Steering Lock

[Gibson]

Hello all. Is there a trick to using the steering lock on BMW bike? I cannot get the lock to work on either of my bikes.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

In true German fashion there is minimal chamfer on the parts so everything has to be in perfect alignment for the lock to engage, including most of the solar system.  I vaguely remember locking my K100RS once, but that was a long time ago.

[szabgab]

Hello all. Is there a trick to using the steering lock on BMW bike? I cannot get the lock to work on either of my bikes.

Gryphon's right, bloody nuisance, if you ask me. It is the same Neiman lock, Japanese UJM's use, but for some reason it works there, it doesn't here. When I bought my bike, mine did not work, so I soaked it with WD40, that did help a bit, but I ended up playing with the lock on the side of the road for 20 minutes, so I can get home. After this episode I wanted to extract the lock, needless to say, I had to butcher the plastic retainer, as there was no other way to get the pin out. I submerged the lock in light oil for ages, that did remove some crud, but it was not sweet still, so I have taken the lock to pieces and cleaning every little bit, spring, tumblers one by one. Putting it back I have greased the shaft of the lock with spline grease, even though that should not have been needed, now the lock works just so-so.

The operation is a bit reverse to logical, as you turn the key CC and push it in, whilst pushed in you turn the key to it's original position, and that locks the stem. Disengaging is in similar fashion, key turned CC, you let the spring push the lock back into the unlocked position and turn the key...

[Laitch]

Same outcome as Gryph and szabgab, I used the lock regularly over four years when in large cities then it stopped locking so now I just go to the general store locally for snickerdoodles.

[Gibson]

Thanks!! I feel better now that I,m not completely incompetent :dunno My bikes are both 94's, one would think they would have gotten them working by then...

[johnny]

greetings..

gotts to use deoxit on there... and just like your switches... need to manipulate every ride to keep them %100...

j o

[szabgab]

Thanks!! I feel better now that I,m not completely incompetent :dunno My bikes are both 94's, one would think they would have gotten them working by then...

Also a steering lock is probably sufficient enough in rural Germany,  where people are nice to each other,  and you can leave your bicycle unlocked in the same place for three weeks,  but honestly a half hearted push is just about enough to break the brass pin protruding from the lock.   You are better off with a disck lock,  just don't forget to unlock it before take-off :)

[koapono]

agree with johnny: use it or loose it!
once you develop the "touch" it's easy-peazy.
just like those manual cooling fan switches, if you don't use them you'll loose them.
As with all machinery "you rest, you rust", applies to most human movement also!

[subforry]

On my K1100 the steering is not turned that far.  On other bikes I turn the bars almost to the stop.  Not the K1100, it more like 20 degrees off center.

A kryptonite disk lock is a nice item that costs about $40.  I made short para cord loop that ties the disk lock key to a quick clip.  You can get as fancy as you like with the para cord.  The idea is to make a something kind of large and cumbersome.   When I put the lock on I clip the lock key to the bike key.  That way I never forget to remove the disk lock. 

[TX brick]

Hello all. Is there a trick to using the steering lock on BMW bike? I cannot get the lock to work on either of my bikes.

Was the lock working at one time? If not, are you aware that you must push the key inward during the process of locking?

[spencer802]

I just discovered mine yesterday (after riding this 1995 K75 for 4 years) while changing the headlamp bulb.  A shot of WD-40 and some working w/ the key, and it is working fine.  But here's what I don't understand: the lock engages when the wheel is turned to the RIGHT, not the left -- opposite of the 3 Hondas I've owned and every bike I ever borrowed or rented, plus my son's (shudder) Harley. Those bikes have always had the key on the right side and the wheel locks when turned to the left. That always made sense, as it leaned the bike harder onto the kickstand.

Granted, the BMW's kickstand is shorter or at a more shallow angle than other bikes, and it leans enough with the wheel turned to the right. But maybe I've been doing parking wrong all these years.  Or is this another BMW quirk?

[Laitch]

But here's what I don't understand: the lock engages when the wheel is turned to the RIGHT, not the left -- opposite of the 3 Hondas  Or is this another BMW quirk?

Adapt. You and Toto are not in Kumamoto anymore.