Yamaha V Star 950 and V Star 1100 Key Replacement

Quick answerThe V Star 950 and V Star 1100 are plain-key cruisers. Yamaha's US owner's manuals for the 2005 V Star 1100 and the 2012 and 2013 V Star 950 have no immobilizer section. The two bikes lock differently, though: the 950 has a keyed rider seat with the helmet holder beneath it, while the 1100 has bolted seats plus a separate keyed helmet holder and a keyed storage box on the left side.

Yamaha V Star 950 and V Star 1100 key quick facts

Neither the 2005 V Star 1100 US manual nor the 2012 and 2013 V Star 950 US manuals list an immobilizer.
V Star 950: the rider seat has a key lock, turned counterclockwise, and the helmet holder is under that seat.
V Star 1100: both seats are held by bolts, with no seat lock.
V Star 1100: the helmet holder has its own keyed lock, and a storage compartment on the left side opens with the key behind a sliding lock cover.
On both bikes the main switch also locks the steering and the fuel cap takes the ignition key.

Yamaha V Star 950 and V Star 1100 key types by year

Years	Models	Key type	Chip	Notes
2005	V Star 1100 Classic and Silverado (US market)	mechanical cut key	no	Keyed points: main switch and steering lock, fuel cap, helmet holder, left-side storage compartment.
2012-2013	V Star 950 (US market)	mechanical cut key	no	Keyed points: main switch and steering lock, fuel cap, rider seat lock. Helmet holder under the seat.

Carbureted 1100, injected 950, same kind of key

The V Star 1100 ran from 1999 to 2009 with carburetors, a fuel cock and a choke. The V Star 950 replaced it in the middle of the range for 2009 with fuel injection and belt drive. A generation apart, they still share the basics: a main switch that doubles as the steering lock, a keyed fuel cap, and no electronic key system. The 2005 V Star 1100 and 2012 and 2013 V Star 950 manuals from Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. have no immobilizer chapter.

Need a key for your V Star 950?

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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V Star 1100: four locks, none on the seat

Yamaha puts the owner's tool kit inside that side storage compartment, so it is a lock you want working. When we make a key for an 1100 we always try it there.

Main switch and steering lock.
Fuel tank cap.
Helmet holder: insert the key, turn, swing it open; put it back and remove the key to lock.
Storage compartment on the left side of the bike: slide the lock cover open, insert the key and turn it clockwise.
Passenger and rider seats: each held by a bolt. The passenger seat comes off first.

V Star 950: one seat lock covers the rest

Yamaha simplified things on the 950. The rider seat has a key lock, and the helmet holder moved under the seat, so one lock protects both. The manual has you insert the key in the seat lock and turn it counterclockwise to release the seat, then push the seat down to latch it again. If your 950 has saddlebags, tell us whether they lock and whether your ignition key fits them.

Typical trouble on these two

On the 1100, age is the issue. The newest of these bikes is well over a decade old, so expect a worn key, and expect the helmet holder and storage locks to be stiff if they have not been used in years. A key that works the ignition but not the side box usually points to a worn key or a cylinder that has seized from lack of use.

On the 950, everything under the rider seat depends on one seat lock. If the seat stops releasing, do not pry at the seat pan. Forcing it can damage the latch, and the lock can be opened properly at the bike.

Replacing a lost key

For either model we check your photo ID and registration or title, then cut a key to the bike. With no chip involved, the bike starts as soon as the cut is right. We finish by checking every keyed point for that model: four on the 1100, three on the 950.

Where to find the key code

The manuals say the key identification number is stamped into the key tag and give a line in the consumer information chapter to record it. If the bike came to you without it, the key is made from the locks instead.

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)

Yamaha V Star 950 and V Star 1100 key FAQ

Is there a seat lock on the V Star 1100?

No. The 2005 manual shows each seat held by a bolt. The keyed locks are the main switch, fuel cap, helmet holder and the left-side storage compartment.

Where is the helmet lock on a V Star 950?

Under the rider seat. Unlock the seat with the key, hook the helmet on the holder, and refit the seat.

Does either V Star need a programmed key?

No. The US manuals for both show a plain mechanical key and no immobilizer, so there is nothing to program.

My key starts my V Star 1100 but will not open the side compartment. Can that be fixed?

Usually. We check whether the key is worn or the cylinder is stuck or mismatched, then cut a fresh key or service the lock so one key works all four.

More Yamaha models

Services for this bike

Cruiser and Touring Motorcycle Keys: Bags, Forks, FobsYes, keys for cruisers and touring bikes can be replaced, and on most of them it is a mechanical job because the key is a plain cut or barrel key.
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.
Motorcycle Key and Lock Care: What Makers RecommendKeep water and grit out of the locks, use a small amount of a dry or lock-specific lubricant instead of oil, and replace a worn key before it fails.
Buying Motorcycle Keys Online by VIN, Code or BlankOrdering online can work well for a plain metal key when you have the key code, because the code tells the seller exactly how to cut it.

Where we come to you

Sources

Page last updated November 14, 2026.