BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

For those of you with keyless ride option, when do you take the emergency key with you?  I'm heading out on a cross-country ride this summer and thinking I should probably have it with me in case I lose the fob or it fails to work (dead battery, etc.) 


Really that could happen even when close to home.  Makes me wonder if I should hide the emergency key somewhere on the bike.

Mine is wrapped in electrical tape and zip tied inside rear fender, the portion that is adjustable, never leave home without it

T6pilot wrote: Mine is wrapped in electrical tape and zip tied inside rear fender, the portion that is adjustable, never leave home without it

I was thinking of something similar, or perhaps inside the speaker housing.  I'd need to have a torx screwdriver handy to retrieve it though.  Do you not worry about theft with the key being accessible?  I suppose it's unlikely anyone would find it, and even less likely they would know what it is or how to use it.

Used to have mine in my wallet.  I would never leave it on the bike.  That would invalidate any insurance claim for theft. 

Turn it into a necklace; a thing of beauty to put around your neck.

timminator wrote: I suppose it's unlikely anyone would find it,

I know where T6Pilot's key is  :))

Sullivj wrote: I know where T6Pilot's key is  )

Me too ... not

Guess I'll move key 8)

T6pilot wrote: Guess I'll move key 8)

I'm thinking of having mine surgically implanted just below the skin.  :alas:

timminator wrote: I'm thinking of having mine surgically implanted just below the skin.  :alas:

Be careful .... That could be quite painful when you take a leek

The key fob will still do its job even if the battery inside it is flat, as per the manual. You don't need the spare plastic key.

Always seems strange the lengths people go to to carry 2 keys on a keyless bike. Do they also carry spare car keys when they go for a drive?!

fatnfast wrote: The key fob will still do its job even if the battery inside it is flat, as per the manual. You don't need the spare plastic key.

Always seems strange the lengths people go to to carry 2 keys on a keyless bike. Do they also carry spare car keys when they go for a drive?!

You are correct, but the procedure for using a dead fob seems like a hassle compared to the spare key.  I guess there's also the possibility of your keys getting lost or stolen, in which case it would be nice to have a spare.  Obviously, it needs to be stored separately from the fob.


Honestly, I'd rather have a spare fob, but not wanting to spend $250+ to get one.

Just carry a spare fob battery maybe. $250 is very expensive.

So there is yet another advantage to not having keyless.  You get two keys and no batteries.  And in my case 2 fods for the Alarm/central locking. And I haven't got that horrible lump of plastic stuck on top of the fork bridge. 

fatnfast wrote: Just carry a spare fob battery maybe. $250 is very expensive.

+1, already carry a spare in the glovebox.