Steering lock

[Snodvan]

OK, I'm a duffer approaching 70 (years not mph) albeit one with a reasonable degree of mechanical nouse. I have a low mileage 04 650CS bought a mere 3-4 weeks ago. I am back on a bike after a 40 year gap! Things have changed.

Steering lock - no way can I get it to engage (or the 'parking light' for that matter). All I have is Running or Off. No amount of positioning the steering to the left (or right) or "jiggling" the steering while trying to activate the key will enable the steering lock.

I have read the handbook - does not help.

I do not like lubricating locks and anyway the lock does not feel tight of rough.

Any ideas/ thoughts/ suggestions?

Take it back to the seller (M/C garage) is one obvious step and will be done - but am I just being daft and "missing" something? Could the lock have been damaged by some previous attempted theft? Anything is possible I suppose but the bike does not show any other signs of damage etc

Snod

[Pacman]

I know my F650 locks to the left or to the right but not all the way over I pull it over turn the key gently pull the bars back and it drops in.

Are you pushing down as well?

[Snodvan]

Nope! Was I supposed to push down? It does not say anything like that in the handbook.

Just been to try again - left lock or right and with/ without pushing down on the key

No joy

Snod

[Snodvan]

OK, took the bike to the garage where I bought it - problem solved in 10 secs

DESPITE what it says in the booklet that came with the bike (turn the handlebars to full LEFT etc) the real answer is to turn the handlebars to nearly full RIGHT. Then you can engage the steering lock.

It does "look" odd with the bike parked at the kerbside on the side stand but the steering over to the right.

LOGICAL I suppose if the bike was intended to be used on roads where they drive (and park) on the right. Then to cater for road camber logically the prop stand should be on the right side of the bike and the steering would be on full right lock so the steering lock can be engaged.

Would a Funduro (or whatever) used in a drive-on-the-right country have the side prop stand also on the right rather than the left as we have it here????

Snod

[Ton]

Side stand is on the same side here and handlebars can be on full left lock or full right lock. It works both ways on my Strada anyway. In fact it is the same on most motorbikes.

Ton

[Snodvan]

Neither the dealer or I could get the steering lock to work with the handlebars over to the left - only to the right

Gremlins

Snod

[Ton]

Can your handlebars move freely to both sides because sometimes a screen will stop this. Do they reach full lock as they should do?

Ton

[Snodvan]

Just been to double check - and they do seem to go onto full left lock with no restriction. There was a problem with getting full right lock when I first picked up the bike. That was caused by the set up of the heated grips - such that for the last bit of full right lock the throttle was pushed open making the engine rev. Damned nuisance when doing slow speed turns in a tight space eg in a car park. Again the dealer sorted that one in a couple of minutes.

Snod

[driftershooter]

Doesn't sound right that, try a bit of 3 in 1 oil down the lock and check visually whilst your doing the left lock if its contacting the steering stop. There may be a slight obstruction that you can't feel.

[ribblerouser]

Three in One oil down the ignition barrel? I wouldn't recommend it myself, a dry lube would be better.

Regards