Can-Am Spyder RS and ST Key Replacement

Quick answerThe Spyder RS and ST use a cut key with a computer chip that the immobilizer reads by radio frequency, and you should have received two. BRP's 2015 guides say a new key is made by an authorized Can-Am roadster dealer using your spare, and that if both keys are lost the ignition switch has to be replaced at the owner's expense. On a used RS or ST, the number of keys you get is a real part of the deal.

Can-Am Spyder RS and ST key quick facts

The 2015 RS and ST operator's guides say you should receive two keys with the vehicle.
Each Spyder key contains a computer chip, pre-programmed and read via radio frequency by the immobilizer system.
Spyder keys do not contain batteries, and BRP says not to take the key apart.
The ignition switch has five positions: OFF, ON, front storage compartment opening, seat opening and fuel tank access, and steering lock.
If both keys are lost, the guides say the ignition switch will need to be replaced at the expense of the vehicle owner.

Can-Am Spyder RS and ST key types by year

Years	Models	Key type	Chip	Notes
Years vary	Spyder RS (and RS-S)	cut key with RF chip	yes	The 2015 RS operator's guide describes two chipped keys with no battery. Details can vary by year; we confirm from your VIN when you call.
Years vary	Spyder ST (and ST-S, ST Limited)	cut key with RF chip	yes	The 2015 ST operator's guide describes the same key setup as the RS.

The key on the older roadsters

BRP's wording in the 2015 RS and ST guides is nearly identical. You should receive two keys with your vehicle. Each Spyder key contains a computer chip, specifically pre-programmed, that is read via radio frequency by the immobilizer system to allow starting the engine. The Spyder keys do not contain batteries. Do not take the key apart. If the immobilizer system cannot read the key, the engine will not start.

So although the RS and ST are now out of production, their key is not a simple cut key. A blade copied at a hardware store may turn the switch, but the engine will only start when the immobilizer reads a chip that has been programmed to that vehicle.

Need a key for your Spyder RS?

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

Call (619) 775-1858 Text your year, make and model

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What the ignition switch controls

The switch is in the center of the handlebar and has five positions: OFF, ON, front storage compartment opening, seat opening and fuel tank access, and steering lock. The guides list what that means in practice. The seat opening mechanism is how you reach the fuel tank cap and the brake fluid reservoirs. The front storage compartment opening is how you reach the fuses and the battery terminals. The fifth position is the steering lock.

That layout has a consequence on an aging roadster. If the key or the switch wears to the point where it will not turn to the seat position, you cannot refuel. If it will not turn to the front storage position, you cannot get to the fuses or connect a charger at the battery terminals. BRP's notice applies: if the key does not turn easily, do not force it. Pull it out and reinsert. A key forced in a tight switch is how keys break off, and extraction plus switch repair is work we do at the vehicle.

When the key is not read

The diagnostic guidelines in the 2015 ST guide list the key not being read as one cause of an engine that does not turn over, and the RS cluster can show an INVALID KEY message. The conditions BRP lists are a damaged computer chip, a large metallic object near the key, and an electronic device near the key. Before assuming the chip has failed, take the Spyder key off a crowded ring and try it alone, then try the second key. If the second key works, the first key is the problem and not the vehicle.

Lost keys on an RS or ST

The lost-key paragraph in both 2015 guides reads: use your spare key to have another one made by an authorized Can-Am roadster dealer as soon as possible. If both keys are lost, the ignition switch will need to be replaced at the expense of the vehicle owner. The control section repeats that you must have your spare key to have another one made.

For a vehicle of this age, that makes a single-key Spyder a risk worth fixing now. It also means the dealer is the route for a new programmed key, and with no keys the vehicle has to be transported there. Before you go, gather photo ID, the registration or title, and the VIN.

Buying a used RS or ST

Ask for both keys and test each one: start the engine, then turn the switch through the storage, seat and steering lock positions. A seller with one key is handing you the job of getting a second made at a dealer, and a seller with none is handing you an ignition switch replacement by BRP's own account. Price the vehicle accordingly, or make a second key a condition of the sale.

Where to find the key code

The RS and ST guides give no key code for owners to record. Replacement goes through an authorized Can-Am dealer, and the guides say you must have your spare key to have another one made.

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)

Can-Am Spyder RS and ST key FAQ

Does a Spyder RS key have a chip?

Yes. The 2015 RS guide says each Spyder key contains a computer chip read via radio frequency by the immobilizer system, and that the engine will not start if the system cannot read it.

I have one key for my Spyder ST. Is that a problem?

It works, but BRP says you must have your spare key to have another one made, and losing the last key means a new ignition switch at your expense. Get a second key made by a Can-Am dealer while the first still works.

My Spyder key will not turn to open the seat. Can you help?

Yes. That is a mechanical fault in the key or the switch, and we can extract a broken key and repair the switch where the vehicle is parked. Do not force it in the meantime.

Can a locksmith program a Spyder RS key?

BRP's guide routes new keys through an authorized Can-Am dealer, so plan on the dealer for programming. A mobile locksmith handles the mechanical side, such as extraction and switch or lock repair.

The immobilizer system on this bike

Can-Am D.E.S.S. Key: Spyder and Ryker Keys and Lost KeysD.E.S.S.

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Where we come to you

Sources

Page last updated November 14, 2026.