Honda CB1000R key quick facts
- Honda's US owner's manuals for the 2015 CB1000R, the 2018 CB1000R ABS and the 2024 CB1000R contain no HISS or immobilizer section.
- The first-generation bike came with a key number plate; the 2018 and later bike comes with a key tag showing the key number and a bar code.
- The rear seat is the only seat on a key lock, and the helmet holder and tool kit are under it.
- The steering locks at the ignition switch with the bars turned all the way to the left.
- The fuel cap sits under a lock cover on both generations, and the key cannot be pulled out until the cap is locked.
Honda CB1000R key types by year
| Years | Models | Key type | Chip | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-2016 | CB1000R, CB1000R ABS (first generation) | mechanical cut key | no | Key number plate supplied with the keys. Rear seat lock, fuel fill cap under a lock cover and ignition share the key. Tool kit, helmet holders and space for a U-shaped lock under the rear seat. |
| 2018-2024 | CB1000R ABS, CB1000R Black Edition (Neo Sports Cafe generation) | mechanical cut key | no | Two ignition keys and a bar-coded key tag. Fuel cap under a lock cover; helmet holder and tool kit under the rear seat. |
| Varies | CB1000R sold outside the US | transponder key (HISS) | varies | Honda's worldwide list of HISS models includes the CB1000R, and equipment differs by market. An imported bike with a HISS indicator on the dash needs a registered chip key. |
First generation and Neo Sports Cafe compared
The original CB1000R, with its single-sided swingarm and stubby tail, was sold in the US through the mid 2010s. The 2018 redesign, which Honda calls Neo Sports Cafe, is a different motorcycle with ride modes and a throttle-by-wire system. You might expect the newer bike to have picked up a chip key along with the rest of its electronics. In the US it did not. None of the 2015, 2018 and 2024 manuals has an immobilizer section.
What did change is the paperwork that comes with the keys. The older bike was delivered with a key number plate. The newer one comes with a key tag that carries the number and a bar code, and Honda's manual says to take the spare key and that tag to your dealer or a locksmith for a duplicate.
Need a key for your CB1000R?
Call or text with the year and where the bike is parked.
Or read first: all services · common questions · about us · contact details
Locks on the CB1000R
There are three, all on one key.
- Ignition switch, which also locks the steering with the bars turned fully left
- Fuel fill cap under a lock cover, opened by turning the key clockwise
- Rear seat lock: turn the key clockwise to release the rear seat; it locks again by itself when closed
- Under the rear seat: the helmet holder with its set wire in the tool kit, plus the document bag and tie-down hooks on the seat's underside
Where this bike's locks give trouble
The rear seat lock on a CB1000R gets far less use than the ignition, and a lock that is rarely turned can stiffen. If the seat lock on yours feels gritty or the key will only go part way in, have it looked at before the day you need the tool kit. The rear seat also locks by itself when closed, and Honda's manual warns against shutting your key in the compartment under it.
The fuel cap holds the key until the cap is pushed down and locked. If the key will not come out at the pump, the cap is not latched; press it home instead of twisting harder on the key, which is how a key gets bent.
Lost every key to a CB1000R
Because there is no chip, the visit is mechanical work from start to finish. We look at your photo ID and the registration or title, originate a key from the bike's own lock, and prove it in all three locks before we leave. Have the key number plate or key tag ready if you kept it. If the bike is an import and shows a HISS light, say so when you call, because then a key has to be registered to the bike as well as cut.
Where to find the key code
First-generation bikes: on the key number plate that came with the keys, which the manual tells you to record and store with the spare key. 2018 and later: on the bar-coded key tag. Honda's manuals say a dealer without the number will probably need to pull the ignition switch assembly to find it.
What to have ready
Have this ready when you call or text
- Year, make and model of the bike
- Where the bike is parked
- Whether you have any working key, a broken key or a key code
- Photo ID and registration or title (we verify ownership before making a key)
Honda CB1000R key FAQ
Does the 2018 or newer CB1000R have a chip key in the US?
No. Honda's US manuals for 2018 and 2024 describe two plain ignition keys and a key tag, with no immobilizer system. A correctly cut key starts the bike.
Can I get under the rear seat without a key?
Not without tools and risk to the tail section. The rear seat is held by its key lock, so the clean answer is to have a key made; the same key then opens the seat.
I only have the key number plate, no keys. Is that enough?
It helps a lot. A key can be cut from that number, and we still test it on the bike because a lock replaced by a previous owner would no longer match the plate.
The immobilizer system on this bike
- Honda HISS Immobilizer: Keys, Lost Keys and the Warning LightHISS, the Honda Ignition Security System, is Honda's chip-key immobilizer: the engine only starts when the bike recognizes a coded chip in the key.
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Services for this bike
- Lost Motorcycle Key, No SpareNo key at all? We make a working key at the bike.Details →
- Motorcycle Key ReplacementNew keys cut by code or from the lock, for all major makes.Details →
- Transponder and Immobilizer Key ProgrammingChip keys and fobs programmed to your immobilizer.Details →
- Motorcycle Key Duplication and Spare KeysA spare now costs far less than a lost only-key later.Details →
- Motorcycle Ignition Repair and ReplacementSticking, worn or damaged ignitions repaired or replaced.Details →
- Broken Motorcycle Key ExtractionSnapped key removed and a new one cut from the pieces.Details →
- Gas Cap, Seat, Steering and Saddlebag LocksGas cap, seat, steering, helmet and saddlebag locks.Details →
Related guides
- 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.
- Worn or Bent Motorcycle Key: Signs, Risks and the Right FixA worn motorcycle key shows up as a key that needs wiggling, works in one lock but not another, or works worse than the spare.
- Motorcycle Gas Cap, Seat or Steering Lock Stuck? What to DoStuck gas cap, seat and steering locks on motorcycles usually come down to grime or corrosion in an exposed cylinder, a worn key, a stretched seat cable, or parts under tension that hold the latch closed.
- Recovered Stolen Motorcycle: Ignition and Lock DamageA recovered stolen motorcycle usually comes back with a damaged ignition switch and steering lock, and often with cut wiring and forced seat or fuel cap locks.
Where we come to you
Sources
- http://web.archive.org/web/20240703055838/https://cdn.powersports.honda.com/documentum/MWOM/ml.remawmom.2012_31mfna100_cb1000r.pdf
- https://manualshive.com/en/manual/honda/cb1000r-2015/2156999
- https://2rom-prd-data.hondamotopub.com/om/AHM/CB1000RA/2018/CB1000RA_31MKJ600_0.pdf
- http://web.archive.org/web/20250804185357/https://cdn.powersports.honda.com/documentum/MWOM/ml.remawmom.amkj2424omen.pdf
- https://global.honda/en/tech/Tech_Views_Vol4_Honda_Ignition_security_system_HISS/impression.html
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