Forza 300 Emergency Hexagonal Key

[velocipede6295]

Just about to set off from home on my Forza, with all my stuff locked under the seat, bunch of house and car keys, wallet etc, when the ignition switch would not turn and the smart key seemed to be dead. It was OK the previous day. I thought I would go and get my spare smart key from in the house - oh no! my house keys, and garage key and everything else, were locked under the seat, and the house and garage were also locked. Now the good news, my wife was still in the house, and I got her to pass me the spare smart key. That was dead as well.
I swapped the battery ( CR 2032 ) from my car's remote, to the Forza remote, and was then able to open the seat and start the bike. I have now put 2 new batteries in the smart keys, and decided to always carry the spare remote, and the emergency hexagonal key ( for unlocking the seat ) with me, as they would be no use at all at home, if I was stranded somewhere. I was lucky this happened at home, when my wife was in the house, or I would have been snookered, possibly miles from home.
I decided to have a dry run with the emergency starting procedure, where you can start the bike without the smart key. I understand the procedure, after reading up in the handbook, but first you have to remove the " neckguard " panel around the ignition switch to access where the hexagonal plastic key fits to release the seat. The manual just says pull upwards to release the prongs. I have seen a couple of videos where the panel is removed, and it looks fairly easy.
Mine is stuck, and I am wary of pulling too hard, in case I break it. Has anyone removed this panel themselves on the Forza 125 /300 - and if so, do you have any tips on how to remove it?

[Greyerbeard]

I tried once, and gave up cos it wouldn't shift.
Query - didn't the bike give you any warning that the battery was going flat in the fob? The Yamaha X-Max has an excellent system in which the bike tells you well in advance...
How long had the batteries been in the fobs?
Do you switch the fob off when off the bike? (I always do!)

[horobags]

I have a spare fob battery taped to the inside of my topbox on my Vision.

[MrGrumpy]

I do worry about being stranded in these circumstances. Fortunately the Tmax does give you a warning if the battery is getting low (if you notice it!). I get paranoid about switching the smart key off at all times to conserve the battery! The Tmax's emergency procedure seems utterly incomprehensible to me, and utterly fiddly, although the smart key has an emergency manual key built in, which goes into a real key slot, which lets you open the seat at least! Only snag is the emergency slot is so hidden, if you don't know where it is, you can't find it - I tried to show it to someone but could not find it!

[velocipede6295]

I have had the bike for around 16 months, and hadn't replaced the batteries till this incident. The bike was first reg about 3.25yrs ago - so possibly they have been in since then or longer. I didn't get any warning that the batteries were running out, I had started and run the bike up to full temperature the day before. I haven't switched the remote on and off or really looked too closely at the smart key/ smart key functions, as I'm not good with instructions (can't be bothered really), and they looked complicated. As I once heard someone say " If everything else fails, read the instructions" - I've read them now!
I don't think I will pull any harder at the " neck guard cover " as I don't want to break it.
I will tape a spare battery inside the top box as per Horobags suggestion - thanks, and together with carrying the spare remote, hopefully I won't get caught out again. Thanks for the replies.

[SOOTYGULL]

I had horrific problems with my smart key lock shortly after buying my Honda Forza 125 new in 2107 (see my previous posts on this).

I could never be sure on returning to my scooter that I would be able to start it as the physical switch refused to be freed up to turn it to the ignition position.

The dealer had no idea what to do and although they raised a request to investigate it under warranty, Honda dragged their heels.

Nothing was fixed, I was told jiggle the physical switch each time I wanted to start it.

After putting up with this for 3 years John Banks Honda in Cambridge identified the physical switch was at fault and replaced it.

Although I still enjoyed the Forza's handling (I could lean it like a motorbike) and nippyness, I didn't fully trust the smart switch .... always that lurking suspicion that it might fail again, so I part exchanged it for a motorbike with a good old fashioned ignition switch with a normal key.

On reflection I shouldn't have sold my Tmax !!!

[velocipede6295]

Yes thanks, Sootygull, I had seen your post about the trouble you had with your Forza. I sometimes struggled to turn the switch, and I thought there was something wrong. It's only this last weekend when I have really checked it out, that I have found that 1. I need to press the switch straight down, then let it come up, and then 2. Turn the switch to position 1 ( seat/filler cap) or to position 2 for ignition. It turns smoothly and easily then.
If, as I have sometimes done, immediately try to turn the switch before pressing it down, it will not turn. I think I'm getting the hang of it now, after more than a year of ownership and 5,000 miles!
Like you, I've not had any problems previously with normal keys and ignition switches ( over 50 bikes).
I do like the scooter though, it's light,easy to ride, fairly comfortable - now I've got use to the suspension, good wind protection - not too much buffeting, good mpg, with reasonable power.

[StephenC]

Yes thanks, Sootygull, I had seen your post about the trouble you had with your Forza. I sometimes struggled to turn the switch, and I thought there was something wrong. It's only this last weekend when I have really checked it out, that I have found that 1. I need to press the switch straight down, then let it come up, and then 2. Turn the switch to position 1 ( seat/filler cap) or to position 2 for ignition. It turns smoothly and easily then.
If, as I have sometimes done, immediately try to turn the switch before pressing it down, it will not turn. I think I'm getting the hang of it now, after more than a year of ownership and 5,000 miles!
Like you, I've not had any problems previously with normal keys and ignition switches ( over 50 bikes).
I do like the scooter though, it's light,easy to ride, fairly comfortable - now I've got use to the suspension, good wind protection - not too much buffeting, good mpg, with reasonable power.

In the 3 years I had my Forza I never got the hang of where the horn and indicator switches are. I liked the bike but could never put handlebar mitts on as I could not trust being able to find the switches Never had a problem with the ignition though.

[velocipede6295]

Yes, I also sometimes have trouble finding the horn button,it's higher up than the horn button on most bikes, no problem with indicators though. There are also a lot of buttons/switches on the left handlebar position so it's not difficult to miss the horn button with you thumb. Re the ignition switch - now I have sussed it, I'm fine. You must have been doing it correctly. For all the faults I have found with the Forza, it's one of the best scooters I have owned.

[Greyerbeard]

Had a good look at the handbook yesterday ( )
It does say that a) Fob batteries should be changed at around 2 years old, and
b) When the fob battery is getting low, the Smartkey indicator on the instrument panel will flash 5 times when the ignition is switched on.
So now I know, before the problem happens to me!