Modern Vespa

I didn't think it would happen to me... The only keys for my 150LX are locked under the seat. How do I get into a locked seat??? Dealer says there is a way, but I need to bring it in. Hard to make it go with no keys....

A coat hanger hook from the back center of the seat should get it.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but you are asking how to break into a locked compartment on a Vespa.

It is your first post.

We don't know who you are.

We don't know where you are.

We don't know if it is your scooter.

This is a common issue when new posters ask how to pop a seat or by-pass the immobilizer. Please consider that information like this is only shared amongst a known group, and, even then, we don't post it. We send the information in a PM, so we don't advertise it to the world.

Now, there may be other comments in this thread and some might be helpful. It may take a while, though.

If we knew where you were, we might have a member nearby who could assist you, but no guarantees on that. If you are in a hurry, I would suggest that you find a friend with a truck who can cart it off to the dealer.

you'd be surprized how many people's 1st post is the keys under the seat.
I don't know the secret, someone will help. what would a family thief do.

Aloha and welcome o the forum. If what Patrick said doesn't help go to the Wiki section and look for how to open it there. NIGHT did you miss the were not getting upset about this anymore. Any thief will just bust the damn thing open, no need to come onto the forum and ask. All it does is piss legit owners off.

Hmm, I just looked in the Wiki and didn't see anything about this subject, Judy.

Are you sure it wasn't just discussed and never implemented?

SS there was a whole thread on it and i thought it was being put in there. Maybe it hasn't yet. I know it was discussed at length and it was deemed what's the big deal about telling people. Also they told a few people how to do it. More than one way i thought. I'll see if i can find the thread but i'm hopeless at finding the ones i need.

Judy, before I replied to the OP, I searched the Wiki because I also remember that it was kicked around and that it probably would be added. Apparently, nothing was done.

Still, one has to consider that a Google search on "How to open a Vespa seat without a key" would send any query right to our Wiki, possibly putting many scooters at risk. I don't know if I would want to see that.

You mean you keep the Master (red) and the User (blue) keys on the same ring???? After you get some help to open your seat, I'd suggest you put that red one away someplace .

The thread is out there - all is revealed, guts spilled everywhere. No secret left unturned. Just two magic search words (and probably others would work too).

Yes... I can see I was a bit hasty. Googled for assistance, found this forum and posted before digging in deeper. Your comments do make sense, although I tend to be more of the trusting sort. Noticed I was listed as a "lurker." YIKES - that's a new one!

Appreciate the kindness and welcome in some posts, also noted some tend to imply a mental defect attached to this problem. Don't feel the need to justify the circumstances in a lengthy post... While I was hoping for a quick fix, I will manage to work it through with the local dealer. (Local locksmith was unable to help, and suggested I try a forum. Lesson learned!)

see this post I have locked my keys under my Grandtourismo seat the mods say to tell anyone who asks and the owner of the forum agrees as well.

Sailor girl, Stick around.

Some members are being a wee bit cautious.

Please give me a call, have you in....in a jiffy, so to speak.

207 230 4667

Cheers, Jim

gt has a release under the glovebox the lx's dont so wont work

I'm going to be extra careful not to do this...

aside from the trouble of finding the right help, my friends will laugh so hard when they hear that I locked my keys in a motorcycle.

luckily I dont think its possible to do on the PX

If Jim from Maine is the one who makes the keys for us - give him a call - it isn't any big deal - and he of all people will make it easy for you.
Everyone gets called a "lurker" at first - this is a standard web term for newbies.
Let us know if Jim helped out - this problem comes up all the time

THANKS to Jim, I am "in" and ready to ride. Since this is my third post, I think I have shed the "lurker" moniker! What a day...

I appreciate the kind messages and am thrilled to have someplace to go for assistance.

Now I am getting ready to add a top case... after scanning the forum, it appears a good idea to add some better visibility brake lights, as well... I can see I'll be rated a "super poster" soon...

Awesome and I'm glad to see your sticking around here. 8)

Me too

Just like to add.

I spoke with Sailor girl and her 2nd half for a wee bit on the phone, they are wonderful kind people.

Please let's not put off any new members by being aggressive with our comments. I encounter many who were in the same position as Sailor girl.
More often than not, they need help.

Happy scootering everyone

Cheers

Jim I know this one really pissed me off. She is a delightful person who just locked her keys in the carrier not some thief. glad you were able to help her. I also suspect there will be a lot more of this as people start riding after the winter, so can everybody be helpful to them? Thieves aren't going to come on a forum to ask how, they are just going to break in.

Just so.

Can we please STOP any more 'we won't tell you yet' responses. Glad to see Patrick nailed this one in the first reply.

Well some of us pick up our phone

Unless you have a vintage coathanger, modern ones don't work too well

Obviously if you have a GT series this won't affect you.

About time some pictures were added.

Cheers

Thanks for adding the picture. Looks like I need to have some dry-cleaning done as I couldn't find a single wire coat hanger in the house to do a photo.

Here's another tool made out of stiff plastic from the cover of a ring binder. I can't take any credit for this, got it from a PM
Slip it in from the rear till it stops, slide left, then pull back.


lx seat opener

And keep either/any tool somewhere else than under the seat

You're buggered if you keep it in the glovebox, and lock your keys under the seat. I have this in case the cable comes adrift.

this is too funny. for a split second today i thought i locked my keys under the seat. but with luck on my side they were in my sweater pocket and not in my jeans like i usually put them in. i panicked for about ten seconds before i found them.

MY GOD! OUR PETS ARE NO LONGER SAFE

ZNOMIT you crack me up.

Well.......

I woke up this wonderful morning to be greeted with two emails.

Here is one:

"Jim
I am shocked at your latest post on modernvespa. I though you if anyone would hold security sacred. Myself along with others have supported you with many of your Helpful comments this is not one.
Now i will no longer feel safe leaving my scooter anywhere.
THANK YOU.
Regards, Mitch"

Seriously "shocked"? I have been stewing over this email all morning. So i wanted to post it here.

I found MV because i needed help, i got it. Since then i have tried to share, contribute and learn.

I personally don't see the harm with sharing this sort of information. Sorry if Mitch and Allan are pissed off. The "secret" is out, some folk need to switch off and go for a ride instead of living in fear. Jakers!

Never though MV was like the masons, some think it should be.

I am not about to share how to make a key from an old toothbrush and tin foil. Ok thats a joke, no PM's please.

My intension from this point forth will be to post as many seat lock/tool opening pictures as i can. I am just sick of this topic.

Right my rant is over.

Cheers

Apparently some folks have difficulty following threads. The release did not come from JimH. Rather from an apparently moderator approved source. Oopsclunkthud. It was another of his sensible ideas.

JIMH your totally in the right. If folks think that the world is now unsafe because you helped someone, God help them. You can break into the pet carrier in about 2 seconds with a screwdriver or slim jim thingy. A TRUE thief like i said won't ask a forum they will just break into it. However a OWNER won't want to break into their own scooter because they'll have to pay to get it fixed. Real simple. If someone is dumb enough to leave really valuable things in their scooter when it's unattended that's their problem. No matter how well you secure it, it can be taken if someone wants it bad enough. I personally want to thank you for all your help and don't let a few people rain on your parade.

Thanks mate and Judy.

You are right. Patrick commented on what to use and i am really glad he did, though coat hangers are not built as well as they use to be. Great solution though.

Judy actually PM'd me about this post. So i got in touch with Sailor girl and offered my help. Again, they were grateful and very nice folk.

No one should be under fire for wanting to help one another.

I am sure the Mods can verify how many keys under the seat PM's i receive, i want to help everyone i can but i am not always sitting at a computer.

I am glad this information is out there.

Cheers

It's been said before that if a thief wanted ito your pet carrier he would just break it. Not hard to do. If he knew an easier way he would use it, take what he wanted and be on his way. Probably doing less damage to the scoot. You can't get it started this way. What's so valuable that everyone's carrying around anyway? Don't worry about it Jim.

I am a bit disappointed that my first response to the OP has been rated negative. My post wasn't nasty and I did my best to explain why a quick solution may or may not be posted soon.

This subject has been kicked around ad nauseam for a very long time. Recently there was discussion about putting it in the Wiki and be done with it. That never happened. As far as I knew, it was status quo for the solution; establish a reasonable form of identification/ownership and handle via PM. Done deal.

So, now the cat has been let out of the pet carrier under the seat that is locked. Now we can move on.

Again, I apologize for my post if it offended anyone. That was not my intention.

Thanks all.

This will be my last post on this thread.

You can make a opening tool with 4mm round stock mild steel available at most hardware stores.

Bend the top of your tool 1" 3/8 down at 90 degrees. You can use a vise or heat.

An option........use a rubber dip solution this will help prevent marring the surface.

You can also use many different items found in you garage. i.e. a hacksaw blade wrapped in electrical tape.

Insertion, there are two options. See pictures below.

Cheers


Insertion option 1

The goal

Insertion option 2

Either option will work

Ignorance of the law is no excuse....

Thumbs up given.....

Me too Scooter karmony to Nightwing

Cheers

That looks very familiar!

Funny that