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[prstaples1911]

I realized half way to work that I left the house without the key fob.  No big deal I thought.  I will just park the bike and enter the code at the end of the day.  Well I park in the crowded garage and put the bike on its sidestand and then the alarm goes off.  I try to enter the code, but half way though two times the bike sort of resets (console goes dead) but the alarm keep going off.  Then it would start up again.  I think it is supposed to stop after 30 seconds.  The bike eventually allowed me to enter the code and I had to drive all the way home for the fob.

I do not know if it is isolated to Softail Convertibles, but it is as if the bike did not maintain power during this mess.  The clock also reset, which is common to Softails.  What good is the code feature if the bike wont let me enter it?  I suspect the frequent clock reset and the bikes failure to maintain constant power are all caused by the same issue, possibly a bad ground or power supply issue to the brain or console.

I guess I will never forget my fob again and have the dealer check out the power interruption issue.  The symptoms are pretty obvious, but the cause in these electronics may be harder to find.

[GregKhougaz]

This might help.  There is an app for your Android phone called "V Twin Reference."  Don't know if it's offered for I Phones.  Among other things, the app has a Security PIN menu which contains instructions for PIN Override, Reset and Transport.  This would have allowed you to put the bike in transport mode so the alarm would not have continued to go off in the public garage.  Not sure if this is your solution but you might want to take a look. 

GK

[prstaples1911]

Thanks, I will look into that.

[9 1/2 Beers]

 I have to admit, I have started the bike and rode away without my key more then once . You would think one time would be enough , Thank you Greg for your info, I will look into this 

 Marty

[SBB]

A couple of my friends have had the same happen to them.
My rule so it doesn't happen to me is to ALWAYS LOCK the bike no matter where I leave it.
Then to use the bike I have to get the key.

SBB

[michaelbmenaker]

I pin my spare fob inside my saddle bag liner. With the battery upside down (otherwise you couldn't lock the bike). I rarely lock my saddlebags, so I always have access to a spare key with a fresh battery.

[Panhead_Jimmy]

I have to admit, I have started the bike and rode away without my key more then once . You would think one time would be enough , Thank you Greg for your info, I will look into this 

 Marty

If you do this 'fix', won't Paula miss your 3:00 am phone calls from the Chevron station? 

[9 1/2 Beers]

I can always count on you Jimmy

 

 Ah yeah, well , yes she will 

[Trapperdog]

If you do this 'fix', won't Paula miss your 3:00 am phone calls from the Chevron station? 

Sounds like there is a story there..

[grc]

Every time I read one of these threads it reminds me why I prefer the manual button fobs to the current fully automatic versions.

How far away can you have the fob at home and still be able to start the bike?  Unless you leave the fob hanging on the wall in the garage, I wouldn't think it should be that easy to ride off without the fob.  What am I missing here, did they upgrade the range of the system?

BTW, the Chipster has the answer.  Lock the bike even in the garage, and you won't be able to ride away without the key and fob.  I don't know that I would recommend some of the other ideas, like leaving the fob in a saddlebag or under a side cover.  Even if you install the battery upside down to disable it, I've read that same tip so many times here and elsewhere I'm pretty sure there are plenty of potential thieves who are aware of this little trick.


Jerry

[bikerboy53]

This might help.  There is an app for your Android phone called "V Twin Reference."  ...

Thanks for the tip about the app GK. I can never remember how to use the PIN when I need it. Hopefully I can remember the PIN number too!  

Even if you have your fob with a fresh battery in it, there's no guarantee that you won't need your PIN and the instructions for how to use it. My BSR and I were refueling at a Shell station near the Harley dealer in Reno one year and our alarm kept going off when I tried to restart the bike. We both had fobs with good batteries in our pockets too. There was some kind of radio frequency interference in the station that blocked our fobs. I ended up pushing the bike about 30 or 40 feet to get it out of the interference, and then it was happy again.

[Master Guns]

Even if you have your fob with a fresh battery in it, there's no guarantee that you won't need your PIN and the instructions for how to use it. My BSR and I were refueling at a Shell station near the Harley dealer in Reno one year and our alarm kept going off when I tried to restart the bike. We both had fobs with good batteries in our pockets too. There was some kind of radio frequency interference in the station that blocked our fobs. I ended up pushing the bike about 30 or 40 feet to get it out of the interference, and then it was happy again.

Last summer while in Canada, my wife on her Limited, my son on his Nighster, and I on my bike made a stop in a small town.  When getting ready to leave, all three bikes had the alarms go off.  Took us about half an hour of moving bikes around to get the alarms to shut off so we could start them.  What a PITA that was.

[prstaples1911]

My key hangs on the wall about five feet from the bike, which is enough to allow ignition.  I may move it based on this episode.  If it's in another room, then I am forced to put the thing in my pocket.  I am seriously looking at disconnecting the siren.  I know it's a step back in terms of security, but with the sensitivity of the system and my experience thus far in not being able to disable it quickly, I think it will be more of a problem than its worth.

I do not like the passive nature.  There are times when I want to turn the system completely off, such as when the bike is locked up in my garage or if I am parking it where I know the probability of theft is nill.

[GregKhougaz]

Nil?     If you protect yourself, they can't hurt you. 

[muddypaws]

I had my key on the work bench and drove off on the bike. Went great until I tried to start her. Good thig my wife likes me and did not have to bring my key to a strip joint.....