no red key? how screwed r u without it?

[djomlas]

my buddy just bought a 04 998 matrix edition ducati
guy selling it had only one key...no red key

is he prety much screwed , or are those different than monster and dont really require red key?

any help is appreciated

[Fox]

I bought a bike with only one black key. It's not a big deal. Do a google search typing in something like "Duplicate Ducati Key" and there are places that will cut you a new key. It's really quite easy, the locksmith just needs a device to read the transponder in the black key that he has and they can code another key for you.

[jdubbs32584]

I hope someone else chimes in but I'm pretty sure that if your bike came with a red key, you'll need it if you ever need to cut new keys cause you'll have to program any new key you get. So yeah, it is important. That key matches up to the immobilizer if your bike is equipped with one.

Someone will obviously correct me if I'm wrong.

Also, if you do a search on the forum theres a  couple other threads about red keys.


Here's what I found with a search:

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=17843.0

Howie's post in this thread has good info:

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=17076.0

And this:

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=14364.0

[Fox]

http://www.ducati.ms/forums/showthread.php?t=19941

http://www.ducati.ms/forums/showthread.php?t=21003

http://www.motorcyclekeys.com/ducatichipkey.html

These should help.

[jdubbs32584]

http://www.ducati.ms/forums/showthread.php?t=19941

http://www.ducati.ms/forums/showthread.php?t=21003

http://www.motorcyclekeys.com/ducatichipkey.html

These should help.

well there you go

[DuciD03]

I bought a bike with only one black key. It's not a big deal. Do a google search typing in something like "Duplicate Ducati Key" and there are places that will cut you a new key. It's really quite easy, the locksmith just needs a device to read the transponder in the black key that he has and they can code another key for you.

1+ Just had a duplicate made today without the red key, but had one original black key.  There is too much "HOKUS POCUS" with this red key crap.  Ducati is rumoured to be doing away with the red key from my understanding; it is creating too much bad press for Ducati ownership anyway; its unfortunate; in concept it's a good idea as an antitheft device .... but in practice the red keys always seem to go missing sooner or later ....

[Howie]

There are people who can clone a black key from a black key, but this does not help with the computer/dash marraige problem.

[ducatiz]

...  Ducati is doing away with this from my understanding and too it is creating too much bad press;...

where did you read/hear this?

[zooom]

where did you read/hear this?

it was something they said when they introduced the 1098 and the 696. no more red keys, but they still provide you with a card that has the coding on it for what the dealer would need to program any replacement keys. Also from what I recall, Ducati can now verify by link if that card is lost as they are logging the vin's with key codes like automobile manufacturers have been doing for almost 10 years now. immobilizer systems have prvoen to be a valuable asset and therefore not something they are going to do away with, but they are trying to make the process a bit easier. charging a customer $1600+ dollars for a whole new ecu and all the associated crap for a lost key was going over like a fart in church and giving a sour taste in Ducati owners mouths quickly. someone in their wisdom pointed them in the right direction, probably citing some of what the automotive industry does and we now have a more viable system in place, or so I understand from what I have extrapolated.

[desmopr]

I think I read somewhere here that a member can reflash the ecu to eliminate the immobilizer.  Then red key is worthless...or not??

[Howie]

Monstermash be him.
http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=15504.0

[Popeye the Sailor]

I think the immobilizer is lame.


Say you steal a bike, and realize "hey, I can't start this thing." What's your next move?


Chop it up, sell it for parts.



The immobilizer ensures that if you're bike is stolen, that you're probably never getting it back. Way to be.


Just look at the people on here who have had their bikes stolen-you don't look for your bike on ebay-you end up looking for your distinctive parts. That doesn't do it for me.

[DarkStaR]

I think the immobilizer is lame.


Say you steal a bike, and realize "hey, I can't start this thing." What's your next move?


Chop it up, sell it for parts.



The immobilizer ensures that if you're bike is stolen, that you're probably never getting it back. Way to be.


Just look at the people on here who have had their bikes stolen-you don't look for your bike on ebay-you end up looking for your distinctive parts. That doesn't do it for me.

Is that a bad thing?

If my bike gets stolen, I don't want it back.  I'd rather the ins.co. pay me, and I get a new bike.  But, that's just me.

[Capo]

The fitting of Immobilisers to motor vehicles is driven by the insurance industry. Some companies will not insure a vehicle that is not fitted with one

[the_Journeyman]

Wow...  I guess EVERY vehicle I own is possibly un-insurable by some insurers ~

JM