How Many Keys Should Come With a Used Motorcycle?

Quick answerMost motorcycles are delivered with two keys or fobs, and many also come with a third item that matters more than either: a master or programming key, a code card, a key number tag or a security PIN. A used bike sold with one key and none of the extras still runs, but the next key will be harder to make, and on some makes a missing master key or code means parts have to be replaced.

What the factory supplies, by make

This table is drawn from owner's manuals and manufacturer service bulletins. Equipment changes by model, year and market, so treat it as a checklist to compare against the manual for the exact bike.

Make and system	What should come with the bike
Honda with HISS (Valkyrie Rune and bikes from other markets)	Two keys and a key number tag; up to four keys can be registered
Yamaha with immobilizer (mostly export-market bikes)	One red code re-registering key and two black standard keys
Yamaha smart key models	The fob, plus an emergency code card or identification number card, and a mechanical key on XMAX and TMAX
Suzuki with immobilizer (fitted by market)	Two identical keys and a key number plate; a dealer can register up to two more
Kawasaki KIPASS (Concours 14)	Fob with a mechanical emergency key inside; up to six fobs can be registered
Kawasaki and Suzuki plain-key models, including many sold in the US	Cut keys with a key number tag or plate, and no immobilizer
Harley-Davidson with the security system (standard or optional by model, year and market)	Hands-free fob, the five-digit PIN recorded on a wallet card, and the barrel or flat key for the locks
Indian	Keyless models: fob and the rider PIN. Scout (2015 to 2024) and FTR: a cut key, with the key number on a metal tag on the key ring
BMW Keyless Ride	One radio key and one emergency key; BMW issues no key code card
Ducati with a red key (IRC), about 2006 to 2010 and some earlier models	Red master key, two black keys and a Code Card
Ducati, later systems	Two keys and a Code Card on I2K bikes, two keys and an owner-set PIN on I2K-2, a fob plus red passive key on Hands Free models
KTM larger models	Orange-key models: black keys, the orange programming key and the KEYCODECARD. RACE-ON models: the keyless key plus a backup key or chip
KTM 390, 690, 790 and 890; Husqvarna 401, 701, 801 and Norden 901	Conventional keys and the KEYCODECARD with the key number; no immobilizer
Triumph	Keys with a key number tag; keyless models add a passive backup key to the smart key
Vespa and Piaggio	One master key (red grip on older models, brown on later ones), blue or black keys for daily use, and a code card on older models
Aprilia and Moto Guzzi with immobilizer	Two keys and a five-digit user code stored in the dash, 00000 from the factory. The Moto Guzzi V7 through V7 III use a plain mechanical key
Zero SR/S and SR/F	One yellow key and two black keys
Can-Am Spyder	Two D.E.S.S. keys

What does a missing item cost you later?

No prices here, only consequences, and these come from the manufacturers' own documents. The pattern is that the ordinary riding key is the cheapest thing to lose and the master item is the most expensive.

Only one key: no backup, and if it is lost you are in an all-keys-lost job. Honda's manuals say that on a HISS bike this means the dealer replacing the PGM-FI unit or ignition control module.
Yamaha red key missing on a bike with the immobilizer: the black keys still start the bike, but Yamaha's manuals say a new standard key can no longer be registered.
Yamaha smart key emergency code missing: Yamaha's dealer bulletin says it keeps no record of the code, and that losing both the fob and the code means replacing the smart key system.
Ducati red key or Code Card missing on an IRC bike: Ducati's dealer bulletin answers that loss with a new ignition switch, dash and engine computer when keys have to be made.
KTM orange key missing on a model that uses one: lost keys cannot be deactivated or new ones activated the owner's way, so adding a key needs dealer or locksmith equipment.
Vespa or Piaggio master key missing (red on older models, brown on later ones): the scooter runs on its everyday key, but keys cannot be added through the standard procedure.
Harley-Davidson or Indian PIN unknown: the PIN is the backup when a fob is lost or its battery dies, and Indian says a forgotten master PIN can only be retrieved through a dealer.
Aprilia or Moto Guzzi user code changed and not passed on: the code is requested before keys can be relearned.
Key number tag missing: not a disaster, since a key can still be made from the lock, but a tag lets a key be cut to the original code.

If you are selling

Gather everything before you list the bike, and say what you have in the ad. A complete key set is a selling point, and it saves an argument at handover. Piaggio's owner's manuals go as far as stating that the code card must be passed to each new owner.

Every key and fob, including the one in the drawer
The master, programming or passive key, kept separate from the riding keys
The code card, key number tag or plate, and the owner's manual where the number may be written
The PIN or user code, written down for the buyer and removed from your own records afterward
Keys for luggage, a helmet lock or a disc lock that goes with the bike
On the paperwork side, California DMV asks sellers to file a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability within 5 days

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If you are buying

Test, do not just count. Start the bike with each key in turn, since a key that turns the switch may not carry a registered chip. Then try the key in the seat, fuel cap, steering lock and luggage. A key that works the ignition but not the other locks points to a replaced ignition, which our keying alike guide covers.

On keyless bikes, ask the seller to show you the PIN working, or at least to hand it over in writing. Ask directly about the master key or code card for the make, using the table above. If something is missing, that is a reason to adjust the offer, not necessarily to walk away.

After the sale

If you received a single key, get a spare made while that key still works, because every system above is easier to add to than to rebuild. If the set was incomplete or you have doubts about copies, have the old keys erased or the locks rekeyed. Store the master key, card and PIN at home, away from the bike. California DMV says a change of ownership must be reported within 10 days, and once the registration is in your name it is also your proof of ownership for any future key work.

Quick questions

Is it normal for a used motorcycle to come with one key?

It is common, but it is not how the bike was delivered. Nearly every make supplies at least two keys or fobs, so one key means the other is lost or still with a previous owner.

Which missing item is the most serious?

The master item for that make: the Ducati red key or Code Card, the KTM orange key, the Piaggio master key, the PIN on a keyless bike, or the Yamaha red key where that immobilizer is fitted. Losing those limits how new keys can be added.

The seller has no key number tag. Does that matter?

Less than the other items. A key can be made from the lock or from an existing key, though a tag allows a fresh key to be cut to the original code instead of copied.

Can missing keys be replaced before I sell?

Yes, and it is easier while you still hold a working key and the registration in your name. We ask for photo ID and the registration or title before originating a key.

Services that can help

Key details by make

Keep reading

Bought a Used Motorcycle With No Key? Here's What to DoA used or auction motorcycle without keys can usually get new ones, but plan on the full all-keys-lost process and bring the signed title or other transfer paperwork plus photo ID, since a locksmith or dealer has to tie you to the VIN.
When to Get a Spare Motorcycle Key, and Why NowGet a spare motorcycle key as soon as you are down to one working key.
Rekey Motorcycle Locks or Just Cut a New Key?Cutting a new key replaces the key you lost, while rekeying changes the locks so the old key no longer works.
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.

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Sources

Page last updated November 14, 2026.