Modern Vespa

Hi, I've been using my dads vespa 2009 GTS250ie and misplaced the key. Turns out the key he gave me, the only key he has, is the brown key. I didn't understand the significance of the brown key when it was loaned to me. Fortunately it's most likely covered by insurance if we need to have the ECU swapped or removed and sent to a motorcycle technician in the US or UK for a new master to be cut (I'm in NZ).

Last ditch thought before I start this huge process. How can I pop the seat to check I didn't somehow leave it in there? It's on its stand in a locked position (handlebars left), so I can even move the bike about. Tips? If concerned about security pls just DM me.

See this thread:

seat lock jammed? GTS 250

In particular:

https://modernvespa.com/forum/post2612291#2612291

Okay, thanks. I'll buy the tool and give it a go. I can see why the lever is needed. I don't see any clear way under that seat!

It's fiddly to get it in just the right place, but persevere!

The seat opening button works unless you locked the steering. If you locked the steering the key can't be under the seat because it would have been in your hand when you locked the steering

I don't know about early GTS, but the seat opening button should only work when ignition is on.

The key can, if the steering wheel lock nevertheless lie in the helmet compartment: open Sitzbak, steering wheel lock purely, things from the helmet compartment take or helmet lock -> key remains inside...

There is an emergency release in the glove compartment, you can get to it (dismantle the cascade, loosen all visible screws of the glove compartment, carefully push it a little to the side and operate the glove compartment release hook from the front with a long screwdriver).

Not so. It can be used any time the bike is unlocked. If yours is different, you have the wrong ignition switch fitted. This is good if you can get to the glovebox release - I find that trickier than using the pick as referenced above. It's certainly worth trying if the pick trick fails. The 250 glovebox release is more accessible than later models.

I don't think the key is in there and will be surprised if you find it there when you get in.
Maybe because I'm tall I never lock the steering sitting on the bike. It's harder to climb out. I stop, turn off the key, get off, put on center stand, pop the seat, get whatever out of there, close the seat, lock the handle bars with the key that has remained in the ignition the whole time. Just seems inconceivable that a person would open the seat, reach back up to lock the steering, take the key out and close it under the seat.

Easily done on my GTS - I adjust the seat latch on all my bikes so that the seat only locks when pressure is applied at the back. Just sitting on it and riding doesn't lock it. This is very convenient if you're continually accessing the seat. So I could get off, lock the bike, put the key into my jacket pocket, and then decide to take my jacket off and stuff it under the seat, pushing down on the seat to lock it - OOPS! I've only ever done it the once, and had to phone a family member to go to my house and pick up the master key and bring it to me.

Well wouldn't that be the perfect storm lol!

I still will be surprised. Not so convinced many others have mods such as yours. Sounds pretty cool though. No accidental locks, even after bumpy roads??

Not with bumpy roads, but any weight on the passenger portion, such as using a cargo net to hold a case of beer in place, will do it every time.

It's locked and on the stand.

If it was up on the stand in the locked position (handlebars locked left), I was rummaging for something or other under the seat (bag of chips possibly), somehow dropped the key in and then closed the seat. That's possible, right? Stupid and unlikely, but possible.

I just hope you find it. That key is a Big Deal.

I'm guilty of being a little cavalier with my keys and it gets worse the longer I own them. I want to say all my master keys are in my gun safe but…

Said a prayer to St Christopher for you, it's the Catholic in me!

Thanks rob g

So the method works, thanks fam. But the key ain't there. One more hunt around the garage before we got the hard route and either swap out the ECU or pull it out and send it off to get a new master key cut.

What a pain in the ass.

Thanks again.

If you can't, or don't want to take the glove compartment off, you can roll up a towel, like you are making a neck roll, lift one side of the seat, stick the towel in to hold the side of the seat up and away from the body of the bike, and then fish around with your hand for the keys. It helps if you have skinny arms and an extra elbow or two.
Is there a locking trunk or top box? It's a lot easier to lock a key in there than under the seat.

Just to be clear, I was able to open the seat with this method. The first photo you can just see the seat is lifted. Might try the glove compartment too. But looks hard to get into.

Time for an extreme comprehensive search. Like CSI thorough. The key has to be somewhere because you had it when you got back from wherever you went on the bike.

If you have a wife and kids offer a reward.

Retrace every step. Check the top of the fridge. Look anywhere you could have set it down or dropped it as you were going into the house.

Delay buying the parts to replace it as long as you can because you will find that key the day after all the unreturnable parts arrive!!

Just for the record, I have two GTS300s.
With the 2015 model the seat and glovebox can be opened any time as long as the steering isn't locked.
With the 2018 model the ignition switch has three positions - locked, unlock seat and glovebox, and ignition on. It is a nuisance having to use the key whenever I want to get at or put something under the seat.
Don't know when the change came. 2017?

Aren't those two the same? I'm not sure I understand the difference you're trying to point out.

Sorry, Jim, I thought I had explained it. With the earlier 2015 scooter I can open the glovebox or saddle without the ignition key, as long as the steering isn't locked. With the second 2018 scooter the key must be in and turned to the first click before anything can be opened.

So the key is not in the under seat storage, then it must be somewhere else.

Starting point: when did you have the key in hand for the last time you can remember?

From that point on, you can start tracking everything you've done since then.

It is a method, but not infallible. What we think we remember is not always what actually happened.

My daughter is a notorious loser, like her phone, ipod, wallet, and so on.

I remember one day she lost her phone, it's a simple Nokia thing. So I asked when she last had it for sure. She was convinced it was home that morning.
The phone turned out to be in her grandparents' house where she had been the day before.

So you can only take the key out if the bike is locked? I apologise if I'm being dense, but I can't quite get my head around this.
Aha, I've just looked at the supertech manual, and the key has *four* positions.

If and when I get a new GTS I'll be doing a wiring mod - I find it very strange they made this change, I bet it causes much frustration, much like having to use the ignition key on an LX to open the seat, which *really* gets my goat.

It is kinda annoying was considering doing the Robot mod but got use to the inconvenience, I usually leave my seat "popped" while parked in the garage

Thanks for that link. I will be doing that mod to my 2018 GTS in the next few days.

My 2020 has the key fob to unlock the seat. Others have said they never use it but I find that I do rather than fiddle with the key on occasion. IF the key is in the ignition, as in the garage, then it is simple to leave it in the #2 position or the seat unlocked (more often.) And if it is unlocked, when I sit on it, it usually locks.

It's really a bad tragedy. I am so glad that I never face this kind of solution.