Hard bag key issues post number 2

Okay, I have now had my 2005 for about two weeks. I purchased the luggage brand new from a honda dealer, the factory interceptor bags made for the bike. I have now gone through my second key in as many weeks. If you are not familiar, the key is implanted into an odd and extremely inconvienent shaped piece of plastic with NOTHING holding the metal into the plastic other than the 'tight' fit from the factory. One key has totally fallen out of the plastic, the second is due any minute.

If you use the key without the plastic piece, the key will bend. Can I be the only person with this issue?

Does anyone know how I order a REAL metal key? I've been to a few hardware stores and they can't copy the key because the blanks are, I'm guessing are givi only...

For $1,000.00 I expected a LOT more... Not to mention that bolts are coming undone from the inside of the luggage.....They 'only' hold the bags onto the bike so I guess no big deal that ALL 8 of the interior bolts on my luggage were VERY loose, with one that had fallen out completely...

Wondering how I get real keys made, and fast...

thanks.

 

I had an 04 with the same keys as an 05 and they didn't fall apart they looked like they were going too at anytime.
My new 07 has different looking keys. The bags are made by GIVI.
You might call them to see if you can get the new one.

 

Keys

I've spoken with Honda where I bought the bags. They can 'maybe' get me the same keys-which are TOTALLY useless. I have about 8 keys and ALL of them are loose in the plastic. Such a joke, all the engineering that goes into a bag system and the weak link is the way the key is molded? $1,000.00 just doesn't go that far I guess....

I think I'm going to drill through the plastic and metal and bolt it down. It sucks that uses such a proprietary key, I can't find anyone locally that can cut a new one for me....

The guy at honda said to glue the key in... Metal glued to plastic with hours of vibration... Ain't gonna work....

 

Ya those sound like the key for my 04. The new 07 keys are much better.
And I may be wrong but all the keys are the SAME. My 04 keys will fit my 07
and my 07 will fit my 04 and a buddy of mine has the same key also.

 

I would contact Givi directly or Honda (of America) because dealers don't care about honda's image- just theirs. I'm willing to bet that if you raised concerns about quality with Honda you'll find out exactly how much they like being called the most reliable motorcycle manufacturer. Honda didn't make the bags or the keys, but I'm sure they will get with Givi to set things right.

For a short term fix, 90% of the locksmiths out there can duplicate ANY key, for about the price of going to the local hardware store so you could look at that. The locksmith I go to doesn't sell keys with plastic because they eventually break, and he won't sell something like that to his customers.

 

Well, it's been three days and the store where I purchased the bags hasn't called me back.... I've been to a locksmith and hardware store... The keys are apparently pretty special and hard to duplicate. Thanks givi for reinventing the wheel... Not only is the key a piece of crap but the shape of it makes it a pain to use under the handles of the bags with other keys on the key ring...

My solution is that I drilled through the plastic and the small sliver of metal that sticks into the plastic and will run a nut and bolt through both. There is one more locksmith in my area I will try but after four different places....

 

Honda, Yakima, Thule keys

I have a trunk and 2 sets of side cases for my '04 VFR, all with different keys. Pain in the butt with multiple keys. I checked with a Honda dealer to see about getting a new set of lock cores which is pretty standard if you have Yakima, Thule etc. rack; you have to buy cores with any such rack accessory. The guy at LBS said he called Honda USA and the answer was---have to buy new hard bags $1200!(shame on Honda!) Not an option for me. I haven't tried GIVI.

Anyway,

I had a revelation today.

Hondaline, Yakima and Thule have the same key blanks. They are all numbered, and by chance I ended up with a Yakima key that fits my Honda boxes! I have yet to break a Thule or Yakima key, I have seen a Honda key break of in the core. Sporting good store stock core with keys, take your Hondaline key and hold them up side by side to match.

The cores aren't compatible but I plan to dissect an extra core and see if they can be rebuilt to match keys. If anyone has played with this let me know. If it works I will post again

 

Order a new set of locks, they'll come with keys. Or find someone who can just tack weld a piece of metal onto the key shank to make a "real" looking and feeling key.

 

I have the Givis on my '04. When I ordered the top case and the V35 side cases I paid about $45? or so extra for a GIVI lock kit that replaces the 3 locks already installed in the cases with the 3 matching locks in the kit; that way you need only one key. Replacing them wasn't that difficult; took maybe an hour to do all three.

Joe

 

Over in Europe replacing the OEM hard luggage keys with stock all metal key blanks is possible at most good hardware shops. So if the offset plastic bit of the key is starting to come loose, you can easily get another made, using a normal all steel key blank from SILCA - who are an Italian key supplier, and I guess they may actually make the locks for GIVI/HONDA.

I used to have two slightly different keys for my left and right rear panniers which was a major pain. Fortunately the key cutting specialist in my local Carefour supermarket, examined the two keys I was trying to copy and suggested that rather than make copies of each one he could simply make one key which would fit both locks. Brilliant service and for just 2 euro 20 centimes per key.

 

I carry the key in my pocket, no problems with my Honda (GIVI) bags. I also have about 6 extra keys and two locks for the reason of if I have to swap one out if something bad happens. Sorry about your luck. Maybe a different dealer? I would also try the route suggested by goin to call Honda or Givi directly.

 

the keys we have for our bags are just standard Givi keys - having used Givi bags on my other bikes

I haven't had any issues. Maybe your keys came from a bad batch.

I would fix by gluing the key to the plastic, as suggested. Use one of the newer style poly urethane glues or an epoxy, or even a Silicone glue, all should be OK with the vibration, some epoxies are even made with vibration in mind. Go to OSH and look thru the selection, you will find something that will work.

 

Do you remember how you did this, I have the lock core for my top case, but have never gotten around to switching them out, mine didn't come with any directions, did yours?

 

Hi,
GIVI makes great products but their directions are usually hideous; poor b&w pics and butchered english. That said, it was really easy to swap them out. It's really intuitive once you unscrew the lock from the case. It's really worth the cost to have just one key.
If you are interested in getting matching locks kit, I would recommend calling RL motorcycles in Georgia. It's a family business that I have done business with several times and always a great experience. Plus flat $9.95 shipping. Call and the owner or the owner's son (both Richard) will answer. Just Google it for the website.

 

PS
Just so I'm understanding you correctly, you have just the top box and want to change that lock? Or you have all 3 cases and want matching locks? If it's the latter, then you will need the matching lock kit from GIVI, which includes 3 cores with matching tumblers. The only slightly tricky thing to the replacement is remembering to turn the lock to the correct position when you attempt to replace the core with the new core. You'll know it's properly positioned by how easily the c- clip pops back into place. It's really not that hard; the first lock might take you 20 minutes, the second lock 10 minutes etc, as you get the hang of it. Does this help?
Joe

 

You were right the first time. When I bought the bike, it came with the two side cases plus an "extra" matching lock core. I later bought a top case, which of course had it's own lock core, that didn't match what I already had on the side cases. I have always meant to, but haven't gotten around to popping out the lock core on the top case and replacing it with the "extra" one I have. It is so rare that I use the bags at all, never mind all 3, that I just haven't done it. Haven't even looked at it. With the BMW's they actually come with a seperate key for removing the lock core. I think the Yakima racks do the same. You put the core you want to remove in the unlocked position with your regular key, then you use the core remover key to turn it further, and the core comes out, take the core off the key, put the new core on, and then place it into the lock, and twist it.. Very quick, very easy.

So what you are saying though is the give lock actually bolts into position? See that would prove that I haven't even taken a look at doing it yet....

 

Any luck with the Yakima key core idea? That would be nice, to only have one key on my key ring and have it do the bags for the bike, the ski rack, the snowboard rack, and the bike rack oh, and the Yakima gear box too! All with one key.

 

I'm probably making it seem more complicated than it is by trying to explain it without any visuals; once it is front of you it's easy to see how to replace it. As I remember it, the key and the core need to be in either the open or closed position in order to get the small C-clip on and off easily; I believe that it is the open position. The C-clip is what holds the core in place. When you have a few minutes, take a look at it and you'll see it's really a simple affair to swap the tumblers. Good luck.