Harley-Davidson CVO Touring Models Key Replacement

Quick answerCVO Touring bikes do not follow the standard Street Glide or Ultra key routine. The mid-2010s CVO Street Glide, CVO Road Glide Ultra and CVO Limited have keyless ignition and power locks: the fob's buttons lock the fork lock switch, saddlebags and Tour-Pak, and a retractable key folds out of the fob for manual use. If that fob is lost you lose the key with it. We handle the mechanical key and the locks, and a Harley-Davidson dealer assigns the replacement fob.

Harley-Davidson CVO Touring Models key quick facts

Harley's 2016 CVO Road Glide Ultra manual says the motorcycle has keyless ignition and that a key is not required to operate it.
The same manual says the bike comes from the factory with two key fobs and that only two can be assigned at any one time.
A retractable key inside the fob manually locks and unlocks the fork lock switch, saddlebags and Tour-Pak.
The fob's lock and unlock buttons work the power locks from about 65 feet, with the motorcycle on or off.
The engine will not start unless the fork lock switch on the inner fairing cap is fully in the UNLOCKED position.
The 2013 CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide has a different setup: a keyed ignition switch and a separate power lock fob for the switch knob, saddlebags and Tour-Pak.

Harley-Davidson CVO Touring Models key types by year

Years	Models	Key type	Chip	Notes
2015-2017	CVO Street Glide, CVO Road Glide Ultra, CVO Limited	keyless ignition; key fob with lock and unlock buttons and a retractable key	yes	Power locks on the fork lock switch, saddlebags and Tour-Pak where fitted, worked by the fob, the key or switches in the fairing cap. Fob battery is a CR2032 in the 2016 manual.
2013	CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide	barrel key, with a power locking system for the saddlebags and Tour-Pak	varies	An earlier generation. The 2013 manual describes an ignition key, a power lock fob and a saddlebag and Tour-Pak power lock switch. For other years of this model, tell us the year and we confirm.
Other years	CVO Touring models	depends on the model year	varies	CVO equipment changed between model years. We confirm the fob and lock setup from your VIN before quoting the job.

How a mid-2010s CVO differs from the standard bike

On a regular Street Glide or Ultra Limited of the same years, a barrel key locks the ignition switch knob on the fairing and you turn that knob to switch on. The CVO version keeps a knob in the same place, but Harley's manual calls it the fork lock switch, and it is not an ignition switch. The bike is turned on with the OFF/RUN switch on the handlebar once the fob is detected.

The knob still matters for starting. The 2016 manual says the engine will not start unless the fork lock switch is fully in the UNLOCKED position, and that turning it out of that position at any time shuts the engine off. A CVO that will not start with a good fob in your pocket sometimes has nothing wrong beyond a fork lock switch that is not fully home.

Need a key for your CVO Street Glide?

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Three ways to lock the bike

Harley gives the owner a choice, and all three act on the same locks: the fork lock switch, both saddlebags and the Tour-Pak if the bike has one.

Fob buttons: close the lids, rotate the fork lock switch to LOCKED, then press lock. The turn signals flash twice. Press unlock and they flash once.
Fairing cap switches: a lock and unlock pair on the inner fairing cap. They work only with the motorcycle on or in accessory mode.
Retractable key: press the button on the fob to swing the key out. A quarter turn counterclockwise locks the fork lock switch, and the same key works the saddlebag and Tour-Pak locks by hand.
Order matters: the manual says to rotate the fork lock switch to LOCKED before pressing the lock button. Rotating it afterward leaves the fork unlocked.

Where CVO locks give trouble

The power locks depend on the bike's battery and on a connector at each saddlebag. A CVO with a flat battery, or one bag that was removed and not plugged back in, can end up with luggage that the buttons will not open. That is when the retractable key earns its place, and when owners discover it has never been tried in the locks. Test it in each bag, the Tour-Pak and the fork lock switch now, while everything works.

Harley also notes that the switch cover should not be opened unless the fork lock switch is in the LOCKED position, because opening it in any other position can damage the inner fairing. Stiffness at that switch is a reason to stop and have it looked at.

Losing a CVO fob is worse than losing a standard fob, because the mechanical key leaves with it. The bike left the factory with two fobs. If you have only one, have a second assigned by the dealer while the first still works.

Lost fob, lost key or locked luggage

Tell us the exact model and year first. For a mid-2010s CVO with a lost fob, the five-digit PIN will start the bike, provided the fork lock switch is unlocked. We can make a mechanical key for the fork lock switch, saddlebags and Tour-Pak at the bike after checking your photo ID and the registration or title, which gets a locked fork free and locked bags open. The replacement fob, with its remote buttons, is bought from and assigned by a Harley-Davidson dealer.

On the earlier CVO Ultra Classic, the job is closer to a standard Touring bike: a barrel key for the switch and luggage, plus the remote for the power locks from the dealer.

Where to find the key code

The 2016 CVO manual says a unique number is attached to a tag on the key fobs and asks you to write the key fob number in the space at the front of the manual. Keep that tag. For the mechanical key, a dealer can look up the key code by VIN, or a key can be made from the locks on the bike.

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)

Harley-Davidson CVO Touring Models key FAQ

Where is the key on a CVO Street Glide?

Inside the fob on the mid-2010s bikes. Press the button on the fob and a retractable key swings out. It works the fork lock switch, saddlebags and Tour-Pak by hand.

My CVO saddlebags will not unlock with the fob buttons. What should I try?

Use the retractable key in the bag lock. If the buttons work on nothing at all, check the fob battery, a CR2032 in the 2016 manual, and the bike's own battery. If the key will not turn either, the lock needs attention and we can come to the bike.

Can a locksmith replace a CVO key fob?

No. Harley has its dealers assign replacement fobs, and only two can be assigned at a time. We make the mechanical key and repair or replace the locks.

Why will my CVO not start with the fob right here?

Check the fork lock switch on the fairing cap. Harley's manual says the engine will not start unless that switch is fully in the UNLOCKED position.

The immobilizer system on this bike

Harley-Davidson Security System: Fob, PIN and Lost KeysThe Harley-Davidson Smart Security System is a factory alarm and immobilizer that disarms when it detects a hands-free fob near the bike and disables the starter and ignition when it does not.

More Harley-Davidson models

Services for this bike

Harley Saddlebag and Tour-Pak Lock Keys: What Matches WhatOn Harley-Davidson Touring models, the factory hard saddlebags and the Tour-Pak are opened with the same barrel key as the ignition, according to Harley's owner's manuals.
Motorcycle Key Fob and Keyless Ignition ProblemsMost keyless motorcycle problems come down to a weak fob battery, a fob the bike is not reading, a damaged fob or a lost one.
Water Damaged or Broken Motorcycle Key Fob: Repair or ReplaceA damaged fob is often less dead than it looks.
What Affects How Long a Motorcycle Key Takes?The time a motorcycle key takes depends mostly on four things: whether the key has a chip, whether you still have a working key, whether your make allows keys to be registered outside the dealer, and whether any part has to be ordered.

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Sources

Page last updated November 14, 2026.