Bike Shifting in Chathannoor

The Chathannoor packers page is about transit insurance: what it covers, and how the things that decide a claim are done before the vehicle leaves, not after something breaks. For a bike, one of those things is easy to overlook. It's the key.

Most bikes leave the showroom with two keys. Over the years, one disappears: lost in a move, kept by a former rider, dropped in a field. Plenty of owners ride for years with a single key and never think about it. Some bikes have no key at all, because the last one went with someone who isn't coming back.

A move is the moment to sort this out, for three reasons.

Loading. A bike with its steering locked and no key can't be steered. Loading is still possible; the front end is simply lifted and carried rather than rolled. That takes more hands and more care. Tell us at the survey if there's no key, so the right number of people come.

Delivery. If the only key travels with the bike and goes missing in transit or at the far end, you're stranded. If the only key stays with you and you're delayed, the bike can't be moved into its new spot.

Insurance. If a bike is stolen or lost, insurers commonly ask for all the keys issued with it as part of the claim. A missing key can complicate or slow a claim, whether the loss happens in transit or months later at the new home. Check your own policy's wording.

So here's what to do before moving day.

Get a duplicate made. For an older bike with a plain key, a good local key maker can cut a copy in minutes. For a bike with a chip key or immobiliser, go to the authorised service centre with the RC and your ID; it takes longer and costs more, so start early.

If there's no key at all, the service centre can usually supply a new key or lock set against the RC and proof of ownership. Do this before the move if possible.

Decide where each key travels. Usually, one key goes with the bike, sealed in an envelope taped under the seat or handed to the crew lead against a signature. The other stays in your pocket.

Note it on the condition record. Write how many keys were handed over, and to whom.

Chathannoor bikes are collected by vetted Kollam partner crews, who note the keys on the receipt along with the bike's condition. We survey with you, set one written figure and answer for the bike and the key we've signed for.

Our Chathannoor packers page explains transit insurance properly. This page is about the small piece of metal that can quietly undermine it.

Think about who else holds a key, too. A former rider, a mechanic who kept one for servicing, a relative who borrowed the bike years ago. If you know where a stray key is, get it back before the move, or count it as lost.

And a reminder: if you've lost a key to a bike in the past, and someone else might have it, a new lock set before the move is worth the cost. A new address is a good time to stop worrying about where the old key went.

Many electric scooters use a fob, a card or an app instead of a metal key. Make sure every fob and card is found, the app is on your phone, and you know how to start the scooter if the phone battery dies. Mention which EV it is at booking.