Do you want to know how? I dont wanna just post this, as some people might think I'm helping thieves steal their bike, so I wanna hear some opinions on the subject before I do it. I come by this info because someone screw drivered my wifes ignition and we were stranded in Canada. With the help of the manual and a local bike shop, we got the bike hot wired and we rode in USA and kept going for a week before we finally got it fixed. This could help if thieves have tried(hamfisted) and failed to steal your bike and now you stuck.

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I for one would like to know, in general terms, of how you succeeded in this. I have a good idea of how it is done but would love to see how you did yours especially since you used it for the balance of your trip.

Do you think you can give us an overview of what you did without providing information to the rotten low down motorcycle theives

The old saying "inquiring minds want to know"

DP

Thanks Derek.

Good idea about carrying a small cheap switch as an emergency back up to the stock switches on the bike. That way you can install it to replace the any of the switches, in this case an ignition switch, and still keep on your trip.

Thanks for posting the information

Kevan

Bare in mind that a lot of "newer" bikes have a chip in the key and an aerial around the ignition barrel if the aerial gets broken the ECU can't see the chip and the bike won;t run!

R1200 and F800 spring to mind on this one as there was a spate of aerial failures stranding the riders

No offence!

But I really do feel that his thread should be deleted asap.

There are enougth scrotums out there with out aiding and abetting.

Sure there are lots of arguments that could counter my request here, but really does it need much thought?

I have had two xt's stolen by this method. Sure the very young ar84h231s
knew how to do this already but come on, should I advertise where I keep my keys, or even your keys?

If a known Hubber requires help in this way, I feel sure we could PM them to help them out of a predicament.

Socks

I've deleted the info. Didnt mean to offend.

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I am sorry banditderek felt he had to delete this important information. When he first posted it we, internally here at HU, had quite a discussion regarding the merits and morals of the post. In the in we decided to allow the post to continue and provide the basic information to HUBB users. This was based on quite a few factors such as:

• Someone with a defective ignition may not be a position to get internet access to query how to do this so therefore a PM to another member would not have been useful.
• People with basic mechanical skills may have never come across how to do this and by seeing how someone had overcome this situation they would have an idea of how it is done to attempt themselves should it ever happen out in the field.
• Thieves already know how to do this and are unlikely to be trolling HUBB looking for how to tips. But they are unlikely to hot wire a bike to steel it. They will generally by pass the ignition key using applied force – think screwdriver and adjustable wrench – or most likely they will simply pick the bike up and physically lift it into the back of a truck or van.
• HUBB is a global environment with people from, and going to, some very interesting places in the world both rural and urban. Both environments provide for different risks of mechanical failure and availability of trained personnel to assist you in repairs to get you back on your adventures. The idea of this forum is to pass along those little “tips of the trade” and “this happened to me this is how I fixed it using these simple tools” to help others overcome situation using innovations and minimal items available on hand to get them out of those situations.

BTW: to hot wire a bike is simple depending on the model of the bike. The idea is that you connect the two (usually) wires that run the ignition switch. Then you can control engine operations via the kill switch or starter switch or kick starter. The main power of the bike can be controlled by using a simple switch installed somewhere indiscrete with which you can control the main power controlling such things as lights and turn signals. An option to this is to simple disconnect your main fuse each time you park up the bike and then reinstall it when you want go somewhere. It would be a little obvious but it would work.

Think dirt bike. No ignition switch at all. Just hop on and kick to go and kill switch to stop it. This is basic hot wiring. The other electrics on the bike –headlight, tail light, whatever it is –with simply installing the fuses in for them. We used this method on our Baja 1000 race bike because it is simple and reliable.

Although I can understand and empathise with Sock’s position on the matter I do believe it provides valuable information.

Other readers thoughts ??

First off, I would like to thank Banditderek for his prompt considerations and response.
I would also like to thank Dirtpig as a moderator, for responding. However, I think that in turn, I am obliged to reply, if only to promote further discussion.

Although I can understand and empathise with Sock’s position on the matter I do believe it provides valuable information.
My bikes, (one burnt out after the persons had finished joy riding, and indeed using one of Dirtpigs methods) I mention this to provide some level of understanding for the reader of this posting, in aid to understanding and what disregard some people have of others property) I had spent several years saving to restore that bike. The other, stolen overnight from a garage, never to be seen by me again.
Indeed this can be "valuable information". But. Having highlighted the potential here on the Hubb, would not any owner of a bike now take this into consideration, (as would, I hope, the possibility any other malfunction on a bike) and take action in preparation. That is, get to know ones bike.

Other readers thoughts?
I would also like to read the views of fellow Hubbers on this subject, as I feel that any such information as the above, provided on the www internet should not be readily available.

Dirtpig goes on to provide incite as to various ways one might start a bike without a key. Is this right?
As an example, my friend who owns a top of the range Mercedes, managed to shut car keys into the boot, whilst child remained inside car, now locked. Other than smashing a window, access to the child was going to prove difficult. No information on the www net. Fortunately roadside assistance, realising the urgency of the predicament sent a “select” member of the team out, who had been trained by Mercedes (as this appears to happen with some frequency) He would not allow any one to witness the procedure of gaining access, but did so without damaging person or property. This I felt to be a correct policy, and even if I had managed to witness this procedure, there would be no way I would impart this information, unless of course a similar situation should arise. And this would have to follow the same etiquette as that of the roadside assistance chap.

· Someone with a defective ignition may not be a position to get internet access to query how to do this so therefore a PM to another member would not have been useful.
People with basic mechanical skills may have never come across how to do this and by seeing how someone had overcome this situation they would have an idea of how it is done to attempt themselves should it ever happen out in the field.
A bit of a contradiction here (above) me thinks. As I have mentioned, now that people are aware that it can be done then they can either study how to do it, or if the time comes, then the simple knowledge that it can be done, along with perseverance should help them overcome the problem. Indeed, as could any thief, but lets not give over the information and therefore the ability to do so, an act of unintentional assistance for the potential thief.

Thieves already know how to do this and are unlikely to be trolling HUBB looking for how to tips.
“Unlikely” yet currently possible. Just google the title of this thread.

I’m sure there is a lot more to be said on this subject and I encourage you to enter, but please do not share information as to how one can steal.

To finish might I recommend that each and all of you, go and seek professional advice on how to secure your bike. Not just chain and such like, but, additional security perhaps within the wiring loom. There are many ways this can be done, and I would advise more than one or two methods. Then keep this information under your hat.

My thanks once again, to Banditderek, and Dirtpig for allowing me to voice my opinion.

Regards

Socks

Late joiner - sorry. My thoughts are somewhere in the middle (as usual). I agree that to hot wire a bike may be necessary but also agree that it should not be openly encouraged by bike forums. So a rider might want to compromise by (as the previous poster states) getting to know the bike well enough to be able to do this then actually making a mini hot-wiring loom for the ignition switch that can be pocketed for emergency use. In other words pre-hot wire your bike on a small loop of wire where you can disconnect at the nearest block connector or cut through at a convenient place for easy repair later. Does this make sense?

Late to the party, as usual. Recently my ignition switch packed up and it would be a week or so before I could source and fit a new one. I made a small harness which included a fuse carrier, and I fitted it and used a 20A fuse as my ignition key. It worked well, and I will keep the harness with me on longer trips as fitting it is a 5 minute operation. That said, I don't think anyone should go into detail of how it's done on a forum like this. A study of the wiring diagram, or a bit of investigation with a multimeter, will tell you what you need to know (and it ain't hard) but why make things easier for the criminal?

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2006 XT660R daily ride, 1994 XT600E about to be reborn, Blog: http://goingfastgettingnowhere.blogspot.com/

Thanks for all your comments, I have already removed the info and will not be replacing it. I do not want to make it easier for criminals to steal bikes, and as I still ride this type of bike, I wouldnt want to help anyone steal my bike.

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Personally, I think that's the right thing to do. It's a tricky one, though.

A. This forum exists to share information, and something like this could get someone out of a tricky spot and perhaps save their entire trip. And, as I said above, the information is not exactly Top Secret in the first place. If I can do it with a circuit tester and a wiring diagram, anyone can. Hotwiring a bike is probably before lunch on day 1 of the Bike Thievery course.

B. That said, making thing kind of info freely available makes it more likely that the wrong people will use it. Someone who might not be a 'proper' bike thief but just a scallywag might be tempted to give it a try when they have the methods and materials laid out for them. And no-one wants their own, or anyone else's, bike stolen, ever.

I think the compromise of a PM is the answer. If anyone asks for information like this on the forum, then as long as they are known to the group and have a decent post count, someone could PM the information. It takes a little longer for the person requesting, but it's a lot more secure.

That keeps your bike, and mine, just a little safer. Derek, I think you posted it with good intentions, and you have done the right thing by removing it.

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2006 XT660R daily ride, 1994 XT600E about to be reborn, Blog: http://goingfastgettingnowhere.blogspot.com/