Buell 1125R and 1125CR Key Replacement

Quick answerThe Rotax-engined Buell 1125R and 1125CR use a plain cut key with no chip. The owner's manual has the ignition key working the steering head lock in the switch, the fuel filler cap and the pillion seat lock. There is one electronic catch: the instrument cluster has a security system the rider can switch on, and when it is armed the bike asks for a four-digit PIN before it will start, even with the right key.

Buell 1125R and 1125CR key quick facts

The 1125R owner's manual says the key can be removed in the OFF, LOCK and PARKING LAMP positions and cannot be removed in ON.
The steering head lock is on the ignition and headlamp key switch and is worked by the ignition key.
The fuel filler cap has a lock that takes the ignition key, turned a quarter turn counterclockwise to release the cap.
The pillion seat lock is on the left side of the bike and takes the ignition key. The rider seat is held by two screws, not a lock.
The 2008, 2009 and 2010 owner's manuals describe a security system in the instrument cluster that needs a four-digit PIN when it is armed.
The 2009 parts catalog sells the key set by a four-digit key code.

Buell 1125R and 1125CR key types by year

Years	Models	Key type	Chip	Notes
2008-2010	1125R	cut key for the ignition switch with steering lock, fuel cap and pillion seat lock	no	No chip in the key. A rider-set four-digit PIN in the instrument cluster can be armed as an immobilizer.
2009-2010	1125CR	cut key for the ignition switch with steering lock, fuel cap and seat lock	no	The parts catalog lists a different ignition switch and a different complete lock set for the 1125CR than for the 1125R. The key set and seat lock are common to both.

What the 1125 key works

The 1125 was Buell's last new platform under Harley-Davidson. Its owner's manual describes four positions on the ignition and headlamp key switch. ON is for riding and holds the key captive. OFF, LOCK and PARKING LAMP all release it. The steering head lock is part of the same switch: with the bars full left and the key in OFF, you push the key in and turn it counterclockwise to LOCK.

The same key is used in two more places. For the fuel filler cap you lift the tab, put the ignition key in the cap lock and turn it a quarter turn counterclockwise. For the pillion seat you put the ignition key in the lock on the left side of the bike and turn it clockwise to release the latch. The trunk is under the pillion seat, and the manual warns against leaving keys in it, because once the seat is on they cannot be reached. The rider seat is fastened with two screws under its rear edges.

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The PIN security system in the dash

This is the part many 1125 owners do not know about until it stops them. The owner's manual calls the security system an immobilizing theft prevention mechanism. When it is armed, the instrument cluster shows ENTER PIN when the key is turned to ON, and the four-digit PIN has to be entered with the Toggle switch before the cluster can be used or the bike started. Without the right PIN the starting, ignition and fuel systems stay disabled.

The rider chooses how it behaves. In the manual's words there are three theft modes: on, where it arms itself every time the bike is switched off, off, where it stays disarmed, and ask, where the rider is offered the chance to arm it at key off. Twenty wrong entries in a row lock the cluster out for 30 minutes. The PIN and theft mode are kept in memory when the battery is disconnected.

A new key does not change any of this. If your 1125 shows ENTER PIN, the bike needs the PIN the owner set. The manual tells owners to record it on the owner's record card and to see a dealer if it is lost or forgotten. We cut keys and repair locks; we do not reset a forgotten PIN.

1125R and 1125CR lock parts differ

The two models look like a faired and an unfaired version of one bike, but the 2009 parts catalog does not treat their locks as identical. It lists one ignition switch for the 1125R and a different one for the 1125CR, and a separate complete vehicle lock set for each, made up of the seat lock, ignition, fuel cap and keys. The seat lock and the key set carry the same part numbers for both, and the key set is ordered by a four-digit key code.

This matters when a switch is replaced, not when a key is cut. A used switch from another bike will be on a different key from your fuel cap and seat unless it is matched to them. If your 1125 has already had a switch swap, tell us, and bring every key you have for the bike.

The PARKING LAMP position is worth knowing about too. The key comes out there with the running lamps, tail lamp and instrument cluster still lit, so check the switch position before blaming a flat battery on the bike.

If you have no key at all

Have your photo ID and the registration or title ready. We cut a new key to the bike, then test it in ON, OFF, LOCK and PARKING LAMP at the switch, in the fuel cap and in the pillion seat lock. The key carries no electronics, so nothing is programmed to it. If the security system is switched off, a key that turns the locks starts the bike. If it is armed, you will also need your PIN.

Harley-Davidson ended Buell production in 2009, so there is no factory parts counter behind these bikes. Making the key from the locks on the bike does not depend on parts supply. If the locks do not all agree, because one was replaced in the past, we can tell you what it would take to bring them back to one key. Let us know whether the steering is locked and whether the dash shows a PIN prompt.

Where to find the key code

The owner's manual says the key number is impressed on a plastic tab that comes with the keys, and it has a space at the front to record it. The parts catalog orders the key set by a four-digit key code. A Harley-Davidson dealer may be able to help from the VIN. Without the code, the key is made from the locks on the bike. The security PIN is a separate number, recorded on the owner's record card in the manual.

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)

Buell 1125R and 1125CR key FAQ

Does the Buell 1125R have an immobilizer?

Not in the key. The key is a plain cut key with no transponder. The instrument cluster does have a security system that the rider can arm, and when it is armed the bike will not start until the four-digit PIN is entered.

My 1125 shows ENTER PIN and I do not know the number. Can a new key fix that?

No. The PIN belongs to the instrument cluster, not the key. The owner's manual says to see a dealer if the PIN is lost or forgotten. Check the owner's record card in the manual first, and ask the previous owner if you bought the bike used.

Will an 1125R ignition switch fit my 1125CR?

The 2009 parts catalog lists a different ignition switch for each model, so check the part for your exact bike, and have any replacement matched to your existing key.

Does the same key open the seat and the gas cap?

On original locks, yes. The owner's manual uses the ignition key for the fuel filler cap and the pillion seat lock, and the parts catalog sells a complete lock set covering the seat, ignition and fuel cap with one set of keys.

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Page last updated November 14, 2026.