Lost the Key to Your Motorcycle Disc Lock or Chain?

Quick answerStart with the lock maker: most quality disc locks and chains come with a key number or code, and makers such as Kryptonite and Xena supply replacement keys against it. If you never recorded the number, the maker generally cannot help, and the lock has to be removed from the bike. A locksmith will do that only after seeing proof that the motorcycle is yours, meaning photo ID plus the registration or title.

First, find the key number

Security lock makers do not keep a record of which key fits the lock you bought unless you gave it to them. What they give you instead is a number that came with the keys. Look for it on the spare key, on a small metal tag on the original key ring, on a card in the packaging, or in the registration email if you signed up when you bought the lock.

Xena's manual for its XX15 disc lock alarms is a good example. It says each lock comes with three keys and a flat key-shaped tool etched with a unique key code and a serial number for ordering replacement keys, and tells you to make a note of your key code and store it safely. That little metal tool is easy to mistake for packaging and throw away.

What the makers offer

Programs differ, and the terms printed on your own lock's paperwork are the ones that apply. This is what the makers publish.

Maker	Replacement key route	What you need
Kryptonite	Key Safe program: for as long as you own the lock, if the keys are lost and the key number was registered, Kryptonite sends the first pair of standard replacement keys, and a shipping charge may apply	The key number, registered through the form on Kryptonite's website
Xena	Replacement keys ordered against the key code etched on the key-shaped tool supplied with the lock	The key code and serial number from that tool
ABUS	Replacement keys are handled through ABUS dealers, so ask a dealer what applies to your lock	A remaining key, or any code card or key number that came with the lock
Master Lock	Does not supply replacement keys directly to customers. With the key number, a locksmith, hardware store or authorized distributor can supply or special order a key	The key number. Master Lock says that without it there is no way to know which key opens your lock

Register the number before you need it

Kryptonite's printed instructions for its chains and disc locks spell out the condition that catches people: the replacement offer applies if the key number has been registered with Kryptonite. Registration is a form on the company's website under customer service. Combination locks have a matching program that returns a registered combination.

Master Lock offers something similar, letting owners store a key number or combination with the company so it is never lost. It also states plainly that there is no master key that opens all of its products and that replacement keys are not available for every model. If you own a keyed security lock and have never written the number down, do it today while a key is still in your hand.

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When the maker cannot help

If the number is gone and every key is lost, the maker's answer is usually that the lock must come off. Master Lock's own guidance in that situation is to contact a locksmith to open or remove the lock. That is the point where the job changes from ordering a part to working on a secured motorcycle, and it is why the paperwork matters.

A lock on a motorcycle's brake disc or through its frame is there to stop the bike being taken. Anyone asking to have one removed looks the same over the phone, owner or not. No reputable locksmith will remove a disc lock, chain or U-lock without proof that you own the bike, and neither will we. Have these ready.

Government-issued photo ID
The motorcycle's current registration or title, matching your ID
The bike itself, so the VIN and plate can be checked against the paperwork
Any receipt, packaging or registration email for the lock, if you have it
If the paperwork is locked under the seat, tell us when you call; the seat can be opened first and the documents checked before the lock is touched

What not to do while you wait

Do not try to move the bike under power with a disc lock fitted. The lock will hit the brake caliper or fork leg within a part of a wheel turn, and the usual result is a bent disc, a damaged caliper or a dropped motorcycle. Do not let a tow operator drag the locked wheel either. If the bike has to be moved before the lock comes off, tell the tow company a disc lock is fitted so it sends suitable equipment.

If the bike is chained to a fixed object in a public place or an apartment garage, expect questions from security or neighbors while anyone works on it, and keep your ID and registration on you. We do not describe removal methods here or over the phone. The visit itself is straightforward for the owner: the documents are checked, the lock is removed without damage to the wheel, disc or frame where possible, and you decide whether to replace it.

Stuck is not the same as lost

If you have the right key and it will not turn, the lock may only be dirty. Kryptonite's instructions say to lubricate the lock several times a year, using only a lubricant with a silicone, graphite or Teflon base, and say not to use solvent-type sprays, which remove the lubricant in the cylinder. Other makers give their own advice, so follow the instructions for your lock. Try that before assuming the lock has failed, and never force the key. A key broken off inside a disc lock leaves you with both problems at once.

Quick questions

Can Kryptonite send me new keys for my disc lock?

Yes, if you have the key number. Kryptonite's Key Safe program covers a first pair of standard replacement keys when the key number was registered with the company, for as long as you own the lock.

Where is the key number on a Xena disc lock?

Xena's manual says it is etched on the flat key-shaped metal tool supplied with the lock, along with the serial number, and that it is used for ordering replacement keys.

I have no key number and no keys. Can the lock still come off?

Yes, but it is a removal job, not a key order. A locksmith will ask for photo ID and the bike's registration or title first.

Why do you need proof of ownership to remove a disc lock?

Because removing an anti-theft lock from a motorcycle is exactly what a thief would ask for. Checking ID against the registration or title protects owners, including you.

Will you tell me how to get the lock off myself?

No. We do not give out methods for defeating security locks. Call us with the lock make and where the bike is, and have your photo ID and registration or title ready.

Services that can help

Keep reading

Proof of Ownership for a Motorcycle Key in CaliforniaA legitimate California locksmith will ask for photo ID plus the motorcycle's registration or title before making a key, because state law requires locksmiths to record your ID, the bike's VIN and registration details, and your signature for every vehicle key they originate.
Motorcycle Helmet Lock Keys: Factory Holders and Add-OnsMost factory helmet holders use the ignition key, either directly in a small lock on the side of the bike or indirectly, because the helmet hangs on a hook that the locked seat or trunk traps.
When to Get a Spare Motorcycle Key, and Why NowGet a spare motorcycle key as soon as you are down to one working key.
Harley Saddlebag and Tour-Pak Lock Keys: What Matches WhatOn Harley-Davidson Touring models, the factory hard saddlebags and the Tour-Pak are opened with the same barrel key as the ignition, according to Harley's owner's manuals.

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Page last updated November 14, 2026.