I hope it would be much less if the bike were at the locksmith.
Do you have road-side assistance, and if so, would they haul it to a locksmith?
Depending on how far, it might also cost less to pay for a moto tow to the locksmith.
Why do used bikes only come with one key? I bought a dozen or so bikes and they all only had 1 key. Where the hell are all these extra keys? LOL!
Good luck OP!
I'd expect moto haulers solved that by putting front wheel on rollers.I have AAA tow, but the bike is locked, would be hard to even steer it on the truck. I'm really mad at myself for losing the key & not having any spare ones made. :x
I keep the spare so I can steal the bike back after I sell it.
Ask the locksmith if you can unbolt the gas cap and bring it down
I think only 3 bolts are real too...
You cannot unbolt the gas cap without unlocking it, there is usually a 4th bolt inside where you can't access it.
The very first thing I did when I've bought each of my used bike was make 2 copies. A secondary key to use, and a third that stays tucked away in case I lose one of the first two.
If you're patient enough, find a way to open the fuel tank, remove that and bring it to a locksmith and have a key made.
Keep calling mobile locksmiths. Maybe someone closer to you won't charge so much.
And new bike keys typically come with a key-code stamped on a little metal piece on the key ring. With that code a dealer should be able to cut a new key.
I keep the spare so I can steal the bike back after I sell it.
For $250 I'd keep looking, it could still turn up. Did you check if it is in the seat lock? Is it under the seat? In your helmet? Did you do anything unusual after the last ride or after working on the bike? Search all the clothes you think you were wearing when you last rode or worked on the bike.
Here is a trick -- in your mind go back to the last ride or whenever you last saw the key and visualize everything you did around the time (before and after) it went missing, almost like a meditation. The mind is great at visual recall. Focus on anything unusual or out of your normal end-of-ride routine that might have led you to put the key in some non-standard place. Retrace all your steps.
A guy I ride with can pick the lock to his office in under a minute.Probably won't help you much but you can try to pick the lock. But obviously you'd need a lockpick kit. I've never tried to pick an ignition lock but I sucessfully picked a DR650 gascap once, it took about 20 minutes of finagling. The ignition would probably be harder I bet.
Called the dealer, got the key code. The dealer recommended a locksmith, since the dealer doesn't cut keys anymore. So I called that locksmith, gave him the key code and got the key made. Got home - the key inserts into the lock all the way, but does not turn.
Ask the locksmith if you can unbolt the gas cap and bring it down
I think only 3 bolts are real too...