# BMW F 750 GS, F 850 GS and F 800 GS Key Replacement BMW's middleweight GS twins use the EWS immobilizer, so a new key needs programming as well as cutting. Source: https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/f750gs-f850gs-f800gs/ Business: The Motorcycle Locksmith, mobile motorcycle locksmith. Phone and text: (619) 775-1858 (San Diego side). > BMW's middleweight GS twins use the EWS immobilizer, so a new key needs programming as well as cutting. The F 750 GS and F 850 GS come with either a keyed ignition and two keys, or optional Keyless Ride with a fob and an emergency key. One key works the ignition, fuel filler cap and seat lock, and Vario case locks can be matched to it. **BMW F 750 GS, F 850 GS and F 800 GS key quick facts** - The F 850 GS manual says you receive two ignition keys, and that the ignition switch, fuel filler cap lock and seat lock are all operated with the same key. - Keyless Ride is optional equipment on the F 750 GS and F 850 GS. - With Keyless Ride, the emergency key or a flat fob is inserted into a ring antenna under the seat to start the bike. - On Keyless Ride bikes the seat lock, top case and cases are still locked and unlocked by hand. - BMW dealers sell a lock cylinder kit that matches Vario case locks on the F 750 GS and F 850 GS to an existing key. ## BMW F 750 GS, F 850 GS and F 800 GS key types by year | Years | Models | Key type | Chip | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | About 2006-2018 | F 800 family, including the F 800 GS | transponder key (EWS), keyed ignition | yes | The F 800 S manual describes the ring antenna in the ignition lock and keys that can be barred by a dealer. | | 2019-present | F 750 GS, F 850 GS, F 850 GS Adventure (keyed) | transponder key (EWS) | yes | Two ignition keys. | | 2019-present | F 750 GS, F 850 GS, F 850 GS Adventure (Keyless Ride) | Keyless Ride fob plus emergency key | yes | One radio-operated key and one emergency key. | ## The key and immobilizer by generation The F 800 family manual describes EWS the same way as BMW's bigger bikes: the engine can only be started with keys that belong to the vehicle, signals pass through a ring antenna in the ignition lock, and a dealer can bar an individual key if it goes missing. That wording is from the F 800 S manual. The F 800 GS, F 700 GS and twin-cylinder F 650 GS share that platform, so check your rider's manual for your exact model. The F 750 GS and F 850 GS keep EWS and add a choice. The standard bike has a keyed ignition. With the Keyless Ride option the manual refers to a remote-control ignition lock, and you get one radio-operated key and one emergency key. **Need a key for your F 750 GS?** Call or text with the year and where the bike is parked. Call or text (619) 775-1858. ## What the dash tells you When the immobilizer is active, the general warning light comes on yellow with the EWS warning symbol. BMW's manual gives the cause as a key that is not authorized, or disrupted communication between the key and the engine electronics. The listed remedies are to remove other keys from the ring, use the spare key, and have a defective key replaced. Keyless Ride bikes have two more messages. One warns that the radio-operated key is out of range, with the advice to check or replace its battery and carry on with the reserve key. The other warns that the fob battery has lost much of its capacity. The manual adds that if the warning appears while riding you can continue, because the engine will not switch off. ## Locks and luggage on the same key The F 850 GS manual says the ignition switch, fuel filler cap lock and seat lock are all operated with the same key. Vario cases and top cases have their own lock cylinders, and BMW dealers sell a key-matching kit for F 750 GS and F 850 GS Vario luggage that sets the cylinder to the cut of an existing key, either the ignition key or a key already used on the luggage. On a used bike, expect either arrangement. With Keyless Ride the fob has a fold-out key blade, and the seat lock, top case and cases are still worked by hand. ## Trail and travel problems - Flat fob battery far from home: on the F 850 GS the manual says to remove the seat and insert the folded fob or the emergency key into the ring antenna under it. The fob battery is a CR 2032. - Bent or snapped key after a drop: a keyed bike still needs the chip from that key or a newly programmed one, so keep every piece. - Single key on a used adventure bike: get a second key made while the first works, before a trip rather than during one. - No keys at all: a dealer orders against the VIN after checking ownership. We come to the bike, and we ask for photo ID and the registration or title. ## 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) ## BMW F 750 GS, F 850 GS and F 800 GS key FAQ ### Where is the emergency key antenna on an F 850 GS? Under the seat. BMW's manual says to remove the seat and insert the emergency key or the folded fob with a flat battery into the ring antenna there. ### Does my F 750 GS have Keyless Ride? Only if it was ordered with that option. A key slot at the steering head means a keyed EWS bike, and a button means Keyless Ride. ### Can my Vario cases be put on the ignition key? Yes. BMW's key-matching lock cylinder kit for F 750 GS and F 850 GS Vario cases is set up to an existing key, so the luggage and ignition can share one. ### Does the F 800 GS have a chip key? The F 800 family manual describes the EWS immobilizer with a ring antenna in the ignition lock, so plan on a programmed transponder key rather than a plain cut key. ## The immobilizer system on this bike - [BMW Motorcycle EWS Immobilizer: Keys and the EWS Warning](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/immobilizer-systems/bmw-ews-immobilizer/): EWS is BMW Motorrad's electronic immobilizer. - [BMW Keyless Ride: Lost Fob, Flat Battery and Emergency Key](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/immobilizer-systems/bmw-keyless-ride/): Keyless Ride replaces the ignition lock on many BMW motorcycles with a button and a radio-operated key that only has to be within about 3 feet of the bike. ## More BMW models [airheads and K 75, K 100, K 1100](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/airheads-k75-k100-k1100/), [C 400 GT and C 650 GT scooters](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/c400gt-c650gt/), [C 400 X and C 600 Sport scooters](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/c400x-c600sport/), [CE 04, CE 02 and C evolution](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/ce04-ce02-c-evolution/), [F 650 CS](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/f650cs/), [F 650 GS single and G 650 GS](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/f650gs-single-g650gs/), [F 650 GS twin and F 700 GS](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/f650gs-twin-f700gs/), [F 800 S, F 800 ST, F 800 GT, F 800 R](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/f800s-f800st-f800gt-f800r/), [F 900 R, F 900 XR and F 900 GS](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/f900r-f900xr-f900gs/), [G 310 R and G 310 GS](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/g310r-g310gs/), [G 650 Xcountry, Xchallenge, Xmoto](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/g650x/), [HP2 Enduro, Megamoto and Sport](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/hp2/), [K 1200 LT and early K 1200 GT](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/k1200lt/), [K 1200 RS](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/k1200rs/), [K 1200 S, R, GT and K 1300 S, R, GT](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/k1200s-k1200r-k1200gt-k1300/), [K 1600 GT, K 1600 GTL and K 1600 B](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/k1600gt-k1600gtl-k1600b/), [M 1000 RR and M 1000 R](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/m1000rr-m1000r/), [R 1100 and R 1150 oilhead boxers](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/r1100-r1150/), [R 12 nineT, R 12 and R 12 G/S](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/r12-ninet-r12/), [R 1200 C and R 1200 CL cruisers](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/r1200c-r1200cl/), [R 1200 GS, R 1250 GS and R 1300 GS](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/r1200gs-r1250gs-r1300gs/), [R 1200 R, R 1200 RS, R 1250 R and RS](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/r1200r-r1200rs-r1250r-r1250rs/), [R 1200 RT and R 1250 RT](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/r1200rt-r1250rt/), [R 1200 S and R 1200 ST](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/r1200s-r1200st/), [R 18](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/r18/), [R nineT](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/r-ninet/), [S 1000 RR, S 1000 R and S 1000 XR](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/s1000rr-s1000r-s1000xr/), [All BMW keys](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/makes/bmw/) ## Services for this bike - [Lost Motorcycle Key, No Spare](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/services/lost-motorcycle-key/): No key at all? We make a working key at the bike. - [Motorcycle Key Replacement](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/services/motorcycle-key-replacement/): New keys cut by code or from the lock, for all major makes. - [Transponder and Immobilizer Key Programming](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/services/motorcycle-key-programming/): Chip keys and fobs programmed to your immobilizer. - [Motorcycle Key Duplication and Spare Keys](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/services/motorcycle-key-duplication/): A spare now costs far less than a lost only-key later. - [Motorcycle Ignition Repair and Replacement](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/services/motorcycle-ignition-repair/): Sticking, worn or damaged ignitions repaired or replaced. - [Broken Motorcycle Key Extraction](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/services/broken-key-extraction/): Snapped key removed and a new one cut from the pieces. - [Gas Cap, Seat, Steering and Saddlebag Locks](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/services/motorcycle-lock-repair/): Gas cap, seat, steering, helmet and saddlebag locks. ## Related guides - [When to Get a Spare Motorcycle Key, and Why Now](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/guides/when-to-get-a-spare-motorcycle-key/): Get a spare motorcycle key as soon as you are down to one working key. - [Lost Your Only Motorcycle Key? What to Do Next](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/guides/lost-motorcycle-key-no-spare/): If you lost the only key to your motorcycle, a new one can almost always be made, but the route depends on whether your bike uses a plain metal key, a chipped transponder key, or a keyless fob. - [Motorcycle Key Fob and Keyless Ignition Problems](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/guides/motorcycle-key-fob-and-keyless-problems/): Most keyless motorcycle problems come down to a weak fob battery, a fob the bike is not reading, a damaged fob or a lost one. - [Cruiser and Touring Motorcycle Keys: Bags, Forks, Fobs](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/guides/cruiser-and-touring-motorcycle-keys/): Yes, 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. ## Where we come to you [San Diego County](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/service-areas/san-diego-county/), [San Diego](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/service-areas/san-diego-county/san-diego/), [Chula Vista](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/service-areas/san-diego-county/chula-vista/), [Oceanside](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/service-areas/san-diego-county/oceanside/), [Escondido](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/service-areas/san-diego-county/escondido/), [Carlsbad](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/service-areas/san-diego-county/carlsbad/), [El Cajon](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/service-areas/san-diego-county/el-cajon/), [All service areas](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/service-areas/)