OP
UTC

Enthusiast
Joined: UTC
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Enthusiast
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UTC quote
Greetings from sunny San Diego!

I ride a BV400. It is a great scooter. I have logged more than 11,000 miles (18,000 km) and it has worked flawlessly. It has enough power for some serious touring and highway riding and handles the various east county twisty roads with aplomb.

I participated in this year's Vespa Club of America national event, which ran from June 1-4 in Flagstaff AZ. For those that have never attended I highly recommend adding it to your bucket list. The first day ride I undertook went from Flagstaff to the small town of Jerome, AZ. Upon my return, I pulled into the gas station next to the hotel I was staying at and when I went to press the button to open the hatch to access the gas cap, the hatch did not open. Somewhere between Flagstaff and Jerome I lost my key fob. You see this scooter uses a keyless ignition system. To make a long story short I got the master key FedEx to me, and I was able to get back on the road again.

The problem isn't that I lost the key, since getting a replacement should not have been a big deal, but it is. Here it is three months later, and Piaggio is unable to ship replacement keys. I have written directly to Piaggio in Italy in Italian and phoned Piaggio in New York to complain, and they have been unable to provide an answer as to when one will be delivered. Waiting so long for a new key is inexcusable and is poor customer service to say the least.

So, the purpose of this post is to warn you of this hassle and emphasize to be careful with your one and only keyless key since they are being used on all new Piaggio and Vespas. My wife was good enough to get me some air tags which I have attached one to my one master key. If lose this key, I will not be able to have the new key fob programmed when it arrives (I hope in my lifetime), and this master key can only be replaced by also replacing the onboard processor. What stupid Piaggio engineer came up with this?

Be safe all!
@nomad68 avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
Back on a 125cc!
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1149
Location: High Wycombe UK
 
Molto Verboso
@nomad68 avatar
Back on a 125cc!
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1149
Location: High Wycombe UK
UTC quote
Don't Piaggio supply 2 keys with a new bike?
UTC

Molto Verboso
Vespa GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1310
Location: Germany
 
Molto Verboso
Vespa GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1310
Location: Germany
UTC quote
Nomad68 wrote:
Don't Piaggio supply 2 keys with a new bike?
Yes and no: One "keyless-key"/Keyfob (active) and one Master/Chip (passive). Same idea for Piaggio Beverley and Vespa GTS MY23. See picture below (Source: https://www.fulland-vespa-store.de/news/post/vespa-gts-facelift-2023-alle-infos-neuerungen-farben-preise)

And same as in the "older" GTS: You should not use your Master for daily driving.
Forum member supplied image with no explanatory text
⚠️ Last edited by GermanGTSDriver on UTC; edited 3 times
OP
UTC

Enthusiast
Joined: UTC
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Enthusiast
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UTC quote
Nomad68 wrote:
Don't Piaggio supply 2 keys with a new bike?
Piaggio provides one wireless key and one RFID master key which works very different than the wireless key in unlocking and running the scooter. Using the master key is a hassle.
UTC

Molto Verboso
Vespa GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1310
Location: Germany
 
Molto Verboso
Vespa GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1310
Location: Germany
UTC quote
sandiego_steve wrote:
Piaggio provides one wireless key and one RFID master key which works very different than the wireless key in unlocking and running the scooter. Using the master key is a hassle.
No. Not working different! It's only passive (no battery), meaning you have to shorten the distance to reader in left kneepad. (And of course no Bikefinder and remote Seatopener)
@jbacklund avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
2020 GTS300 HPE/2022 Triumph Rocket 3R/1981 Honda CB900C/2019 Triumph Speedmaster
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Posts: 1889
Location: Black Hills South Dakota USA
 
Molto Verboso
@jbacklund avatar
2020 GTS300 HPE/2022 Triumph Rocket 3R/1981 Honda CB900C/2019 Triumph Speedmaster
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1889
Location: Black Hills South Dakota USA
UTC quote
sandiego_steve wrote:
.....What stupid Piaggio engineer came up with this?

Be safe all!
The same stupid engineer who came up with keyless fob ignition on my Triumph Rocket 3, our Subaru Crosstrek, and our Miata MX-5.....as well as well as just about every other recent vehicle on earth.

This situation is one of my main 'go-to' rants, so I'll just leave it at that.

The nice thing about a dumb-key ignition is that it's fobless and doesn't depend on a battery.....and it can usually be replaced locally for little cost.
UTC

Molto Verboso
Vespa GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1310
Location: Germany
 
Molto Verboso
Vespa GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1310
Location: Germany
UTC quote
The keyfob for Piaggio Beverly 300/400 E5 should be SKU: 1D002679 (double-check compatibility with your VIN).

It is in stock at several scooter online shops and on Amazon Germany. Maybe you want to order it directly…
@shaardvark avatar
UTC

Hooked
2023 GTS300 Super
Joined: UTC
Posts: 145
Location: Central NJ, USA
 
Hooked
@shaardvark avatar
2023 GTS300 Super
Joined: UTC
Posts: 145
Location: Central NJ, USA
UTC quote
Because pockets aren't to be trusted, I hang my key from the bag (curry) hook. If it rains it goes in a plastic bag and then into the bag strapped to the glove compartment door.
UTC

Hooked
Vespa GT200
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Posts: 229
Location: Canada
 
Hooked
Vespa GT200
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Posts: 229
Location: Canada
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Yet another disincentive to buy brand new.
Oh Piaggio, why frustrate us so?
@motovista avatar
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
GT 200
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9255
Location: Main Street, Watts
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@motovista avatar
GT 200
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9255
Location: Main Street, Watts
UTC quote
AF1 has them in stock for $70. Just order one already.

Much Ado About Nothing is often described as Shakespeare's sequel to Love's Labor's Lost, and it is claimed that the original title was Love's Labor's Won. The original work did not deal with the protagonist's inability to replace a lost key fob, which could be easily ordered online. Though Shakespeare did set the play in Messina, Italy, about 600 miles from the Piaggio warehouse, throughout the work there is not one mention of replacing Piaggio keyfobs.
OP
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Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
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There may be replacement keys in Europe, but according to Vespa Motorsport the frequency of operation is different in the United States and these units have not been made available yet.
UTC

Molto Verboso
Vespa GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1310
Location: Germany
 
Molto Verboso
Vespa GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1310
Location: Germany
UTC quote
sandiego_steve wrote:
There may be replacement keys in Europe, but according to Vespa Motorsport the frequency of operation is different in the United States and these units have not been made available yet.
Good point, can't verify this information. Does Vespa Motorsport have a SKU? (Same SKU = same product)

According to Motovista it is already available in the US:
Motovista wrote:
AF1 has them in stock for $70. Just order one already.
@motovista avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
GT 200
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9255
Location: Main Street, Watts
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@motovista avatar
GT 200
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9255
Location: Main Street, Watts
UTC quote
sandiego_steve wrote:
There may be replacement keys in Europe, but according to Vespa Motorsport the frequency of operation is different in the United States and these units have not been made available yet.
Not to cast doubts on the veracity of what some people might believe regarding "different" frequencies, it seems to me that these guys wouldn't sell them if they didn't work. Unless for some reason, Texas dealers sell Piaggios with the European frequencies and not the US ones. It would be interesting to find out if the Frequencies are different from State to State, only in the US, or also in Canada and Mexico. Are the "different" frequencies California specific or US only frequencies or are they Nafta frequencies?

https://www.af1racing.com/1D002679-OEM-Piaggio-Keyless-%22Entry%22-Fob-Key-Blank---1D002679
UTC

Molto Verboso
Vespa GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1310
Location: Germany
 
Molto Verboso
Vespa GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1310
Location: Germany
UTC quote
Motovista wrote:
Not to cast doubts on the veracity of what some people might believe regarding "different" frequencies, it seems to me that these guys wouldn't sell them if they didn't work. Unless for some reason, Texas dealers sell Piaggios with the European frequencies and not the US ones. It would be interesting to find out if the Frequencies are different from State to State, only in the US, or also in Canada and Mexico. Are the "different" frequencies California specific or US only frequencies or are they Nafta frequencies?

https://www.af1racing.com/1D002679-OEM-Piaggio-Keyless-%22Entry%22-Fob-Key-Blank---1D002679
1D002679 = same SKU for Europe/US = same item = same frequency
@vintagescooterdude avatar
UTC

Hooked
2006 GT200 2009 Genuine Stella
Joined: UTC
Posts: 279
Location: Chandler, AZ
 
Hooked
@vintagescooterdude avatar
2006 GT200 2009 Genuine Stella
Joined: UTC
Posts: 279
Location: Chandler, AZ
UTC quote
I blame Piaggio/Vespa for all of this. I have three keys that will work in my 2006 GT200. There is no key fob. There is a starter button, but you have to put the key in the ignition and turn it first. I did my best to eliminate the whole immobilizer system, but apparently it can't be done. They sell CDIs that don't include the immobilizer, but apparently they will not work on a scooter that came with it. My 2006 H-D Sportster has a regular key, but you must also have a key fob (no buttons on it) with you, or it won't work. And that key fob has a battery in it. When it goes dead, you can no longer start the bike until you replace it. Things used to be so simple and work so well. Then somebody had to come along and mess it all up, for no reason I can see.
@greasy125 avatar
UTC

Sergeant at Arms
Weird 80's Vespas & Cool Vintage Lambrettas
Joined: UTC
Posts: 15080
Location: The state of insanity, SoCal
 
Sergeant at Arms
@greasy125 avatar
Weird 80's Vespas & Cool Vintage Lambrettas
Joined: UTC
Posts: 15080
Location: The state of insanity, SoCal
UTC quote
VintageScooterDude wrote:
I did my best to eliminate the whole immobilizer system, but apparently it can't be done. They sell CDIs that don't include the immobilizer, but apparently they will not work on a scooter that came with it.
your misunderstanding of the immobilizer system is no reason to condemn it.
@motovista avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
GT 200
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9255
Location: Main Street, Watts
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@motovista avatar
GT 200
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9255
Location: Main Street, Watts
UTC quote
VintageScooterDude wrote:
They sell CDIs that don't include the immobilizer, but apparently they will not work on a scooter that came with it.
Entirely untrue. Most of the GT 200s in the US that need new keys end up with the Malossi CDI. We sell 15 of them for every OEM Piaggio CDI. Then you can use the $10 Aprilia key set, or any keyset that fits the ignition, and get rid of the big red key everyone is terrified of losing and the blue keys that self-destruct where the keyring fits. And if your scooter does get stolen, the odds are that the electrical system won't be absolutely fried.
But they're made in Italy, so they're not $20 on Amazon.
@vintagescooterdude avatar
UTC

Hooked
2006 GT200 2009 Genuine Stella
Joined: UTC
Posts: 279
Location: Chandler, AZ
 
Hooked
@vintagescooterdude avatar
2006 GT200 2009 Genuine Stella
Joined: UTC
Posts: 279
Location: Chandler, AZ
UTC quote
This says it works on the GT200
https://scooterpartsco.com/55-malossi-ignitions-cdi-c-170_838/malossi-cdi-for-vespa-gt-200-other-piaggio-lc-leader-p-820.html

Scooterwest says it doesn't. Very confusing.

If it actually does work, I should probably get one.
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