Discussion
Might seem a silly question to many, but my bike buying experience isn't exactly mainstream...
'Been looking at buying a fifteen year old XJR13.
Came across adverts referring to "comes with X keys, including the red key". So, I've looked into it, and understand that it's some sort of master key needed when programming a new key. This is something I'd not come across, or thought about, before.
I believe the immobiliser was fitted from 2004/5.
I'd rather not have the complications of a factory fitted immobiliser/coded keys etc.
Are most bikes from, say, 2005 likely to have a "coded" key, or did other manufacturers take a different approach? If so, any suggestions for an alternative, but similar bike that I may have overlooked?
Thankfully, the option is there to look out for an earlier carb' model that didn't have the immobiliser fitted.
Cheers.
'Been looking at buying a fifteen year old XJR13.
Came across adverts referring to "comes with X keys, including the red key". So, I've looked into it, and understand that it's some sort of master key needed when programming a new key. This is something I'd not come across, or thought about, before.
I believe the immobiliser was fitted from 2004/5.
I'd rather not have the complications of a factory fitted immobiliser/coded keys etc.
Are most bikes from, say, 2005 likely to have a "coded" key, or did other manufacturers take a different approach? If so, any suggestions for an alternative, but similar bike that I may have overlooked?
Thankfully, the option is there to look out for an earlier carb' model that didn't have the immobiliser fitted.
Cheers.
Jazoli said:
Most bikes post 2005 will have an immobiliser, Honda have HISS, yamaha have similar as do most other manufacturers, the dealer was not happy when I px'd my FZ1 and didn't have the red key, he never asked 
Thanks, I have Googled some stuff and came to pretty much that conclusion. I thought it might have been allied to the widespread introduction of fuel injection, but seems to have been a tad earlier. Harleys, some Italians and the likes of Enfield have taken different approaches...I can understand the dealer's upset - looks like a new key could be expensive.
Oh well, better stick to the older stuff.
With Yamaha you need the red key to program any new key to the immobilizer. Not sure how much a new key is but I believe you can program them yourself so long as you have the red one.
I've never had any problem with the immobiliser on mine despite leaving it several months with a flat battery.
I've never had any problem with the immobiliser on mine despite leaving it several months with a flat battery.
Jazoli said:
Most bikes post 2005 will have an immobiliser, Honda have HISS, yamaha have similar as do most other manufacturers, the dealer was not happy when I px'd my FZ1 and didn't have the red key, he never asked
Is that really the case?Immobiliser does nothing worthwhile on a bike as hardly any thief is going to hot wire it and ride away. It will be in a van or pushed away.
I've got a 2017 Suzuki with just a normal key that someone at Timpsons could cut in 5 mins.
Krikkit said:
trickywoo said:
I've got a 2017 Suzuki with just a normal key that someone at Timpsons could cut in 5 mins.
Are you sure about that? They won't be a separate immobiliser, but a chip embedded in the standard key which is read by an induction collar near/around the ignition barrel.trickywoo said:
Krikkit said:
trickywoo said:
I've got a 2017 Suzuki with just a normal key that someone at Timpsons could cut in 5 mins.
Are you sure about that? They won't be a separate immobiliser, but a chip embedded in the standard key which is read by an induction collar near/around the ignition barrel.Weso said:
trickywoo said:
Krikkit said:
trickywoo said:
I've got a 2017 Suzuki with just a normal key that someone at Timpsons could cut in 5 mins.
Are you sure about that? They won't be a separate immobiliser, but a chip embedded in the standard key which is read by an induction collar near/around the ignition barrel.KTMsm said:
I don't see why you'd change what you want, to avoid an immobiliser - just make sure you have the correct key
It's incredibly rare that they break and on an older bike it's usually easy to buy used replacements cheaply - as no one wants them
Cheers, understand your point.It's incredibly rare that they break and on an older bike it's usually easy to buy used replacements cheaply - as no one wants them
Other than a few "classics" or relatively modern stuff, I rarely leave any of my vehicles standard; the less complicated they are, the easier for me to modify on a budget. I either want it to be modern enough that I don't feel the need to touch it, or old and simple enough to change what I want, older bikes are now in a zone between the two. I've owned at least a dozen modified, air cooled Zeds - chops, streetfighters, a road legal drag bike - and fancy something similar(ish) again (but without all the graft). Old 1100 Zephyrs are expensive (for what they are), the new Z900 is too "nice" for what I want. The XJR's an old design that already has more modern brakes etc. and appears a lot of bike for the money. I'm not absolutely set on one, I've never ridden one, so if there was a less complicated alternative, I would consider that... I think, having done a bit of research, I'll probably just look for an earlier carb' model.
Thanks all for the comments. I'll let you know what I end up with.
Ha!
I was the same, owner a fair few Z1s, over the years, all modified.
When I came back to bikes, again,Z1s to expensive, considered zephyr, ended up with 2005 xjr1300 on carbs.
It’s basically got all the stuff we put on Z1s!
Three spoke alloys check
Box section swing arm, Check
Wider wheels, check
Better brakes check
Big bore, check
Better forks, check
Etc etc, I do love it, and it’s now got progressive front springs, braided lines and a fare bit of polishing has gone on!
BUT, I now also have a GSX1400!
It’s not as pretty to my eyes as the XJR, but it’s better to ride in every way! The torque is phenomenal! Check out the you tube video of an old nail of an 1400 taking on a modern R1!
I will keep both, but if I could only keep 1 it would be the GSX.
I was the same, owner a fair few Z1s, over the years, all modified.
When I came back to bikes, again,Z1s to expensive, considered zephyr, ended up with 2005 xjr1300 on carbs.
It’s basically got all the stuff we put on Z1s!
Three spoke alloys check
Box section swing arm, Check
Wider wheels, check
Better brakes check
Big bore, check
Better forks, check
Etc etc, I do love it, and it’s now got progressive front springs, braided lines and a fare bit of polishing has gone on!
BUT, I now also have a GSX1400!
It’s not as pretty to my eyes as the XJR, but it’s better to ride in every way! The torque is phenomenal! Check out the you tube video of an old nail of an 1400 taking on a modern R1!
I will keep both, but if I could only keep 1 it would be the GSX.
Stevemr said:
Ha!
I was the same, owner a fair few Z1s, over the years, all modified.
When I came back to bikes, again,Z1s to expensive, considered zephyr, ended up with 2005 xjr1300 on carbs.
It’s basically got all the stuff we put on Z1s!
Three spoke alloys check
Box section swing arm, Check
Wider wheels, check
Better brakes check
Big bore, check
Better forks, check
Etc etc, I do love it, and it’s now got progressive front springs, braided lines and a fare bit of polishing has gone on!
BUT, I now also have a GSX1400!
It’s not as pretty to my eyes as the XJR, but it’s better to ride in every way! The torque is phenomenal! Check out the you tube video of an old nail of an 1400 taking on a modern R1!
I will keep both, but if I could only keep 1 it would be the GSX.
Ha... You've pretty much summed it up there. Yes, I agree the GSX14 is probably better all round, but I'm working to a fairly low budget as this is in addition to my other bikes. But all your comments re: Z1 upgrades - spot on. Glad you like yours, I'm hoping it'll scratch the old uprated, muscle bike itch without costing a fortune.I was the same, owner a fair few Z1s, over the years, all modified.
When I came back to bikes, again,Z1s to expensive, considered zephyr, ended up with 2005 xjr1300 on carbs.
It’s basically got all the stuff we put on Z1s!
Three spoke alloys check
Box section swing arm, Check
Wider wheels, check
Better brakes check
Big bore, check
Better forks, check
Etc etc, I do love it, and it’s now got progressive front springs, braided lines and a fare bit of polishing has gone on!
BUT, I now also have a GSX1400!
It’s not as pretty to my eyes as the XJR, but it’s better to ride in every way! The torque is phenomenal! Check out the you tube video of an old nail of an 1400 taking on a modern R1!
I will keep both, but if I could only keep 1 it would be the GSX.
Stevemr said:
Ha!
I was the same, owner a fair few Z1s, over the years, all modified.
When I came back to bikes, again,Z1s to expensive, considered zephyr, ended up with 2005 xjr1300 on carbs.
It’s basically got all the stuff we put on Z1s!
Three spoke alloys check
Box section swing arm, Check
Wider wheels, check
Better brakes check
Big bore, check
Better forks, check
Etc etc, I do love it, and it’s now got progressive front springs, braided lines and a fare bit of polishing has gone on!
BUT, I now also have a GSX1400!
It’s not as pretty to my eyes as the XJR, but it’s better to ride in every way! The torque is phenomenal! Check out the you tube video of an old nail of an 1400 taking on a modern R1!
I will keep both, but if I could only keep 1 it would be the GSX.
Post the video.I was the same, owner a fair few Z1s, over the years, all modified.
When I came back to bikes, again,Z1s to expensive, considered zephyr, ended up with 2005 xjr1300 on carbs.
It’s basically got all the stuff we put on Z1s!
Three spoke alloys check
Box section swing arm, Check
Wider wheels, check
Better brakes check
Big bore, check
Better forks, check
Etc etc, I do love it, and it’s now got progressive front springs, braided lines and a fare bit of polishing has gone on!
BUT, I now also have a GSX1400!
It’s not as pretty to my eyes as the XJR, but it’s better to ride in every way! The torque is phenomenal! Check out the you tube video of an old nail of an 1400 taking on a modern R1!
I will keep both, but if I could only keep 1 it would be the GSX.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VjYLTS2xOM
Gsx1400 nail v modern R1
Gsx1400 nail v modern R1
Edited by Stevemr on Wednesday 10th August 23:07
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