Lost my backup keys for my '78 R80/7

[larrylarry75]

Boy do I feel dumb. There I was heading out to the garage with both sets of keys in my hands and when I arrived at the bike I was missing one. The walk to the garage is not exactly long, down the hallway, out the door into the garage, and there you are. Maybe I should invest in a GPS...? The key set contained the folding gas cap key plus spares to the ignition, Krauser bags, and Luftmeister trunk. After crawling around on my hands and knees for what seemed like hours I'm giving up, they're gone, the Poltergeist has them. I know I can replicate them at most locksmiths but does anyone know if the original folding type blanks are available? Thanks! Larry :doh :doh :banghead

[cjack]

Boy do I feel dumb. There I was heading out to the garage with both sets of keys in my hands and when I arrived at the bike I was missing one. The walk to the garage is not exactly long, down the hallway, out the door into the garage, and there you are. Maybe I should invest in a GPS...? The key set contained the folding gas cap key plus spares to the ignition, Krauser bags, and Luftmeister trunk. After crawling around on my hands and knees for what seemed like hours I'm giving up, they're gone, the Poltergeist has them. I know I can replicate them at most locksmiths but does anyone know if the original folding type blanks are available? Thanks! Larry :doh :doh :banghead

All the key blanks are available. There are two styles of folding keys, and also lighted keys if you like.
Sometimes it is hard to get a locksmith to grind the steel keys, but you actually can file them yourself in a few minutes.

[pmdave]

Most of us have had lost key experiences equally embarrassing. The memory is enough that whenever I get a "new" bike, I get two or three spare sets made. Locksmiths have a number of German key blanks, generally for Volkswagen and Mercedes. The folding airhead blanks will have to be obtained from your dealer or an online BMW source.

Just a thought: have you checked various jacket pockets, jacket liner pockets, back pants pockets, etc. etc.? When you picked up your helmet, did you set down your keys on the shelf? Did they fall into your spare boots when you bent over to pick up your gloves? Do you have a dog that eats metal thingies? Remember, you always find something in the last place you look.

pmdave

[Boxerkuh]

When I bought my Airhead I found a "key" shortage and also no lock in the gas cap... So I have a little experience with this. I was told by a wise Airhead to take the best key that I had and make duplicates from it, than lock it up with the title. Only use the spares that you have.
The key blanks are available from any BMW dealer and even on ebay. Lock smith can handle any lock even the BMW lock. Problem is getting the key cut. The BMW keys are metal and I have not found a locksmith, walmart, k-mart, lowes or home depot to do it. They are not willing to kill their equipment for your key blank. I had to send my stuff to Bob's BMW. (I don't know where you live, but I would think that any large BMW motorcycle dealer has the machine to cut steel keys.) They did not over charge me. Here are my two suggestions:
1. Get a magnet and search through the house, breezeways and re-trace your steps. Look in the most obvious places. The magnet will pick up the key in hard to reach areas or under stuff.
2. Call Bob's BMW and order the keys and have them cut them.

Good luck and I hope you find them.

[larrylarry75]

Thanks for the info; I wasn't sure if the folding blanks were available. I'd already checked Bob's web site but didn't find anything on key blanks or cutting service. I'll get in touch with our local BMW dealer...a mere 120 miles away...and see what they have to offer. Somewhere in my collection of stuff I couldn't pass up 30 years ago is an old Curtis key machine complete with 2000 brass blanks. Maybe I'll have a go at duplicating mine if I can come up with the right blanks. (Film at eleven...)
:thumb Thanks again!
Larry

[larrylarry75]

? Do you have a dog that eats metal thingies? Remember, you always find something in the last place you look.

pmdave

Dog that eats metal...?? Max?? Hmmm.......

[JKERSH1]

Both my 97 R1100 and 02 K1200 use the brass Ilco X59 blank. Used for 4 wheel bimmers and universally available.