PegLeg BK’s Pirate Key Mod
A funny thing happened when I put a windshield bag on my brand new 2009 V-Star 1300 Tourer. I noticed that the ignition switch was now located at the bottom of a deep cave-like hole.
It was a bit of a struggle to get the key in and light off the bike, and forget about it if I had the windshield bag stuffed with wallet, cell phone, house keys, etc.
So I thought about it for a day, and decided to cut the handle off a tool and put a slot in it to hold the key and use it like a pushrod. As I was looking through my garage for some old tool to sacrifice, I saw it sitting in one of my junk drawers. And I thought, “Wouldn’t that be cool?” And my brothers and fellow riders, cool it was. Now, if you’re like me, over the years you’ve amassed a collection of about a gazillion different pocket knives.
As far as “type”, the blade was engraved with the words “Frost Cutlery Flying Falcon”. It was a cheap but decent knife, I don’t even remember when & where I picked it up, and I have plenty nicer blades around. So there was my fix.
I pulled out the blade:
Then I started thinning the rubber key boot, simply by rubbing it on the pavement until I had the desired thickness equal to the blade. CAUTION – Be EXTREMELY careful to not score your key blade!
Better to skin up your hand that will heal, than to damage your key. You might want to use some more advanced method but I was in a grunting, “man tame fire”, knuckle-walking mood, so:
Next I had to drill out the key ring hole to accommodate the blade pivot pin. I put a rag in the vice, again to protect the key blade – and used the smallest bit that would accommodate the pin.
When I first fit the key in the knife handle I found there were pins in the handle (and the blade lock which I wanted to keep in there) so I had to grind off some of one side of the key boot.
Here you see the modified key on the right, next to an original key on the left:
So then you put in the key, fit in the blade pin, and reinstall the set screw:
And, VOILA! You have the modified key.
Now you just have to try it out:
As you can see, PegLeg’s Pirate Key Fob is fully functional in the off and start positions with absolutely no strain on your fingers, the key blade, ignition switch, etc. Steering lock also works with no resistance but I forgot to snap a pic.
It seemed like such a little thing to me, it’s just a key, but most of my friends, my brothers in my Blue Knights chapter, and the guys in the powersports shop have all agreed, the cool guy factor is off the charts with PegLeg’s Pirate Key mod. I’ve gotten so many compliments and comments I decided to post the idea. Like I said, I don’t even remember when or where I picked up that knife, but it seems like most blades with a 1/8” blade thickness could work, depending on the style of lock. You want to keep the lock functional so the key doesn’t try to fold on you, possibly causing damage to the ignition switch or key.
A WORD OF CAUTION & ADVICE – SERIOUSLY - PegLeg’s Pirate Key mod still looks like a knife!!!
If you make one of these, don’t do anything STUPID with it, like try to scare someone or whip it out of your pocket to show it off to some cops on the street, or you will likely catch a set of Taser leads or a double-tap from a .40 right in your 5 ring. Then, when/if you wake up you will get your arraignment date and you can explain how cool it is to the Judge…
Ride safe!
PegLeg BK