Where's your key?

I bet the key to your motorcycle is probably residing on a key chain. And if you're smart it's not a very big one. Experienced riders know the more keys the better the chance your bike gets accidentally turned off going over a bump. Not common, but it happens. And not terribly safe either!

But let's suppose you need to carry your motorcycle key along with a few others. Let's suppose you really want to carry them together- not separately. Maybe even with a flashlight? Or include a bottle opener? Even maybe a USB jump drive? Sounds like you'd end up with a pretty ungainly key chain. Or...

the folks at Keyport have a better idea. 

Their product is called the Slide and it can store up to six keys in a spiffy little stainless steel case. To use a key you just slide it, as the name implies. In addition to keys you can add accessories like the flashlight (below). You have six slots to play with- though some keys will require an RFID chip which burns a slot.

As you might imagine, ordering keys over the Internet is a little weird. To make it easy Keyport provides a template for you to spread out all your keys you want in your Slide. Jot down what they fit, then snap a picture. Finally you upload the photos to their website so they can get you the correct blanks- or "blades" as they call them.

Your new Slide arrives in a handsome metal tin with instructions, your blank blades and any additional inserts you requested or require. If your car or bike has a fancy high security key system you may need a "chip" blade. Some chips can be programmed using a series of mystic turning-on-and-off rituals. Unfortunately neither my BMW motorcycle or Infiniti are compatible with this programmable chip technology. But my wife's Ford Focus does possess this capability.

So after about 31 attempts of switching around the original keys I finally programmed the chip. There's nothing complicated about it, but be prepared for repeating the process several times.

The end result is a compact, techie little package. On a motorcycle there's no longer any danger of your key chain flopping around, plus when you get home you don't have to dig around for the "other" key chain to unlock the door. And maybe best of all- it's made in the USA!

Learn more or order your own at mykeyport.com.

Post date: 
12/20/2012

 

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