Modern Vespa

Rode to work with no issue today, but then the temperature dropped and it started lightly snowing.

I just went to leave my job for the 5 mile drive home and I can't turn the key.

It took me a minute to even get the key into the ignition, but even after it was in, the whole mechanism won't turn.

Is this common? and How to fix? Get a can of De-icer?

Or heat the key?
2 or 3 times....
At home I dip key in isopropyl alcohol.
O.S.

I've ridden through more than a dozen winters with snow and freezing temps and never had an issue like you describe. I've had my car freeze up like that due to moisture in things, but never my GTS250. And I would leave it all day outside my office in rain, snow, and freezing temps.

All I can suggest is to warm it up somewhere, and then hope whatever moisture is there evaporates. As far as moisture getting in, I've seen water inside after using a high pressure washer. I don't wash my scooter in the winter for that reason. Or at least if I do only when the temperature is going to be warm for awhile.

Good luck finding an answer.

When we were kids, a cigarette lighter to warm up the key before inserting it was pretty common..

Everybody uses to have black keys.. Then again, there was no plastic or microchip attached to the key either...

This is temporarily resolved. It was definately an icing issue. The key wouldn't go in and then when it did, the whole lock mechanism wouldn't turn. I had the steering column locked.

I got a lock de-icer pen from an auto parts store. It wasnt a large can, but more like the size of a can of mace with a special tip that went into a steering lock. A few squirts of that, some time, and additional attempts later: I was able to unlock the steering column.

I'm not going to lock the steering column up for the rest of the winter though.

Glad you resolved your issue. It's very easy to snap your key in half if you get it in the ignition barrel and then use force to try and turn it.