Harley locks left, Suzi locks right

[Rob S.]

I've been locking the forks, then locking the front wheel of my Sportster to a steam pipe. When it was finally joined by my 11E in the garage of my apartment building, I figured I'd just lock the bikes to each other, as for the time being I just have the one cable lock.

Being that one of our members bikes was just stolen, I did something I'd rarely ever done: I locked the forks on Suzi. It was only a couple of years ago that I learned the proper way to park a bike on the side stand is with the forks turned all the way left.

I wonder why Suzi locks right. Maybe it's supposed to be on the center stand (which I don't have).

 

[Steve]

Actually, when everything is working properly, a GS will lock in either direction.

.

 

[Rob S.]

Oh! Interesting.

 

[salty_monk]

Yeah either way. I expect your lock or your key is worn. It's not uncommon for people who never use the lock to lock it one day & find the key cannot be removed....

 

[Baatfam]

Yeah either way. I expect your lock or your key is worn. It's not uncommon for people who never use the lock to lock it one day & find the key cannot be removed....

Or in my case....One day I locked the forks, and the lock never unlocked again.
Several hundred miles from home.
That was 4-5 years ago.

After some searching, I found a NOS, original OEM Ignition lock assembly.
It was cheap, and now I never lock the forks. Nope....

(And BTW, I am not the only one who has had this issue)

 

[Rob S.]

I've heard that before, and you guys are scaring the shyte out of me!

I have what I assume is the original key and three years ago it stopped working the...seat. Whew! The tank or ignition would have been a disaster. As it was, good ole handy me couldn't even drill it out. I ended up having to flex the rear of the seat enough to force it open. Then, of course, the lock cylinder was easily removed.

A nice clean hole with rubber grommet remains on the rear shroud, and I have no intention of 'fixing' it. As Cycle World said in 1982 about removing the seat:

"This is sometimes a three-handed operation in which the rear clasp relocks while you wrestle with the side levers. Not too much fun."

 

[Baatfam]

As Cycle World said in 1982 about removing the seat:

"This is sometimes a three-handed operation in which the rear clasp relocks while you wrestle with the side levers. Not too much fun."

LOL...Never had that happen in 14 years of ownership...LOL...