Austin rider may have the magic key

[bongoman]

It would be magic to me, and almost a miracle if this works. The key is the flat key with a black side and a shiny metal side, it's magnetized, and slides into the slot on the side of the ignition switch. There are two and only two versions of this key made by Kymco.

The tricky part is that both will lock, or close any shutter over the ignition switch. But only the model specific one will unlock, or open, the shutter. I found this out because I closed the shutter on my '09 using my '07 key. I don't have an '09 key. The way to fix it is either find someone with the other version of the key, or purchase the outer ring of the ignition switch from Kymco, and then have dealer install it because it requires special tools.

Anyone  in Austin willing to meet up and experiment with the thin flat key with the metal strip, give me a shout, please.

[JustWantToRide]

Hopefully you've got it now - but Tommy at TJ's Cycles has a couple of 09's and should be able to try a key.  I'm buying one of his right now - but I'm in limbo waiting for the title to get fixed on my trade in.   

[bongoman]

Me and the techies at TJs learned a lot about the sliding shutter ignition lock and how it operates. They had a similar situation develop and did the same fix; drilled out the shutter so it no longer works.

I gotta say, it was weird locking myself out of my own scooter so thoroughly. And comic in a darkly ironic manner.

[Dr. Scooter]

Sweet another ATX rider so glad that if I ever bring my bike home I have guys to ride with

[JustWantToRide]

It's cool that you guys both have the 500's.  Have either of you added passenger backrests or additional lights?  Would you be interested in swapping out your black dash faceplate with a white one from a Ri if they're compatible?  I'm also wanting to mount some MFW Vario pegs so my daughter can reach them.  I owned a Burgman 650 and a 400.  The passenger seat on the 500Ri is not as wide as the Burgman's - but the body is really wide.  I hope it's not too wide to carry her comfortably.  The Vstrom on TJ's floor is my trade in.  It's a great bike - but not too smooth at slow speeds like I carry my daughter at, and I always worried about her hands hitting the hot pipes.  I thought about mounting some saddlebags up high to block her from the pipes - but missed the utility of a big scooter.  I also had a Zuma 125 which my daughter loved riding on - but it was kind of small for anything except carrying her.

Any mods/upgrades y'all recommend for the 500?

[bongoman]

I had a few mods done on my previous '07 XC500; there were some problems that cost $2,000 to correct so I have kept my '09 mostly stock, except for looks and comfort. I had the stock seat remade with this foam material the upholster guy imports from Germany. It's softer, just adding the layer of foam after trimming the stock foam. It was done by Tony @ Car Services Inc in San Antonio, Texas. Pics to come; it looks pretty sweet.

[bongoman]

Oh yeah, I have saddlebags for touring, saddlebags and a Nelson-Rigg tailbag designed for a motorcycle. Modified the straps so they slide under the seat and hold the tailbag on the passenger section. With saddlebags there is barely room for a passenger, however, I almost always ride solo.

The saddlebags are the throw-over kind. I pack the saddlebags and tailbag like a suitcase so I don't need to pack twice; easy to slip on and off and carry inside.