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Keys & Key Ring - Is it bad for the ignition switch?

Mon, 07/21/2008 - 17:57 — WeaponZero

I keep my motorcycle key on a ring with my house keys (2 keys, 1 for top lock and 1 for bottom), the keys to my craftsman rollaway toolbox, and the key to my guitar case. I have spares of all these keys sitting in a drawer at home. I've been hearing a rattling sound coming from the bike when moving at speeds in excess of 30mph and my dad says that it's coming from the keys on my key ring and that I shouldn't keep all those on it. He says that I could damage the ignition switch if I don't have my motorcycle key seperate. Is this true?

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Mon, 07/21/2008 - 18:06 — ShannonG

I kknow that a heavy key ring is bad for a car ignition because it hangs. I don't think you can damage your ignition with that number of keys, but there is the annoyance factor and the paint around my ignition is getting a little scraped up from my house key waving around. Sometimes my house key gets stuck in the gap between the ignition plate and the handlebar mount too.

Tue, 07/22/2008 - 02:29 — Amoryl

you've got to have a pretty huge number of keys on your chain before you start causing damage to the ignition, I believe the Car Talk guys figure near enough to a pound of general weight. that'd be like an entire skyrise maintinence man's keyring. or a league's worth of crap connected to it. not saying SOME people don't have all that...but most people don't

Mon, 07/21/2008 - 20:06 — Budd

I keep my keys on a d-ring. I have each car and my motorcycle seperate. I can, and do, just take my motorcycle key off when I ride. The D-ring is unobtrusive and can clip on to belt loops and such.

"I am the best I am at what I do, and what I do ain't nice."-Wolverine

"I am the best there is at what I do, and what I do ain't nice."-Wolverine

Mon, 07/21/2008 - 20:49 — ShannonG

Or, in my case, slip out of my pocket and into key limbo, where all my keys end up sooner or later.

Tue, 07/22/2008 - 14:24 — AaronMerlot

I keep my bike key on the small end of a detachable ring. That way all that is hanging from my bike is the small leather fob. I am mostly worried about scratches.

Tue, 07/22/2008 - 17:03 — Amoryl

yeah the only harm I can imagine with a normal key ring would be the other keys swinging around and potentially scratching something, weight wise, I don't see it.

Wed, 07/23/2008 - 19:02 — Anonymous

I recently just put my motorcycle key on a detachable key fob, you're not likely to cause any damage to the ignition switch, but i found a large number of keys had three major problems:

1. Scratches around the ignition
2. Excessive noise, as the keys would vibrate against the triple tree and handlebar
3. Weight - I mad a left turn and the weight of all my keys was enough to turn off the ignition.

Dave
GS500E