Lost keys
What should I do first if I lose my only motorcycle key?
Check the places keys usually turn up: jacket pockets, the tank bag, the ignition and your last stop. If it is truly gone, gather your photo ID and registration or title and note the year, make and model. Then call a locksmith that works on motorcycles, since in most cases a new key can be made where the bike is parked.
Can a key be made from my VIN?
A VIN does not contain the key cuts, but dealers can often look up the factory key code from it, and a key can be cut from that code. The lookup may not help if a previous owner replaced the ignition or locks. When no code is available, a locksmith can read the lock on the bike instead.
Where can I find my motorcycle key code?
Many bikes came with a small metal tag or a card showing the key code, and some owner's manuals have a space to record it. The code is sometimes stamped on a lock or on an original key. If you cannot find it, the lock can be read to work out the cuts.
I bought a used motorcycle without keys. Can you help?
In most cases, yes. Bring your photo ID, the title signed over to you, and the bill of sale. Those documents connect you to the bike so a key can be made. If the bike has an immobilizer, the new key also has to be programmed, and on some systems losing every key means replacing parts, so tell us the year, make and model first.
Should I rekey my locks if my key was stolen?
If the key was taken along with anything showing where you live or park, rekeying or replacing the locks is worth considering, because a stolen mechanical key still fits them. On many immobilizer bikes, the stolen key's chip can also be removed from the bike's memory when new keys are programmed.
Chips and immobilizers
How do I know if my motorcycle key has a chip?
Many chip keys have a thicker plastic or rubber head, and many bikes with an immobilizer have an indicator light on the dash that blinks while the ignition is off. Your owner's manual will mention an immobilizer if the bike has one. Many Japanese bikes sold in the US use a plain key with no chip, while chip keys and fobs are common on European makes, larger KTMs, Harley-Davidson and Indian, and specific keyless models. When in doubt, the year, make and model usually answer the question.
What happens if I use a key without the right chip?
The key may turn the ignition and the dash may light up, but the engine will not start, or it may start briefly and shut off. That is the immobilizer doing its job. The key needs to be programmed or replaced with the correct transponder key.
Can a locksmith program a motorcycle key, or do I need a dealer?
Locksmiths with motorcycle programming equipment can program keys for many makes and models, and on some systems that includes when every key is lost. Other systems, especially certain keyless fobs and some European models, need dealer-only tools, and on some the maker's manual calls for replacement parts once every key is gone. In those cases the dealer is the right choice.
Why won't my key fob start the bike?
The most common cause is a weak fob battery, so replace that first. Other causes include phones or other electronics carried right next to the fob, a damaged fob, or a fob that has lost its pairing. Your owner's manual may describe a backup start procedure, and if a fresh battery does not help, the fob may need to be reprogrammed or replaced.
Does replacing my ECU affect my keys?
On a bike with an immobilizer, usually yes. On many of those bikes the ECU stores the key codes, so a replacement unit has to be paired with the keys before the bike will start. Plan for key programming whenever an ECU or ignition is replaced on an immobilizer bike. A plain-key bike has nothing to pair.
The visit and proof of ownership
What do I need to show to get a motorcycle key made?
A government-issued photo ID and the registration or title for the bike, with names that match. If you just bought the bike, bring the signed title and the bill of sale. A key gives full access to a motorcycle, so this check protects owners.
Do I need to bring the bike to a shop?
Not for our work. We are a mobile locksmith, so the work happens where the bike is parked, whether that is your garage, a parking lot or the roadside. The bike needs to be somewhere it is safe to work on, with the owner there with ID and paperwork.
How do I check that a locksmith is licensed in California?
Locksmith companies in California must hold a Locksmith Company (LCO) license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, part of the Department of Consumer Affairs, and locksmith employees register with the same bureau. You can confirm a company's license with the license lookup on the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services website or the Department of Consumer Affairs license search. A business that only duplicates existing keys is not required to hold this license.
Do you work on scooters as well as motorcycles?
Yes. We work only on motorcycles and scooters. That covers key replacement, spare keys, chip key programming, ignition repair, broken key extraction, and gas cap, seat, steering, saddlebag and helmet locks.
Should I bring all my keys to the visit?
Yes, bring every key you have, even ones that barely work. Some immobilizer systems clear and re-register all keys during programming, so a key left at home may stop starting the bike. Worn keys also help show whether a problem is the key or the lock.
Cost and timing
How much does a motorcycle key cost?
Typical market ranges in Southern California run from about $50 to $165 for a mobile copy of a plain metal key, $100 to $300 for a programmed transponder spare, and $250 to $600 for chip keys when none are left. Your exact price depends on the year, make and model and your situation.
Why does losing every key cost so much more than a spare?
A spare is copied or programmed from a key that already works. With no key, the cuts have to come from a code or from the lock, and an immobilizer has to accept a new key without an existing one to authorize it. Some bikes need the immobilizer module or ECU reset or replaced.
Is a locksmith cheaper than a dealer?
Often, especially when no key works and the alternative is towing the bike to a dealer. For a simple key cut from a VIN code, a dealer can be competitive if you can wait for it. For some dealer-only fob systems, the dealer is the only option.
Does the time of day affect the price?
Across the locksmith market, after-hours, weekend and holiday calls usually cost more, with surcharges commonly between $50 and $250. Travel distance can also add a trip or service call charge. Ask for the full price, including any surcharges, before work begins.
How long does it take to get a new motorcycle key?
A dealer that orders a key by VIN can take a day or two, or longer when the key has to be ordered and then programmed. On site, copying a plain key is the quickest job, while originating a key or programming a chip takes longer. All-keys-lost jobs that require removing locks can take a few hours.
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More detail
- Lost Your Only Motorcycle Key? What to Do NextIf you lost the only key to your motorcycle, a new one can almost always be made, but the route depends on whether your bike uses a plain metal key, a chipped transponder key, or a keyless fob.
- How Much Does Motorcycle Key Replacement Cost?Typical market ranges for motorcycle key replacement run from $50-$165 for a mobile duplicate of a plain metal key to $250-$600 for a transponder key when every key is lost, and a job that needs a new control unit or dealer-only parts falls outside those ranges.
- How to Find Your Motorcycle Key CodeA motorcycle key code is a short number or letter-number code that tells a locksmith or dealer how to cut a key for your locks.
- Motorcycle Immobilizers Explained: HISS, KIPASS and MoreA motorcycle immobilizer is an anti-theft system that only lets the engine start when it recognizes a coded chip in the key or a paired fob.
- Broken Motorcycle Key in the Ignition: What to DoIf your key snaps in the motorcycle ignition, stop, keep both pieces, and do not try to turn the cylinder with the stub or dig the fragment out with a knife or screwdriver.
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