Buell Blast Key Replacement

Quick answerThe Buell Blast has one keyed lock: a combined ignition, headlamp and fork lock switch. There is no chip in the key and no immobilizer, and the 2007 service manual shows a tab-style fuel cap and a latch-type seat with no key lock on either. A lost Blast key is one of the simpler motorcycle jobs, done at the bike with no programming.

Buell Blast key quick facts

The Blast's 2007 service manual describes a four-position combination ignition and headlamp key switch: OFF, LOCK, P and IGN.
The fork lock is built into that switch, so there is no separate steering lock to key.
The key comes out in OFF, in the fork lock position and in P, but not in IGN.
P is a parking-light position between OFF and IGN, and the manual warns that leaving the key there discharges the battery.
The manual calls the switch not repairable: if it fails, the unit is replaced.
The fuel cap comes off with a fold-up locking tab turned a quarter turn, with no key.

Buell Blast key types by year

Years	Models	Key type	Chip	Notes
2000-2009	Blast (P3)	plain cut key for the combined ignition and fork lock switch	no	Single-cylinder 492cc model. Switch positions and the keyless fuel cap and seat latch are as shown in the 2007 P3 service manual.

One switch does everything

Buell built the Blast as a beginner's bike and a rider-training bike, and the lock hardware reflects that. Where the bigger tube-frame Buells of the same era have an ignition switch plus a separate steering head lock, the Blast folds both into one unit. The table in the service manual lists the positions like this.

OFF: ignition and lamps off. Key can be removed.
LOCK: fork lock, reached through a push detent from OFF. Key can be removed.
P: park. Ignition off, with some lamps still on for a parked bike. Key can be removed.
IGN: ignition and lamps on for riding. Key cannot be removed.

Need a key for your Blast?

Call or text with the year and where the bike is parked.

Call (805) 429-8452 Text your year, make and model

Or read first: all services · common questions · about us · contact details

What the key does not open

Riders coming from other bikes expect a keyed gas cap and a keyed seat. The Blast's service manual shows neither. To remove the fuel cap you lift its locking tab until it stands upright, rotate the tab a quarter turn counterclockwise until it clicks, and pull the cap out by the tab. The seat is held by a latch underneath it that you push toward the front of the bike with your thumb while lifting the rear of the seat.

That has two practical results. A lost key never keeps you from the fuel filler or from the fuse block under the seat. And there is no second lock on the bike to copy a key from, so with every key gone the new key is made to the ignition switch itself.

Typical Blast key problems

A dead battery after parking is the classic one, and it is often blamed on the bike. The key slides out in P just as easily as in OFF, and P leaves lights on. If your Blast is flat after sitting, look at where the switch was left before suspecting anything else.

The newest Blast is from 2009, so worn keys and worn switches come with the age. A key that has to be jiggled, or that only works when pulled out slightly, is telling you the key or the switch is worn. Cutting a fresh key to the correct depths, instead of copying a worn one, often cures it. If the switch itself has failed, the manual treats it as a replace-only part, so the fix is a new switch and keys cut to match it.

A Blast bought at auction or pulled out of storage with no key at all is a straightforward visit as long as the ownership paperwork is in order.

All keys lost

We bring the blanks to the bike. First we check your photo ID against the registration or title. Then we make a key to the ignition switch, and test every position: OFF, the fork lock, P and IGN, with the steering locked and released. Because the key carries no electronics, a key that turns the switch correctly is a finished job.

Harley-Davidson closed Buell in 2009, so there is no factory parts counter for this bike. A Harley-Davidson dealer may still be able to help with a key from the VIN, which is worth a phone call, but making the key from the switch does not depend on anyone's parts supply. Tell us if the fork is locked when you call, and whether an aftermarket alarm has been added.

Where to find the key code

Look for a number stamped on an original key and for any tag or dealer paperwork that came with the bike. If nothing survives, the key is made from the ignition switch 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)

Buell Blast key FAQ

Does a Buell Blast key have a chip?

No. The Blast has a plain mechanical key and no immobilizer. A correctly cut key is all it needs.

Where is the steering lock on a Blast?

In the ignition switch. From OFF, the key pushes in through a detent and turns to the fork lock position, and it can be removed there.

Does the Blast gas cap need the key?

No. The service manual shows a cap released by a fold-up locking tab turned a quarter turn. There is no key lock on it.

Why did my Blast battery die overnight?

Check whether the key was taken out in P instead of OFF. P is a parking-light position and the manual warns it will run the battery down.

Can you copy my worn Blast key?

We can, but a copy of a worn key is a worn key. We prefer to cut a new one to the original depths so it works cleanly in the switch.

More Buell models

Services for this bike

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.
Auction or Salvage Motorcycle With No Keys: What to ExpectA motorcycle from Copart, IAA or a lien sale can get new keys once you hold paperwork that ties you to the VIN: a title or Salvage Certificate endorsed to you, or the lien sale certification packet, plus a bill of sale and your photo ID.
Signs Your Motorcycle Ignition Switch Is FailingA motorcycle ignition switch is two parts in one housing: a lock cylinder that reads the key and an electrical switch that powers the bike.
Can a Locksmith Make a Motorcycle Key From the VIN?Sometimes, but not directly.

Where we come to you

Sources

Page last updated November 14, 2026.