Triumph Bonneville and Street/Speed Twin Key Replacement

Quick answerEvery liquid-cooled Bonneville twin since 2016 uses a transponder key, so a blade cut to fit will turn the locks but will not start the engine until it is paired to the bike's immobiliser. One key works the ignition and steering lock, the seat lock and the fuel cap. If you have lost one key, get a spare paired now; if you have lost both, the job is cutting a blade and programming it to the bike.

Triumph Bonneville and Street/Speed Twin key quick facts

Triumph's handbook for the T100, T120, Street Twin, Speed Twin, Street Scrambler and Thruxton lists two ignition keys and a key number tag.
The same key operates the ignition switch and steering lock, the seat lock and the fuel tank cap.
The ignition switch has four positions: OFF, ON, LOCK and P (park).
The ignition switch housing is the antenna for the engine immobiliser.
The handbook warns that two ignition keys near the switch can stop the immobiliser from reading either one.

Triumph Bonneville and Street/Speed Twin key types by year

Years	Models	Key type	Chip	Notes
2016-present	Bonneville T100, Bonneville T120, Street Twin, Street Cup, Street Scrambler, Thruxton and Thruxton R	transponder key	yes	Covered by the 2016 handbook. Two keys and a key number tag from the factory.
2019-present	Speed Twin, Thruxton RS, T120 Ace and Diamond editions	transponder key	yes	Added to the same handbook in the 2018 and 2019 issues, with the same key and immobiliser text.
2001-2017	Air-cooled Bonneville, T100, Thruxton and Scrambler	cut key, separate steering lock key	no	A different platform. The handbook describes an ignition-only key and a second key for the steering lock.

The key and immobiliser on the liquid-cooled twins

Triumph covers the Bonneville T100 and T120, Street Twin, Speed Twin, Street Scrambler and Thruxton in one owner's handbook, and the key section is the same for all of them. A transponder inside the key head switches off the engine immobiliser when the key is in the switch and turned to ON. Take the key out and the immobiliser is on again, with the red light on the instruments flashing for 24 hours to show it. If that light stays lit with the ignition on, the handbook treats it as an immobiliser fault.

The Street Twin became the Speed Twin 900 and the Street Scrambler became the Scrambler 900 in later model years; the names changed, and Triumph still lists a key-transponder immobiliser on the current Bonneville range.

Need a key for your Bonneville T100?

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This is a one-key bike. The handbook says the ignition key is also required to operate the seat lock and the fuel tank cap, and the steering lock is built into the ignition switch. That matters when a key is lost, because one new blade restores every lock on the bike.

The ignition switch has four positions. The key comes out in OFF, LOCK or P. LOCK locks the steering with the bars turned fully left, and P (park) keeps the steering locked. Triumph notes that leaving the switch in P for long periods will discharge the battery, which is worth knowing if the bike will not wake up after a few days parked.

Ignition switch and steering lock: ignition key
Seat lock, on the frame below the seat on the left-hand side: ignition key
Fuel tank cap: ignition key
Helmet hook, where fitted: beneath the seat on the left, so the helmet is secured by refitting the seat

Trouble spots on these bikes

The most common self-inflicted no-start is two chip keys on one ring. Triumph's handbook says having two ignition keys near the switch may interrupt the signal between the transponder and the immobiliser, and the immobiliser stays active until one key is removed. Split the keys before assuming something has failed.

The handbook also asks you to remove extra keys, rings and chains from the ignition key before riding, because they can interfere with the steering and mark the paint around the switch. A heavy bunch swinging from the key is not kind to the ignition lock either.

An accessory alarm changes how the indicator light behaves. If a genuine Triumph alarm is fitted, the light follows the alarm's instructions and not the 24-hour flashing pattern.

When one key or both keys are lost

Triumph's handbook says replacement keys must be paired with the motorcycle's immobiliser. With one working key, that is a short visit: we cut a blade, pair the new key and check that both keys start the bike. If you still have the key number tag, bring it, since the number gives the blade cut directly.

With no keys, we cut a blade to the bike's locks and then program a key to the immobiliser at the bike. Whether that can be done to the existing immobiliser depends on the model and year, so call with the VIN first. Have photo ID and the registration or title ready, and tell us if the ignition or fuel cap has ever been replaced, because a swapped lock may be cut differently from the rest. A weak battery should be charged first; programming needs steady voltage.

Where to find the key code

The key number is on the small tag supplied with the two original keys. Triumph's handbook asks owners to note it and keep the tag with the spare key away from the motorcycle, so check the handbook pouch and the sales paperwork. Without the tag, the cut can be taken from a lock on the bike.

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)

Triumph Bonneville and Street/Speed Twin key FAQ

Will a hardware store copy start my Bonneville T120?

No. It will turn the ignition and open the seat and fuel cap, but the engine will not start until the key's transponder is paired to the immobiliser.

My Street Twin will not start with both keys on the same ring. Is the immobiliser broken?

Probably not. Triumph's handbook says two ignition keys near the switch can interrupt the signal, and the immobiliser stays on until one is moved away. Try again with a single key.

Does the Speed Twin use the same key system as the Bonneville T120?

Yes. Triumph covers the Speed Twin in the same handbook as the T100, T120 and Street Twin, with the same transponder key, key number tag and four-position ignition switch.

Is my older air-cooled Bonneville the same?

No. The air-cooled twins use a plain cut ignition key and a separate steering lock key, and the handbook does not describe a transponder.

The immobilizer system on this bike

Triumph Immobilizer and Keyless Ignition: Keys and Lost KeysTriumph's engine immobiliser reads a transponder in the key and only lets the engine start for a key that has been paired to the bike.

More Triumph models

Services for this bike

When to Get a Spare Motorcycle Key, and Why NowGet a spare motorcycle key as soon as you are down to one working key.
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.
Keyless Motorcycle Not Detecting the Key: Causes and BackupsOwner's manuals give a short list of reasons a keyless bike fails to detect its fob: a weak fob battery, the fob carried against a phone, laptop or metal object, strong radio interference nearby, the fob switched off or out of range, and a low battery on the bike itself.

Where we come to you

Sources

Page last updated November 14, 2026.