Honda Grom and Monkey Key Replacement

Quick answerThe Grom and Monkey use plain cut keys with no immobilizer, according to Honda's US owner's manuals. A lost key is cut to the bike on site and needs no programming. The one thing to know is that the Grom was supplied with a folding retractable key as well as a plain one, and a worn folding mechanism does not mean the bike needs anything more than a new cut key.

Honda Grom and Monkey key quick facts

The 2018 and 2020 US Grom manuals and the 2020 US Monkey manual have no HISS or immobilizer section.
The 2018 and 2020 Grom manuals describe both an ignition key and a retractable ignition key that folds out of a key case at the press of a release button.
The Grom comes with a key number plate; the Monkey with two keys and a bar-coded key tag.
On the Grom, one key works the ignition and steering lock, the fuel fill cap and the seat lock, and the helmet holder is under the seat.
On the Monkey, the key also releases the left side cover and a locking helmet holder with its own lock cover.

Honda Grom and Monkey key types by year

Years	Models	Key type	Chip	Notes
2018 and 2020	Grom, Grom ABS	mechanical cut key, supplied as one plain key and one retractable key	no	Key number plate supplied. Steering lock is in the ignition switch.
2020	Monkey, Monkey ABS	mechanical cut key	no	Two ignition keys and a key tag with key number and bar code.

Small bikes, simple keys

Honda's 125 cc minis are built to be simple, and the keys are no exception. Honda's US manuals for the 2018 and 2020 Grom and the 2020 Monkey do not mention an immobilizer, a coded key or a security indicator. A new key only has to be cut to match the locks.

If yours is a different year, the Keys page of your owner's manual will confirm it in a few lines, and we check from your VIN when you call.

Need a key for your Grom?

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

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

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The Grom's retractable key

The Grom manual lists two keys: a normal ignition key and a retractable ignition key. The retractable one lives in a plastic key case and swings out when you press the release button; to put it away you hold the button and push the blade back in until it clicks. Honda's only instructions are to avoid touching the blade while it moves and to make sure it is fully extended before use.

A folding key has more to go wrong than a solid one. A blade that is not fully extended, or a hinge that has loosened, puts sideways load on the key in the ignition. If your retractable key has gone floppy or the button no longer holds, use the plain key and have a solid spare cut. The blade pattern is the same on both, so either one can be copied.

Grom ignition switch with steering lock: push the key down and turn to the lock position. The key comes out in OFF or lock.
Grom fuel fill cap, under a lock cover; the key stays captive until the cap is locked
Grom seat lock. The helmet holder and document bag are under the seat, and the manual warns you not to lock your key under it.
Monkey ignition switch with steering lock, and fuel fill cap under a lock cover
Monkey helmet holder: open its lock cover, insert the key, hang the helmet on the pin and push to lock
Monkey left side cover: the key turns clockwise in the cover's lock to release it

All keys lost, and a word on theft

We confirm ownership with photo ID and the registration or title, cut a key to the bike's locks where it is parked, and test it in every lock. There is no programming. Honda's manual says that without the key number plate a dealer will probably have to remove the ignition switch assembly to find the number, so dig out the plate or key tag if you have it.

Because these bikes are light enough to be lifted by two people, the steering lock and a plain key are not much protection on their own. If your key was stolen and not just lost, tell us. Rekeying the locks so the old key no longer works is worth considering, along with a chain or disc lock.

Where to find the key code

Grom: on the key number plate supplied with the keys; the manual asks you to record it in the manual and store the plate safely. Monkey: on the key tag, next to the bar code. If it is lost, the number can be recovered from the bike's locks.

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 Grom and Monkey key FAQ

Does the Honda Grom have a chip key?

No immobilizer appears in the 2018 or 2020 US Grom owner's manuals. Both the plain key and the retractable key are simple cut keys.

My Grom's folding key is broken. Do I need the dealer?

No. The folding case is just a holder for an ordinary cut blade, so a solid replacement key can be cut on site from the other key or to the lock.

Does the Monkey key open the side cover?

Yes. Honda's 2020 manual shows the ignition key turning clockwise in the left side cover lock to remove the cover.

I locked my key under the Grom seat. What now?

It is a known hazard; the manual warns about it because the seat latches when pushed down. Call us and we will get the seat open and your key back.

More Honda 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.
Broken Motorcycle Key in the Ignition: What to DoIf your key snaps in the motorcycle ignition, stop, keep both pieces, and do not try to turn the cylinder with the stub or dig the fragment out with a knife or screwdriver.
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.
Adding a Spare Motorcycle Chip Key: Who Can Program It?First check that your bike has a chip at all: many Japanese motorcycles sold in the US use a plain key, and a spare for those is simply cut.

Where we come to you

Sources

Page last updated November 14, 2026.