Hi all just a question.Do you guy's take a spare key with you when touring.If so red or black.?

When on holiday I always have a spare key of both the bike and panniers. I usually exchange spare keys with my girlfriend so she can keep mine safe and I hers.
But I never take the red key. You only need it to register new keys on the bike.

yeah same here...never take the red key!!

I have spare keys for bike, luggage and lock. Another debate of course is where to keep them?!?

Put the red key into an envelope along with the V5 and put it in a drawer. Do not use the red key under any circumstances. Treat it as an ornament because if it breaks or you lose it you'll end up out of pocket.

Thanks for the replays.The red key will be in a safe place.

Agreed...red in cupboard and black as spare....




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As others have said, leave the red key somewhere safe at home...

fwiw. I've found having just one key when traveling helps you focus the mind - you'll always know where it is if you only have the one with you, and it saves time searching various pockets etc. to check you have both!

You could of course keep a 2nd key in your washbag or something as part of your luggage.

Alternatively, it is always possible to zip tie a 2nd key somewhere on the bike - although the danger with that is that if it is stolen, your insurance may not pay out...

A third option is to leave a spare key (and copies of your documents) with someone who could post them out to you, should things ever go sh!ts-up somewhere...

Jx

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Best option IMO.

On the documents front, I usually work on the principle of:

- Originals on my person (rucksack/waistpack/jacket pocket)
- Copy on the bike/in luggage
- Copy at my parents place.

You could do the same with keys, but I never have in the past - obvious security flaw with leaving keys on the bike. My spare key lives at home, but again in dire need my parents could get in to the house and retrieve it - albeit it would be a 200 mile round trip for them.

I have done the 'spare key (and document copies) with your travelling partner' thing before, although I haven't done for many years - not least because we almost sold a bike with the key to one of the other bikes still under the seat

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I spent a lot of money on travel and racing motorcycles - the rest I just squandered.

XT660Z - Commuter, Adventurer...Racer?

www.dashmoto.net

Other bikes >> MT-03 / CG125BR-J / ER-6F
Departed >> ZXR400L3 / EC300 / DR-Z400E / DR800S / GPZ500S / GS400

Scanned copies of documents stored on a smartphone or a USB memory stick is another simple solution.

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I've also seen mention of scanning stuff to PDF then uploading to google docs. Could achieve same effect by emailing to yourself on a webmail account. Can retrieve from any internet cafe.

Can't do that with your keys though

__________________
I spent a lot of money on travel and racing motorcycles - the rest I just squandered.

XT660Z - Commuter, Adventurer...Racer?

www.dashmoto.net

Other bikes >> MT-03 / CG125BR-J / ER-6F
Departed >> ZXR400L3 / EC300 / DR-Z400E / DR800S / GPZ500S / GS400