Can-Am Ryker Key Replacement

Quick answerThe Ryker has no ignition lock. Its RF D.E.S.S. key is placed on a post on the left side of the vehicle, the immobilizer reads the chip, and the start button does the rest. Two keys are delivered, a dealer can program the vehicle to accept up to 8, and if you lose them BRP's guide says to see your dealer to buy a new key and have it programmed.

Can-Am Ryker key quick facts

The RF D.E.S.S. post is on the left side of the vehicle, between the seat and the left service cover.
Two RF D.E.S.S. keys are delivered with the vehicle, and they do not contain batteries.
Operator's guides from 2021 on say a dealer can program the Ryker to accept up to 8 different keys.
The key is required only to start: removing it from the post will not stop the engine.
If the key is lost during a ride, the engine keeps running and CHECK KEY is displayed.
BRP ran dealer campaigns on some 2022 and 2023 Rykers to fit or activate the D.E.S.S. anti-theft function.

Can-Am Ryker key types by year

Years	Models	Key type	Chip	Notes
2019-present	Ryker, Ryker Sport, Ryker Rally	RF D.E.S.S. key on a post, not a cut key	yes	Dealer programmed. Two keys delivered; up to 8 can be accepted per the 2021 and later guides.
2022	Some Ryker units	D.E.S.S. post or key without the programmable functions	varies	BRP bulletin 2022-17 had dealers fit an RF D.E.S.S. post and, if required, a key, then program it. Ask a dealer to check the VIN.
2023	Ryker	RF D.E.S.S. key on a post	yes	BRP campaign 2023-0010: D.E.S.S. was not activated from the factory and dealers were told to activate it and program the keys.

A key that is not really a key

If you are used to motorcycles, the Ryker's starting routine feels more like the watercraft and snowmobiles BRP also builds with D.E.S.S. keys. There is no blade and no lock cylinder to turn. The operator's guide describes the sequence: install the RF D.E.S.S. key on the D.E.S.S. post, briefly press the start button to wake up the electrical system, set the engine stop switch to RUN, hold the brake pedal and press the start button again.

Each key contains an electronic circuit with a specifically pre-programmed chip that is read via radio frequency by the immobilizer system to allow starting the engine. The guides add two more points: two keys are delivered with the vehicle, and the keys do not contain batteries.

Need a key for your Ryker?

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Removing the key does not stop the engine

This catches new owners. The guide carries a note in two places: the engine can only be stopped by using the engine stop switch, and removing the RF D.E.S.S. key from its post will not stop the engine, because the key is required only to start the vehicle. The shutdown routine in the guide has you stop the engine with the switch, then remove the key and engage the park position lever.

It also explains the CHECK KEY message. If the key comes off the post or is lost during a ride, the guide says the engine will continue without cutting out or misfiring and CHECK KEY will be displayed. You can stop the engine normally, but you need a programmed key to restart. A key that falls off on the highway is therefore a lost key you may not notice until the next stop, which is a good reason to make sure it is seated properly before you ride.

Up to 8 keys, and the learning key

From the 2021 guide onward BRP states that the D.E.S.S. of the vehicle can be programmed by an authorized Can-Am On-Road dealer to accept up to 8 different keys. That is useful for a household or a rental fleet. The guides also describe a Can-Am On-Road learning key, which limits the speed of the vehicle so that first time and less experienced operators can build confidence.

Programming is dealer work. BRP's 2023 campaign bulletin for the Ryker spells out the routine for technicians: key on the post, vehicle connected to BRP's BUDS2 software, anti-theft system confirmed as activated under the Keys tab, then the key programmed. There is no owner procedure in the guide.

2022 and 2023 Rykers: check for campaigns

Two model years have a documented wrinkle. BRP's bulletin 2022-17 says some 2022 Rykers were manufactured with a D.E.S.S. post or key without the programmable functions, and that those vehicles were produced with a parking lock lever to prevent unintended use. Dealers were to install an RF D.E.S.S. post, and a key if required, and program it. For 2023, campaign 2023-0010 says the D.E.S.S. system was not activated from the factory and has dealers activate it and program the keys.

If you own or are buying a 2022 or 2023 Ryker, ask a Can-Am dealer to run the VIN for open campaigns. A 2022 Ryker with a keyed lock on the park lever may be one of these units. The guides also describe a park position lever lock that is turned with a key, listed for outside North America in the 2019 to 2022 editions.

Lost key, wrong key, and who to call

The guide's troubleshooting for an engine that does not turn over includes the RF D.E.S.S. key not being read, with two fixes: properly reinstall the key, or try another key already programmed for this vehicle. A BAD KEY message means a wrong or defective key, and the advice is to use the right key or contact an authorized Can-Am On-Road dealer.

For a lost key the guide gives one instruction: see your dealer to buy a new key and have it programmed. With the spare in hand you can ride there. With no key at all, the Ryker goes on a trailer, and the guide warns that the vehicle must be transported properly, not towed. Because the Ryker has no ignition cylinder, there is little lock work on it for a mobile locksmith. We are glad to talk it through and point you to the right next step, and you will want your photo ID, registration or title and VIN ready for the dealer.

Where to find the key code

There is no cut code for a Ryker key, because the key is not cut. What matters is the code in the chip, which a Can-Am On-Road dealer programs to the vehicle, so keep the second key that was delivered with the Ryker somewhere safe.

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)

Can-Am Ryker key FAQ

Where does the Ryker key go?

On the RF D.E.S.S. post on the left side of the vehicle, between the seat and the left service cover. You then use the start button and the engine stop switch.

How many keys can be programmed to a Ryker?

Two are delivered, and the operator's guide from 2021 on says a dealer can program the vehicle to accept up to 8 different keys.

My Ryker key fell off while riding. Will the engine stop?

No. The guide says the engine continues to run and CHECK KEY is displayed, but you will need a programmed key on the post to restart after you stop.

Does the Ryker key need a battery?

No. The guide states that the RF D.E.S.S. keys do not contain batteries.

Can a locksmith make a Ryker key?

BRP's guide sends you to a dealer to buy a new key and have it programmed, and its bulletins show that done in BRP's BUDS2 software. A mobile locksmith is not the right call for a lost Ryker key.

The immobilizer system on this bike

Can-Am D.E.S.S. Key: Spyder and Ryker Keys and Lost KeysD.E.S.S.

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Where we come to you

Sources

Page last updated November 14, 2026.