Kawasaki KLX230, KLX250 and KLX300 Key Replacement

Quick answerKawasaki's street-legal KLX dual-sports and supermotos use a plain cut key with no chip. The owner's manuals for the 2018 KLX250, the 2020 KLX230 and the 2024 KLX300 have no immobilizer section. A lost key is cut to the ignition where the bike sits, which matters on a machine that may be parked at a trailhead.

Kawasaki KLX230, KLX250 and KLX300 key quick facts

One blank, 27008-1170, runs through the 2001 Super Sherpa, the 2009 KLX250S, the 2010 KLX250SF, the 2018 KLX250, the 2021 KLX300 and KLX300SM, and the 2024 KLX300 in Kawasaki's US catalog.
The 2020 KLX230 uses a different blank, 27008-0650, and adds a keyed lock on the left side cover.
The 2018 KLX250 manual lists the key's jobs as ignition switch and steering lock, seat lock, helmet hook and fuel tank cap.
The KLX250 helmet hook is unlocked by inserting the ignition key and turning it to the right.
On the 2024 KLX300 the catalog moves the helmet lock to the accessory list.

Kawasaki KLX230, KLX250 and KLX300 key types by year

Years	Models	Key type	Chip	Notes
2000-2003	Super Sherpa (KL250G)	mechanical cut key	no	Blank 27008-1170 in the 2001 and 2003 catalogs, with a keyed helmet lock and fuel cap.
2006-2007	KLX250S (KLX250H)	mechanical cut key	no	Blank 27008-1220 in the 2006 and 2007 catalogs, with its own ignition switch and a keyed helmet lock. This is not the blank used on the later bikes.
2009-2020	KLX250S, KLX250SF, KLX250	mechanical cut key	no	Blank 27008-1170 and one ignition switch part number in the 2009, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2020 catalogs. Keyed helmet lock.
2021-present	KLX300, KLX300SM	mechanical cut key	no	Same blank. The 2021 diagrams list a helmet lock; the 2024 KLX300 lists it as an accessory. No immobilizer section in the 2024 manual.
2020-present	KLX230, KLX230 ABS, KLX230 S	mechanical cut key	no	Blank 27008-0650 in the 2020 catalog. Side cover lock and fuel cap lock listed. No immobilizer section in the 2020 manual.

A blank that outlived four models

Kawasaki has kept one key blank on most of its 250 and 300 cc dual-sports for more than two decades. The Super Sherpa of the early 2000s, the KLX250S from 2009, the KLX250SF supermoto, the 2018 to 2020 KLX250 and today's KLX300 and KLX300SM all show the same blank number. It is also the blank Kawasaki listed for the 2000 ZX-6R, ZX-7R and ZX-9R sport bikes, so it is a familiar one.

Two bikes in the family do not share it. The first KLX250S, sold for 2006 and 2007, is listed with blank 27008-1220, the number Kawasaki also shows for the 2008 KLR650. The KLX230 has its own blank as well. Tell us the year when you call so we bring the right one.

Need a key for your KLX230?

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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Locks on a KLX

Dual-sports have few locks, but the details differ between the 230 and the larger bikes.

KLX250 and KLX300: ignition switch with steering lock, keyed fuel tank cap, and a keyed helmet hook on bikes that have it.
KLX250: the tool kit rides in a tool kit bag on the bike, not behind a lock.
KLX300 (2024): the tool kit is in a bag at the rear of the seat.
KLX230: the left side cover is locked. Insert the ignition key in the side cover lock and turn it clockwise to release the cover.
KLX230: the tool kit sits under the battery holder behind that locked cover, so no key means no tools.
KLX230: keyed fuel tank cap, with a helmet lock available as an accessory.

What goes wrong off-road

A key on a dirt-going bike can shake out of a pocket on the trail, and a worn key can work loose from a worn ignition without anyone noticing until the next stop. Dust and wash-water can also get into the fuel cap lock, and a cap that will not open is as much of a ride-ender as a lost key.

A cheap fix before the problem starts is a second key, kept on the bike or with a riding partner. Because these are plain keys, a spare costs little and needs no setup.

Lost key, bike in the garage or at the trailhead

We travel to the motorcycle. Once your photo ID and the registration or title confirm ownership, we make a key from the ignition lock and check it in the fuel cap, and in the helmet lock or side cover lock if your model has one. For an off-road-plated bike with a title but no current registration, bring whatever ownership paperwork you have and tell us in advance.

If the bike is somewhere we cannot reach by road, we will talk through getting it to the nearest road first.

Where to find the key code

The KLX250 manual says a key number is included with the key and may be stamped on a separate plate, with a space to write it down. The KLX230 and KLX300 keys come with a key number tag. Kawasaki notes you need the number or a spare key for a duplicate.

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)

Kawasaki KLX230, KLX250 and KLX300 key FAQ

Do the KLX300 and KLX300SM use the same key?

Yes, the same blank and the same ignition switch part number in Kawasaki's 2021 catalog. Each bike's key is cut to its own locks.

Is there a chip in a KLX230 key?

No. The 2020 owner's manual has no immobilizer section and Kawasaki lists a plain blank.

I cannot get the KLX230 side cover off and my tools are behind it. Can you open it?

Yes. The left side cover has its own keyed lock that takes the ignition key. We can open it and cut you a key on the same visit.

Will a KLX250 key blank fit my older Super Sherpa?

Kawasaki lists the same blank number for both, so the uncut blank is the same. It still has to be cut to your Sherpa's lock.

Does the KLX300R trail bike have a key?

Kawasaki's catalog for the 2021 KLX300R lists no key blank and no keyed ignition switch. It is an off-road model, so there is no key to replace.

The immobilizer system on this bike

Kawasaki Immobilizer and KIPASS: Keys, Fobs and Lost KeysKawasaki has two electronic key systems: a transponder immobilizer with coded keys, and KIPASS, a fob system used on the Concours 14 and a few newer models.

More Kawasaki models

Services for this bike

Dirt Bike and Dual Sport Keys: Which Bikes Have ThemMany dirt bikes have no key at all, so the first step is knowing which kind you ride.
Lost Your Motorcycle Key on a Ride, Far From HomeIf the key goes missing at a stop far from home, secure the bike where it stands, retrace the stop, and then gather the details a locksmith or dealer will need: your photo ID, registration, VIN, year, make and model, and any key number.
When to Get a Spare Motorcycle Key, and Why NowGet a spare motorcycle key as soon as you are down to one working key.
Trike and Three-Wheeler Keys: Harley, Can-Am, TrunksKeys and locks on trikes can be replaced, but who does which part depends on the machine.

Where we come to you

Sources

Page last updated November 14, 2026.