a BIG THANK YOU to a random biker

[Spiderman]

Someone posted recently about how we don’t seem to have enough feel good threads on here sometimes, so heres a little story that made me glad to be a biker.

Mrs Spidey and I went to the Thames Festival today and I parked up, with much faffing and squeezing, in a bay near the London Eye. About an hour of wandering about later did I realise I didn’t have my key and instantly saw in my minds eye the picture of them in my igniton.

Oh sh*t! :shock:

Big rush back to the bike and they weren’t in the ignition anymore.
Some kind soul had removed them from the ignition and wrapped the lanyard thing theyre on securely round the fork leg and tried as best they could to hide the fact that there was a key there too, from prying eyes.

How relieved was i? Words just cant explain.

So that’s how my faith in humanity was restored a little today and the reason why I wanna say… Mr Random Biker, THANK YOU for doing the right thing and may your karma repay you in similar ways when you need it most :thumbsup:


And it also made me wonder, is there a right thing to do if I came across a bike in this situation ? Is there a bikers code regarding this? Do we, like some car drivers do, hide the key on the rear tyre under the hugger or something and expect the person to look there too? Are we supposed to hand them in to the local cop shop? Anyone have an answer? I'm interested if there is an answer to this that I just don't yet know.

[northwind]

I did that, right back when i got the bike- either left it in the seat lock, or dropped it by the bike. I didn't even realise till days later when I went to pick it up from where we'd parked it (bought the bike before I did my test, and the previous owner had to shift it from her garage to make space for a Monster 800). Someone found the key and stashed it in the bellypan. Course, I never found it- went and got the spare key, went back, and it fell out while I was hopelessly trying to get out of the car park ;)

[falc]

Been close to doing that but so far been alright. Under the front mudguard would be a good place as it is universal to all bikes. (i think)

[Peter Henry]

Nice ending to your story there Spidey. Last year at Jerez a friend of mine left the keys in the ignition of his 749. This was only realised as the only logical conclusion when we returned to the bike park at the end of the day after Len had turned out every pocket on his person amid much panic.

However a fellow 749 rider who had parked a short distance away had seen the keys in the ignition and handed them to one of the bike park security guys. A quick phone call and walk over to the control centre saw the keys returned to their much relieved owner! :wink:

[Kilted Ginger]

I came across Keys left in the ignition of a Fazer in our local shopping centre. I pocketed said keys , locked our back wheels together and left a note on the bike with my mobile number and shop i was going to and when i'd be back.
I got back to the bike and still no sign of the owner, i was in the process of modifying the note to say i'd dropped the keys at the local cop shop (1/2 mile), when a rather anxious and sweaty biker came running across the car park, he was most gratefull.

[Mogs]

I came across Keys left in the ignition of a Fazer in our local shopping centre. I pocketed said keys , locked our back wheels together and left a note on the bike with my mobile number and shop i was going to and when i'd be back.
I got back to the bike and still no sign of the owner, i was in the process of modifying the note to say i'd dropped the keys at the local cop shop (1/2 mile), when a rather anxious and sweaty biker came running across the car park, he was most gratefull.

That's what I would do.

[Stu]

I came across Keys left in the ignition of a Fazer in our local shopping centre. I pocketed said keys , locked our back wheels together and left a note on the bike with my mobile number and shop i was going to and when i'd be back.
I got back to the bike and still no sign of the owner, i was in the process of modifying the note to say i'd dropped the keys at the local cop shop (1/2 mile), when a rather anxious and sweaty biker came running across the car park, he was most gratefull.

I also think this is the best answer if feasible. But I also guess you would need to be careful that not just anyone finds the note and calls you for the keys to steal the bike. Just keeping the note to a simple call me on 07... should do.

[Baph]

I came across Keys left in the ignition of a Fazer in our local shopping centre. I pocketed said keys , locked our back wheels together and left a note on the bike with my mobile number and shop i was going to and when i'd be back.
I got back to the bike and still no sign of the owner, i was in the process of modifying the note to say i'd dropped the keys at the local cop shop (1/2 mile), when a rather anxious and sweaty biker came running across the car park, he was most gratefull.

I also think this is the best answer if feasible. But I also guess you would need to be careful that not just anyone finds the note and calls you for the keys to steal the bike. Just keeping the note to a simple call me on 07... should do.

Solution there would be not to write anything on the note about keys. Just chain the wheels together & write a note with "When you want to move, call...." or similar effect.

Potential thief doesn't know you have the keys, so probably wouldn't be interested. Real owner would call you & ask "I dont suppose you found my keys?". Problem solved.

On a side note: I'm terrible for leaving my keys in the ignition. I've been known before now to panic whilst getting ready for work in the morning thinking "Oh S**t where's my lid & gloves gone?" Only to realise that they're on the tank whilst the bike was parked outside all night, with the keys in the ignition. Easy pickings :oops: I've been very lucky so far!

[jambo]

I've left keys in the ignition a few times. Found a car with keys left in the door a few years back, picked them up and siply left my mobile number on a piece of card tucked into the window. Again, no one but the owner will knwo why it's there, got a flustered call about 40minutes later and popped back over with the keys...

[Fizzy Fish]

wow, lucky escape there :D

i'm always leaving my keys in the bike at work, but thankfully it's a secure car park so it's they're still sat there when i get back. Well that or i get a call from one of the other bikers going 'did you forget something...again?' :lol:

[Stu]

On a side note: I'm terrible for leaving my keys in the ignition. I've been known before now to panic whilst getting ready for work in the morning thinking "Oh S**t where's my lid & gloves gone?" Only to realise that they're on the tank whilst the bike was parked outside all night, with the keys in the ignition. Easy pickings :oops: I've been very lucky so far!

Where do you live again? :lol: :lol:

[wyrdness]

If it was your bike, Spidey, I'd pinch it and put it on ebay! :D

Seriously, I'm not sure what I'd do. The 'right thing' would probably be to take the keys and leave a note with your mobile number. However, in this electronic world, I never carry and pen and paper, so leaving a note would be difficult. Hiding them under the front mudguard isn't such a bad idea, so long as the owner thinks to look there.

[pete m]

Nice on eZig ! :wink:

I once found a brand new Cagiva Raptor 1000 with the key in at Smith Sq, where i used to work...im afraid the only thing that crossed my mind was "wouldnt it be funny to go and get my helmet, get on and ride around for a bit, then park it at another bike bay at t'other side of Sq, and keep my eyes on the guy to see if he finds the bike... :lol: would have neded to hide key cos he may not have been massivley happy had I done it..but i bottled it :lol:

[Ceri JC]

Glad to hear this. Really is nice to know that strangers can often be incredibly decent too and not just your friends and family. :)

[Daimo]

Thats cool.

I think its a biker thing. Whenever i see a biker pulled over on any rides (common coming home from london), i tend to pull over and help them out, even if i just stop to make sure they've got recovery, or a phone, or need a life to a local petrol station.

I've done that many times, and many times i've broken down (old bike) and had people stop and ask if i need help.

Help someone out, what goes around will come around 8)

[DanAbnormal]

It's good to know there are honest types out there. I've been so lucky so far. When I worked in Hounslow I left my keys in the ignition all day and no-one nicked my bike (zx7r). It was in a public car park too. Then a few days back I was shopping in camberley and left he keys in the seat lock! Rushed back and it was still there. Some guy local to me left his keys in his Zafira, so I took them to his house. He snatched them off me, shouted expletives to his wife saying they'd been found and slammed the door in my face! I reckon he was after an insurance payout! Really made me think what was the point on that one but I'd still do the same.

[Ed]

*Smug mode on*

This paragon of virtue has never left keys in ignition 8)

*Smug mode off*

[Sir Trev]

In my student days I parked up on Brighton seafront next to a bike I recognised as a mate's. Keys were in it. Some low life had spotted them too and was reaching for them when I beat him to it. As mobile phones were the size of suitcases in those days I had to wait around for him to come back - he was hours and had never realised. He was a happy bunny though when I told him about the low life and how lucky he was.

[Spiderman]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Seems the general theme here is that there is no right or wrong thing to do...except ride off on someone elses bike and stick it on ebay, eh: :twisted:

If it wasnt Wyrdness and Pete who'd posted those things i'd have been worried but knowing the 2 of you i know its only in jest.

Anyway, always nice to have a nice story out of me isnt it. Makes a chnage from the usual rant about cagers on fones and self destructive wing mirriors on cars that funnily enough belong to the same cagers :lol:

[Peter Henry]

Can you believe this? Here we are discussing such matters and I have just taken the keys out of the seat lock on a brand spanking GSXR600 in black!

I have left a note as I live close to where it is parked and have called the security number which was on a little card inside the key pouch! :wink:

[Filipe M.]

Can you believe this? Here we are discussing such matters and I have just taken the keys out of the seat lock on a brand spanking GSXR600 in black!

I have left a note as I live close to where it is parked and have called the security number which was on a little card inside the key pouch! :wink:

So that's where I left it!!!! Thanks, Peter! Now could I have my keys back, please?! :lol: