Honda HISS Warning

[Jonmac]

I recently lost the only key to my 2002 Hornet 900 - I produced my key number/proof of ownership to my dealer who informed me I had to pay him nearly as much as my bikes worth to get it back on the road.
I always thought the HISS on my bike was no real deterent to thieves - after all they just chuck bikes into a van then strip them down in a lockup don't they. My view about it was supported by (a) my insurers didn't offer any discount because of it and (b) its not Thatchem approved.
I didn't know it was permanently on whether you want it or not and the Manual is not clear - also it doesn't give any proper warning about the massive charge Honda/its dealers levy if you loose your keys.
Honda "Customer Care" just say tough pay up or scrap your bike!

[Damon]

cant you just buy a new ignition barrel?

[Jonmac]

Wish I could - even with the actual key number Honda have got you over a barrel!
Unlike other systems the owner has no control over its operation and it was designed in such a way that if you loose your only key you have to go back to Honda with a barrow load of money.
I'm going to do a Jeremy Clarkson style protest by taking my bike to Honda's HQ and smash it up with a sledge hammer to show what I think of them - if MCN are interested in watching it will help others.

[Finglonga]

Same with the new car keys, you just have to be careful where you leave your keys or fork out a fortune for a new one.

*edit*
Thinking about it I think they re code the thing so that if someone finds your old key it will be useless.
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Andy Sez....
F.Y.Y.F.F.

[Kickstart]

Hi

If you have a working key you can probably get it cloned by any half decent locksmith.

Failing that check this old thread:-

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=34110

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Sparks!]

The chip in the key reads to the ECU. If you lose a key sometimes you might find an ecu + key on ebay for less than the key cost.. (altho unlikely) but worth a look just in case someones selling it cheap without realising how much it's worth.

The HISS system is rather effective, you CANNOT start a hiss bike without the key, unless you swap the ECU for a race one which costs around £300 or of course you put in a new ecu and key.... it won't stop the steal-to-order thieves but at least it prevents opportunists and joy riders, as they won't get it started....
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[Jonmac]

New expensive cars are one thing whereas 6 year old motorbikes we cherish and lock away for 6 months each winter to protect are different. The car manufacturers like VW and BMW may charge £3/400 to get your £20,000 car going should you loose the keys but to have to write off a £2000 bike is just not on.
Also the HISS system is the only one where the owner is denied the option of switching off.
I know loosing my key was dumb but I thought the HISS was off and I've been building my house/living in a caravan during winter, thats how it got misplaced.

[Kickstart]

[Jonmac]

What you say is interesting - are you sure Ducati would charge over £1500 if you loose the keys?
Do you know if the Ducati manual states clearly the system can't be switched off by the owner or if it spells out the costs involved if the keys are lost? Thats one of my issues with Honda.

[Rockhopper]

I thought this was fairly common knowledge to be honest! Loose the HISS key and you are looking at £1k plus to get it running again. You bike should have had two keys anyhow.

I've not yet owned a car that can have the imobiliser turned off so if the key to my Alfa goes missing then i'm in the same boat.

Can you claim on your insurance?

[Finglonga]

Can't see the point of having an immobiliser you can permanently disarm IMO, bit pointless to turn off when its operated by the key. Surely if the key is out of the ignition you would want the immobiliser on.
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Andy Sez....
F.Y.Y.F.F.

[Kickstart]

[chris-red]

Personally, If I can't find my keys (even for a day) I get a spare cut. I make sure I always know where 2 are at anyone time.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[Cigaro]

Immobilisers are not foolproof and can be bypassed.

Case in point - a friend just had her new Mitsubishi Animal hotwired and stolen.

Ask a good auto electrician, or alternatively an ex-thief, and I bet they'll get it going for you.

Or could you perhaps remove the ECU and run a megasquirt/megaspark system instead? I bet it'll work out cheaper than £500, and it'll give you the capability to tune your bike from a laptop.

[Sparks!]

[Villers]

[Sparks!]

[Villers]

It is V expensive for a dealer to get off their fat arse and do anything more or less these days.

One thing I didnt mention was that I had to tell THEM how to do it!!! I read up on how the whole programming of the keys process goes and fathomed my own way of doing it on the cheap. If I remember right the new ECU needs to be fitted and a link made somewhere, then the key has to be presented to the transmitter for the ECU to log the code and away it goes. Because I had naievely had a key cut to the original (didnt know about the whole hiss thing at that point) I didnt need a new barrel or anything, so I emailed them telling them what i wanted done and it worked fine. For any of you cumbrian Honda owners would just like to re-iterate that CARLISLE honda wanted to sell me new locks, new ecu, new sender and new keys and wouldnt listen to any ideas I had. That probably would have come to 600 quid just in parts, arseholes.
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[Skudd]

My problem is that I know where all my keys are, but I have a Hinda alarm system too, I know where both fobs are but only one works as I havent swich them around enough so one had dropped out of the system. I'm not sure how to reprogramme the spare fob to the alarm system and shudder to think of the cost.
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[iooi]

Ok so i got really bored today.
THis any use re the HISS system
https://www.deauvilleuk.org/doc/sep03.htm

Usefull post about how to reprogram new keys yourself a way down.

So if you have a HISS on your bike might be worthwhile gettting a spare or 2 made up just incase.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[veeeffarr]

[Jonmac]

Of course I'm not blaming Honda for not getting a second key cut at all.

I'm complaining about (a) the manual failing to make clear the implications of loosing your keys - to say simply "you need a new pgm" is meaningless to me and every other non Honda trained mechanic and (b) the system is not the wonderful deterrent Honda make it out to be otherwise (1) it would appear on all their machines - its not on US models for example (2) insurance companies would offer discounts because of its presence (3) thatchem would have approved it and (4) due to Honda parts being so costly thieves pick up your bike, chuck it into a van then strip it down in a lockup just like they do with any other bikes - very few kids try to hotwire/joyride the bikes we are talking about.

immobilsers such as HISS on cars are worthwhile they are a deterrent - also its not too hard to recall where you put the keys last night but it very different matter trying to remember 5/6 months back when you put a bike away for the bad weather and have moved house etc. since doing so.

[chris-red]

Could you just get a new lock set and ecu off a bike being broken? Hornets or common as muck someone is bound to have a Fubar one in the garage they are looking to flog bits off, this shouldn't really cost you more than £100
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[Jonmac]

I have put out some feelers already but no joy yet. I did find chip set keys etc. for a CBR600 and the owner wanted nearly £600 as he was aware of the Honda price.

The problem with broken bike bits is its a bit of a lottery - having paid for the bits of a scrapper, then paid for someone to take off the original bits and fit the replacements there is no guarantee the bike will actually start!

At present I'm going to sue Honda UK for breach of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended) - as the Manual is part of the "Product" and is not "Fit for Purpose" i.e. doesn't explain adequetely the consequences of loosing keys. A new Hornet 900 is £4999 and to be told to pay up almost 2 grand because you lose the keys is just not on and must breach the Act.

[veeeffarr]