Hi Folks, I got caught in some pretty awful weather on Friday, wearing the wrong jacket. As a consequence my key got a right good soaking. I didn't realise there was an issue until I went to start the bike this morning and nothing happened. Thankfully I was able to start the bike using the PIN code, and was on my way. I've just dismantled the key and was really surprised at how much water had got inside. I'm fairly sure this had caused the battery to discharged, and there was some nasty blue corrosion starting to appear on the PCB. Thankfully a new battery has brought it round, and it still works. So my advice is to keep your key in a waterproof pocket!
Had a similar issue once when I got back to my Landie after a wet walk with the dog. Wet key fob and had to use the emergency manual blade to get in. luckily it recognised the immobiliser bit and started. But it's now kept in a sealed sandwich bag if there is any chance of rain.
The Multistrada key will still work with a flat battery, you just have to offer it up the the right hand black panel beside the dash. This is where the receiver is located on MY15 onwards. On the 1260 at least there is an antenna symbol moulded into the panel. Still not great that the key isn't better sealed though. For a car it's sort of understandable as to "why should it be" (for most people). But on a bike there's a fair chance of it getting wet.
Yep, I use them for my Wallet, phone, keys etc when out walking, on the bike if it may rain, and ALWAYS when I'm boating. I've also been known to use a couple of Poo bags inside each other for my phone if we are out with the dog and get caught in a shower. As any dog owner knows, you can't go into any pocket at a shop checkout etc without dropping a stray poo bag on the floor, so I always have a couple about my person somewhere.
I tried putting the key over the immobiliser antenna area on the dash, but nothing. Hardly surprising when I found how much water was in the key. It does have a seal lip within the moulded housing, but it’s definitely not enough (having designed products for the marine market, I know what it takes to keep water out of things!). I was riding for about an hour and a half in heavy spray, with my key in the pocket of a Knox waxed cotton jacket. The jacket kept me dry for about half an hour, but I’ll definitely be using a plastic bag in future.
If you had blue corrosion on your PCB, I would suspect the battery had been leaking for a while. The water may have pushed it over the edge, but I'd suspect the problem with corrosion was already there. I change my fob battery at least once a year. They are not expensive, and I always keep a spare under the seat too.
This is a design and or concept fault. Could be the key is not fit for purpose due to poor manufacture. Maybe the idea of electronic keys at a commercial price point which will reliably function despite hours of rain exposure & cold is nonsense. Its too bad the electronic key cannot be optionally replaced via an app, by your phone, My iphone and its Sony predecessors are unaffected by rain. But so is my Monster's metal key -perhaps thats the solution right there?
A metal ignition key is very much the solution! It irks me hugely to have to ferret around for my key when I fill up, when I could just have a key there right by the filler cap. Keyless ignition is an answer to a question no one was asking.
This might work: https://gbr.grandado.com/products/f...MIiI_4qd7Z-AIVDZ7tCh1UJQ6kEAQYCCABEgIC_PD_BwE It’s the cheapest one I could find, some of them are eye watering for what they are, but it appears to cover the areas where water ingress might be an issue.
I had one of those for my pre-DVT Multistrada, and it was more just a decorative case. I think I’ll stick with a resealable bag!
My Multistrada key is on a lanyard and around my neck under my clothing. With the screen on the bike, there is very little chance of any qty of water getting through any waterproof layers and causing any significant damage. As said before though, I still have a spare battery under the seat just in case (no pun lol). I have a spare key (only) for the fuel cap/locks in my pocket so the remote can stay snug and warm I don't see the need for a remote key on a motorcycle really, I would much rather have a key in a lock as 99% of other bikes have. Cars? Yeah, have a remote ... but not bikes, it's a bit duncil really
I can’t understand why they don’t fit the keyless cap as standard, if the bike has keyless ignition. My 1260 had it, so I was a bit irked to have to shell out for one on my V4.
Dumb key, cut by online locksmith from a photo, on a lanyard around my neck. Use that for luggage and fuel cap. Remote key in inside pocket of my riding jacket. Though agree that there seems little point having keyless ignition on a bike.
I like the Keyless ignition, I carry a dumb spare key for panniers, fuel cap etc in a pocket and never use the main key as it resides in a waterproof pocket. That way I never leave the main key in the bike and don't lose it so the bike always starts. If I lose the dumb key then the main key will open fuel and panniers - hasn't happened yet! Twice on trips we have had someone lose their key and others have left the key in the bike (luckily they never got stolen!
