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[enaef]

I started to ride my "new" demo bike yesterday.

To engage the steering lock, the manual says:
1. Turn the handlebar all the way to the left.
2. With the key in the OFF position, push the key down and turn the key counter-clockwise.

I have some troubles to engage it.
I cannot push the key down; whether the key nor the part which receives the key move down.
I'm not able to engage the steering lock when I turn the handlebar all the way to the left. I have to find the exact position near the left 'end-position' until I can engage the lock.

The first time I needet some minutes to figure it out.
Sometime I even need to find the right position of the handlebar to unlock it.
I'm not quite sure, but I have the feeling, that the correct position of the handlebar to engage is not always the same but changes.

For those of you who own an SR/F: What do you think about it?

Thanks Ernst

[stevenh]

I've only used it a few times, but when I did, it seemed to behave predictably.  I normally don't use it, so my experience is probably limited to a dozen times or so in the year I've owned the bike.  It locks pretty close to the stop when turning left.

Steve

[Hans2183]

I don't remember having to push the key down. You can see on the top of the frame there is a receptacle for the steering lock. Just make sure to align that and engage it. Can be a bit misaligned (as with most steering locks). The only version I had so far that always seems to be aligned is the electrical one on my keyless BMW R1200 GS.

[Ooook]

"Push the key down" just means "insert the key". 

It never takes me more than a few seconds to engage the steering lock. I turn the key directly to the steering lock position when I park the SR/F (with the handlebar to the left), and sometimes it needs a gentle right-left handlebar movement to remove the key.

[enaef]

"Push the key down" just means "insert the key". 

Really? 
The manual says this:
To engage the steering lock:
1. Turn the handlebar all the way to the left.
2. With the key in the OFF position, push the key down and turn
the key counter-clockwise.
3. Remove the key.

"With the key in the OFF position, push the key down ..." --> When the key should be in the OFF position for me that sounds very much like the key is already  inserted before pushing it down. This is also supported by the picture in my opinion and by the Germen version of the manual.

However, meanwhile I'm also able to do it in a reasonable time ...

[Crissa]

You can remove the key in the 'off' position as well as the 'lock' position.  You have to us the key in further than just the neutral position to go from the 'off' to the 'lock' position.

...This is pretty standard across motorcycles for about forty years o-o

-Crissa

[enaef]

Thanks Crissa

What do you exactly mean with "us the key in further than just the neutral position".
I would expect, that the cylinder has to be "moved in" (vertically) before further turning it to the 'lock' position.
Probably like in this video at exactly position 0:30.


In my SR/F the cylinder cannot be vertically moved anywhere (in any position).

[Crissa]

If with the key in, it doesn't bounce on a spring, the lock is broken.

-Crissa

[enaef]

Ok, that's what I thought could be.

Now, it does not bounce but I am able to engage the steering lock nonetheless.
Is there a danger that it suddenly brakes totally so that I cannot use the bike until repaired?

My mechanical understanding of such things is - let's say - veeeery limited .... 

[remmie]

With my SR/F i also do NOT have to push the key down to engage the steering lock.

With the key in the off position I can just turn it counter clock wise and the key goes to the steering lock position. I do have to wiggle the handlebars a bit from the leftmost position as well to be able to engage the lock, just as the OP.

The key has no spring action whatsoever, so it is just an oversight in the manual. I remember from my 2014 and 2018 SR that they did have a spring action on the key to engage the steering lock so it must have been copied from SR manual to SR/F manual not taking into account the different lock mechanisms. an oversight that is very common when writing manuals

[enaef]

remmie, you made my day ... 

So everything is as it should be ... 

[Doug S]

On my 2014 SR, I often have to pull the handlebar hard over to the left to make sure things line up well enough to allow the lock to engage. Even just the resilience of the tire rubber on the pavement can cause the handlebar to spring away from full left that the lock won't engage. Just hold it over when you engage the steering lock.

[Tom_Ruyter]

remmie's right on this, I know some steering locks need to be pushed down, but the SR/F isn't one of them.

Key in, turn handle bars to left, turn key anti-clockwise NOT pushing down, litle wiggle to line it all up until the key clicks round, key out.

Job done.

[enaef]

Meanwhile I've no problem anymore to engage the lock at once.

The fact that the 'push the key down' - part in the manual probably was an oversight cleared things ...

Thank you all  !
Very helpful this forum - even with such small problems ...

[Crissa]

Well, the push down is definitely true of the none SR/F models, which is where the confusion stems from.  And it's been basically standard on bikes for quite some time!

-Crissa