Some lowlife toerags attempted to steal/break the steering lock on my brand new Tracer 7 GT in Bristol over the weekend. Maybe they got disturbed so the bike was not taken, but I am left with a very stiff ignition and an inability to engage the steering lock anymore.

I've looked through the online Yamaha Parts Catalogue for the part (main switch with steering lock assembly) but cannot find it on any of the diagrams.

Can anyone advise what the part number is? Also how much of a pfaff is it to replace? Presumably as it is all in one that means the keys etc need to be changed as well?

Thank you

Welcome in... Make an introduction post!

Your best bet is to go to your local Yamaha dealer and ask them.
In the meantime, you should make sure that the bent lock isn't interfering with your steering. You don't want that to stick half way through a corner!

Hi - have reached out to where we bought the bike (Plymouth), and to a Yamaha dealer in Bristol but neither have been helpful. Thought I'd try the Yamaha community instead.

...!

"Not helpful"??? How can they not be helpful?

As in... You said "Hi, my steering lock is knackered because some scrote tried to nick my bike!"
And they said "What do you want us to do about it???"
What is wrong with these people?
Ask them if they know anything about bikes, or know someone that does! lol

Give them your registration and tell them you want a new steering lock, and how much will it cost?!

If they still can't find their backsides with both hands and someone holding a flashlight, contact Padgetts Motorcycles in Dewsbury. They're not cheap, but they know what they're talking about!
If you're willing to pay the money, they'll have the part you need sat on your doorstep within the week, I'm sure!

I'm assuming you're planning on doing the work yourself?

Fowlers in Bristol never bothered to respond to email/contact form or ring back.

GT Motorcycles - where I bought the bike - have been neutral. Salesman: 'Well it won't be a warranty as it's been interfered with'. 'Speak to the parts department, I can't do anything about parts/replacements but I'll keep an eye on what goes on'. I asked salesman to get the parts department to get back to me with the relevant part number - nothing. Now that I have the part off the bike I'll be ringing the parts department directly to see what can be done.

Having taken the fairing etc off to get to the offending article I have been astonished at the damage to the unit. See photos.

Bearing in mind that the only thing I noticed when I went to get the bike after it was parked up was the steering lock was difficult to disengage - I am amazed that the unit was completely fractured. If the unit can be so easily dmagaed then I can't see how it is 'Fit for Purpose'.

The electronics all work, I rode the bike back 200miles without an issue.

From my own investigations the switch/steering lock unit comes as part of a kit that includes all the ECU gubbins and costs in the region of €1500, installation extra....

Thanks for the nod to Padgetts Motorcycles - will bear them in mind.

BTW - my take home tip, NEVER engage the steering lock!

Bottom line is, the casing is a cast aluminium part, the locking bar isn't exactly tool steel either. And the bar engages with your aluminium head!

When they tried stealing my Thunderace, they actually managed to rip my top yoke before the steering lock bent!!! lol

Note also that it's possible to swap your key barrel over, so you don't end up with two keys!

Hi Snakebite - spoke to GT Motorcycles Parts/Services today, not exactly an edifying conversation.

Apparently Yamaha determines what parts can be supplied for repairs. In this case it is going to be the complete immobiliser/ignition/steering lock assembly PLUS new ECU etc so I will end up with mismatched keys for the seat/panniers/fuel cap.

The service manager was not particularly interested in looking at the idea of transferring the existing electronics from the knackered part onto a new barrel etc.

It's not really a case of being able to do the work ourselves (which we could/can) because of the 'remapping' element for the electronics that is involved. We've stripped the bike ourselves to remove the component from the bracket (it is still attached electronically). Bike starts.

TBH I'm just tempted to waterproof the whole thing and put it back on. I'm NEVER going to use a steering lock again and I'm pretty pissed that Yamaha basically wants me to handover 15% cost of the new bike (plus god knows what for 'installation & recoding') for a part that shattered so easily.

So - GT Motorcycles have said the replacement kit from Yamaha is £1250 - this must be paid for UP FRONT and there is a 6-8 week delay in supply. Then there are labour costs to install the new bits, and I will be left with a key for ignition, and original keys for seat, tank and luggage.

Not impressed

Ok, so...
Contact Padgetts and explain it all to them (tell them Paul Laverick put you onto them (who knows if that will help... lol)).
In the meantime, I think it's time to start rummaging for 2nd hand parts!

P.S.
I'm assuming you don't want to go through insurance?
P.P.S.
Make sure your insurance company doesn't require you to have the steering lock on (some of them do!) before just not using it again...

Actually...
What's the part number on the broken item?

Afternoon - the BIG problem with this component is that is an all-in-one ignition/hiss/steering lock unit. Any replacement necessarily requires new keys/coding which is the reason, apparently, that you have to buy it as a kit, which includes the new ECU. Which is item 16 on the screenshot.

I don't want to go through insurance, the excess is pricey, my 11 years NCB is not protected and it pisses me off for Yamaha to get more money for a crap part.

I am making a claim against Yamaha under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, given that the component, IMO, is not of 'satisfactory quality' - ie is not fit for purpose, is not durable and is RIDICULOUSLY expensive to rectify in comparison to the total cost of the bike. To be fair I'm not really expecting much joy put it pisses me off that their response from 'customer service' was for me to claim on my insurance.

I've put the bike back together so will be back on it tomorrow.

Just out of interest I may give Padgetts a call just to see what they say, on your recommendation.

Thanks for the tip re the insurance wording - will check!