORRIBLE manual that came with the bike hasn't made anything any clearer (Did they have to hire a dyslexic tech writer with no knowledge of English?).

As I think I understand it, the FOB enables everything when it's within about a yard of the bike (could be further).  You can then turn or remove the start key that sits in the ignition.  If you somehow miss the "low battery" alerts, and the FOB runs out of power, you put it on the clip behind the ignition switch and all functions fine until you can replace the battery?

Why do they include a "spare" key in the fob, then?  (and why is there one in the secondary, thin "spare FOB")  Is that just if you somehow manage to remove the ignition key and lose it?

Where are you guys keeping the secondary FOB, wallet? 

I'm guessing that if you leave home without the secondary, and somehow manage to misplace the big one, you're out of luck, even if you have one of the spare keys?


thanks!

[chap]

Welcome: seems like you have got it mostly figured out. I think the reason for the Keys in the FOB's is so that you can use those keys for the Bags, Fuel etc. The one in the Ignition is meant never to be removed. I have had some spare keys cut, so I never even use them. I guess the spare FOB, you put it somewhere you are comfortable with and can access if the main FOB is lost. either on the bike somewhere secure, or on you. I think it is unlikely the FOB fails, but you may loose it, so you need a backup.
As a note the Main FOB can be subject to RF interference so if you have added LED lights with a controller etc it may drop out depending where it is kept while you ride. I keep mine in my jacket and it seems to work well there.

[RBX QB]

... The one in the Ignition is meant never to be removed...

-1... Many of us use this key daily, and have for the many thousands of miles we put on the bike so far... but that's well covered in previous threads.

[Rembrant]

I'm guessing that if you leave home without the secondary, and somehow manage to misplace the big one, you're out of luck, even if you have one of the spare keys?

That is correct.

[Rhino]

I like the fact that the spare FOB is not active and must be put up against the bump behind the stove knob. I hide the spare, thin, FOB on the bike (you have to remove stuff to get to it). That way if I loose the primary when 1000's of miles from home, I am not screwed.

[B.D.F.]

Yep, that is mostly it other than one very important point: you need a valid, functioning and already registered (the bike has to 'know' about the fob) fob to add another fob. Couple that with the critical rule that you cannot start a C-14 without a valid fob and we get rule #958: maintain two functioning, registered (registered to your bike) fobs at all times. Should you lose or damage a fob, replace it immediately because being down to one fob is a precarious position.... should you also lose that one, you will need a new KiPass ECU which is quite expensive (close to $1,000, heavily discounted).

All C-14's have always been sold new with two fobs. Keep it that way and you will not 'tease the tiger' and run the risk of losing or damaging your only fob.

Brian

Hi all

Picked up my 2013 Saturday from the dealership, got the two minute run-down on the bike and was handed the manual.  Was a little unclear on how the FOB works in the case of emergency/loss, and reading the HORRIBLE manual that came with the bike hasn't made anything any clearer (Did they have to hire a dyslexic tech writer with no knowledge of English?).

As I think I understand it, the FOB enables everything when it's within about a yard of the bike (could be further).  You can then turn or remove the start key that sits in the ignition.  If you somehow miss the "low battery" alerts, and the FOB runs out of power, you put it on the clip behind the ignition switch and all functions fine until you can replace the battery?

Why do they include a "spare" key in the fob, then?  (and why is there one in the secondary, thin "spare FOB")  Is that just if you somehow manage to remove the ignition key and lose it?

Where are you guys keeping the secondary FOB, wallet? 

I'm guessing that if you leave home without the secondary, and somehow manage to misplace the big one, you're out of luck, even if you have one of the spare keys?


thanks!

[maxtog]

Picked up my 2013 Saturday from the dealership,

Welcome!!  And congrats.

got the two minute run-down on the bike and was handed the manual.  Was a little unclear on how the FOB works in the case of emergency/loss, and reading the HORRIBLE manual that came with the bike hasn't made anything any clearer (Did they have to hire a dyslexic tech writer with no knowledge of English?).

Yep, the owner's manual is horrible.  You would think they could pay someone that understands English to edit the damn thing. 

As I think I understand it,

You will want to start searching and reading this forum, there are just tons of threads about the FOBS and such (and about the bad manual, and dealers who are clueless, etc)

the FOB enables everything when it's within about a yard of the bike (could be further).  You can then turn or remove the start key that sits in the ignition.  If you somehow miss the "low battery" alerts, and the FOB runs out of power, you put it on the clip behind the ignition switch and all functions fine until you can replace the battery?

Yep, that is correct.  Placement of the fob if the battery is dead is tricky, and it will take more than a few seconds before it will work.  You should try and practice it with the passive fob.

Why do they include a "spare" key in the fob, then?  (and why is there one in the secondary, thin "spare FOB")  Is that just if you somehow manage to remove the ignition key and lose it?

They are just being cheap.  The passive fob, unlike the active one, contains no battery, so it has to be placed on the ignition to be used.  The first gen C14 came with two active fobs, the second gen comes with one active and one passive.  The huge stovekey thing in the ignition- most of use never remove that at all.

Where are you guys keeping the secondary FOB, wallet? 

I keep it in my fanny bag that I keep in the luggage or with me.  I keep the active fob permanently in my zipped riding jacket pocket so it is impossible to lose or misplace (unless I lose the entire jacket, which is unlikely).  I had a regular metal key made by a locksmith to use with my bags (joined with the metal key for my helmet lock).

I'm guessing that if you leave home without the secondary, and somehow manage to misplace the big one, you're out of luck, even if you have one of the spare keys?

You don't ever want to lose all keys, or you are really SOL and have to get a whole new ECU!  I wish they had included three fob/keys so I could leave one at home all the time.

[clogan]

I'll pass along what I do. This may not work at all for you, but for me, given where I live, ride, and park my bike, it is the perfect solution.

Here's what I did:
1. I leave the stove knob key in the ignition switch. Always. It never leaves.
2. I cut down a spare key with a hacksaw, and JB Welded it into a radio knob. This spare key now hides in plain sight in my seat lock, and is used to open the seat lock, side cases, and gashole.
3. I deactivated the locking feature of the glove box such that it can be opened at any time. My fob lives in the glove box, except for those rare cases in which I feel I need to take it with me when I leave the bike.

As I say, this may not work at all for you, but it is the perfect system for me.

[maxtog]

3. I deactivated the locking feature of the glove box such that it can be opened at any time. My fob lives in the glove box, except for those rare cases in which I feel I need to take it with me when I leave the bike.

You leave a fob in the unlocked glovebox?  That is a horrible idea!  The only thing worse would be if it were an active fob.

[gPink]

You leave a fob in the unlocked glovebox?  That is a horrible idea!  The only thing worse would be if it were an active fob.

Oh the humanity.....I leave mine in the tank bag.

[Rembrant]

For me, I almost always keep the primary main FOB in my pants pocket, and my spare thin FOB inside a small ziplock bag, in an inside pocket of my jacket. It stays in there all year long.

Now that I have three FOB's, I have a spare that lives in my toolbox and stays at home.

I have 4"x4" and 4"x6" ziplock baggies, and everything goes in them...money, FOB's, passport, etc, etc...lol. Too many years of riding in the rain...I've learned to keep everything sealed up;).

Rem

[Conrad]

Snip...

I'm guessing that if you leave home without the secondary, and somehow manage to misplace the big one, you're out of luck, even if you have one of the spare keys?

Welcome! I, for one, appreciate the fact that you read the manual first and then asked your questions!   

To answer the above question. If you somehow lost your fob (either fob) while riding you would still be able to ride the bike just as long as you didn't shut it off. If you shut the bike off without having a fob you would have 5 seconds to turn it back on till you are out of luck.

[maxtog]

Oh the humanity.....I leave mine in the tank bag.

OMG- some of you are a lot more trusting than I!

[gPink]

OMG- some of you are a lot more trusting than I!

It  might be the empty holster strapped to handlebars....

[Rhino]

I'll pass along what I do. This may not work at all for you, but for me, given where I live, ride, and park my bike, it is the perfect solution.

Here's what I did:
1. I leave the stove knob key in the ignition switch. Always. It never leaves.
2. I cut down a spare key with a hacksaw, and JB Welded it into a radio knob. This spare key now hides in plain sight in my seat lock, and is used to open the seat lock, side cases, and gashole.
3. I deactivated the locking feature of the glove box such that it can be opened at any time. My fob lives in the glove box, except for those rare cases in which I feel I need to take it with me when I leave the bike.

As I say, this may not work at all for you, but it is the perfect system for me.

I modified my glove box also but I have to push a hidden latch to open it. And I did the radio knob thing. 99% of the time the radio knob key is just sitting in the side case lock. Once in awhile depending where I'm parked I'll pull it and throw it in the glove box.

[clogan]

You leave a fob in the unlocked glovebox?  That is a horrible idea!  The only thing worse would be if it were an active fob.

Well, it actually IS my active fob. My backup, passive fob, sits at home on the bookshelf.
You will likely be similarly horrified to hear that the key to my KLR has rarely ever left the ignition switch since I bought the bike back in October 2009, nearly 12,000 miles ago. But here again, based on how and where I ride, and where I park, this is a completely reasonable system for me. And as I said, it may or not work at all for you. Everyone should work out what works best for them. One size does not fit all.

[maxtog]

It  might be the empty holster strapped to handlebars....

Since I don't use a holster, maybe that is a negative, afterall.

[maxtog]

Well, it actually IS my active fob. My backup, passive fob, sits at home on the bookshelf.
You will likely be similarly horrified to hear that the key to my KLR has rarely ever left the ignition switch since I bought the bike back in October 2009, nearly 12,000 miles ago. But here again, based on how and where I ride, and where I park, this is a completely reasonable system for me. And as I said, it may or not work at all for you. Everyone should work out what works best for them. One size does not fit all.

Where I work, someone walked in the building, ducked in to various offices, found someone's car keys, then went to the front lot and pressed the honk button.  He then drove away someone's 2013 Camary.  Have it on video (we have 64 cameras), makes no difference.

Yep, depends on where you are located, indeed.

[Rhino]

Well, it actually IS my active fob. My backup, passive fob, sits at home on the bookshelf.
You will likely be similarly horrified to hear that the key to my KLR has rarely ever left the ignition switch since I bought the bike back in October 2009, nearly 12,000 miles ago. But here again, based on how and where I ride, and where I park, this is a completely reasonable system for me. And as I said, it may or not work at all for you. Everyone should work out what works best for them. One size does not fit all.

+1 Can't remember the last time I took the key out of my Suzuki DR650

[Spikey01]

The whole KIPASS system (and the ignition switch) are a hi-tech answer to a question nobody was asking. It is cantankerous. It is prone to failure. (Mine did.) Just look at all the posts on this forum on this topic. What was wrong with a plain old metal key? You know, the kind you take out of your pocket, stick in the ignition, and turn? And you could get a spare made for $3 at Home Depot.
Don't start talking about theft protection. Here in L.A., if thieves want your bike, they just snatch it off the street with 4 burly thugs or a tow truck and drive away with alarms blazing. Nobody bats an eye.
And you STILL have to carry a key (FOB) around in your pocket. It just saves the horrible, horrible inconvenience of having to dig around for your key with your gloves on. Jeez, you might have to take them OFF! Just horrible.
A big wart on an otherwise beautiful bike.