Honda Motorcycle Key Replacement in San Diego

Honda key quick facts

Most US-market Honda motorcycles use a plain cut key with no chip; US owner's manuals for models such as the CBR600RR, Rebel 500 and Africa Twin have no immobilizer section.
HISS stands for Honda Ignition Security System, a chip-key immobilizer fitted to many Hondas sold in Europe and other markets and to the Valkyrie Rune in the US.
Honda owner's manuals say up to four keys can be registered to a HISS-equipped motorcycle, including the two supplied with it.
According to Honda owner's manuals, if all keys for a HISS motorcycle are lost, the PGM-FI unit or ignition control module must be replaced.
In the US, the 2018 and later Gold Wing, the Super Cub C125 and the ADV150 and ADV160 use Honda Smart Key keyless ignition.
Honda supplies the key number on a key number plate or a bar-coded key tag, and dealers use that number to order replacements.

Most Hondas sold in the United States start with a plain cut key. The US owner's manuals for bikes as different as the CBR600RR, Rebel 500, Africa Twin, Shadow and Grom describe an ordinary ignition key and a key number, with no immobilizer section. The exceptions are keyless: the 2018 and later Gold Wing, the ADV150 and ADV160 scooters and the Super Cub C125 use Honda Smart Key, with no key in the switch at all. HISS, the Honda Ignition Security System chip key, is common on Hondas built for Europe and other markets and was fitted here on the Valkyrie Rune, so it matters mostly if your bike is an import. Knowing which system you have tells you what the job involves before anyone shows up.

We come to you anywhere in San Diego County, Ventura County, Santa Barbara and Goleta, whether the bike is in your garage, a parking structure or wherever it stopped. We cut replacement keys, duplicate the key you have, program transponder keys, extract broken keys, and repair or replace worn ignitions, seat locks and fuel cap locks. If every key is gone, a mobile visit means you do not have to tow a bike that will not start to the dealer.

Honda key types by model and year

Years	Models	Key type	Chip	Notes
Most years	Most US-market street models, including CBR600RR, CBR1000RR, CBR500R, CB500F, CB500X, CBR300R, CB300R, Rebel 300, Rebel 500, Rebel 1100, Fury, Africa Twin and NC750X	mechanical cut key	no	Honda's US owner's manuals for these models describe a plain ignition key and a key number, with no HISS section. The same models sold in Europe and other markets often do have HISS, so look for a HISS light on the dash if your bike is an import, and we confirm from your VIN when you call.
2018-present	Gold Wing (2018 and later), Super Cub C125 (2019 and later), ADV150, ADV160 (2024 and later), CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP	Honda Smart Key fob	yes	Keyless start with the fob on you. The fob is registered to the bike electronically, so a replacement is never just a cut key. The PCX has Smart Key in many markets, but equipment varies: a main knob with no key slot means Smart Key, and a key slot means a cut key.
Varies by market	2004 Valkyrie Rune in the US; many models sold in Europe and other markets, such as CBR600RR, CBR1000RR, VFR800, NC750X and ST1300	transponder key (HISS)	yes	Equipment varies by model, year and market, and it is uncommon on US-market bikes. A HISS indicator on the dash and a HISS section in the owner's manual confirm it.
Most years	Ruckus, Metropolitan, Navi, Grom, Monkey, Shadow, Rebel 250 (through 2016)	mechanical cut key	no	A new key can be cut to the lock or the key number on site, with no programming step.
1970s-1990s	CB750, Nighthawk, older Gold Wings, Magna, Sabre and other classics	mechanical cut key	no	Locks on bikes this age are often worn, so repairing or replacing the ignition can be part of the visit.
1993-present	XR650L	mechanical cut key	no	Simple key that can be cut where the bike is parked, including a trailhead lot.

Honda keys by model

Each page covers the key and immobilizer by year, which locks share the key, and what a lost-key job involves for that model.

Honda immobilizer and chip keys

HISS stands for Honda Ignition Security System. Each key carries a chip with a coded password, and the bike's control unit checks for it every time the key goes in. A key cut to the right shape but without a registered chip will turn the switch and still not start the engine. Honda says not every model has HISS, and on bikes built for the US it is the exception: US manuals for the CBR600RR, CBR1000RR, pre-2018 Gold Wing, Africa Twin and Rebel 1100 have no HISS section, while the 2004 Valkyrie Rune manual does. The dash indicator or the owner's manual is the quickest way to know for sure on your bike.

Honda supplies two keys with a HISS bike, and the manuals say up to four keys can be registered in total. To add a key through a dealer, Honda asks you to bring the bike along with your keys. The manuals also warn that if every key is lost, the PGM-FI unit or ignition control module has to be replaced, which is why Honda tells owners with one key left to get a spare made right away.

Honda Smart Key, used on the 2018 and later Gold Wing, the Super Cub C125 and the ADV150 and ADV160, lets you start the bike with the fob in your pocket. There is no blade to copy in the usual sense, because the fob is registered to the bike electronically. The fob comes with an ID tag carrying an ID number, plus an emergency key, and Honda's manuals say a lost Smart Key means registering a new one at the dealer with the emergency key and ID tag. If you have lost a Smart Key, call us with the model and year first and we will tell you honestly whether it is a job we can do or one for the dealer.

Honda HISS Immobilizer: Keys, Lost Keys and the Warning LightHISS, the Honda Ignition Security System, is Honda's chip-key immobilizer: the engine only starts when the bike recognizes a coded chip in the key.
Honda Smart Key: Fobs, ID Tags and What to Do If You Lose OneHonda Smart Key is a keyless system: the bike checks for a registered fob nearby and then lets you unlock the steering, switch on and start, with no key in a slot.

Lost all your Honda keys?

On a plain-key Honda, which covers most Hondas sold in the US, all keys lost is usually straightforward: we confirm ownership, cut a key to the lock, and test it in the ignition, seat and fuel cap. There is no programming step. If your bike does have HISS, such as an import or a Rune, there is a second half: a new key has to be registered to the bike's control unit, and Honda's own manuals call for a replacement unit when no registered key is left. Tell us up front if you see a HISS light on the dash, because that changes the job and what it costs.

Have photo ID and the registration or title in your name ready, since we do not make keys without proof of ownership. Tell us the model, year and VIN, which is printed on the registration and stamped on the frame at the steering head. If you have the key number plate or key tag, the owner's manual, or an old key that no longer works, keep them handy. Let us know if the ignition was forced or damaged, because a damaged lock changes what we bring.

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)

Need a Honda key in San Diego?

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

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

Or read first: all services · common questions · about us · contact details

Where to find your Honda key code

Honda supplies the key number with new keys, either on a small key number plate or, on many newer models, on a key tag that also carries a bar code. The owner's manual tells you to record it and keep it somewhere safe. Check the manual pouch, the original sales folder, or wherever your spare keys live. On some older Hondas the number is stamped on the key itself. Honda's manuals say that if every key and the number are lost, a dealer will probably have to remove the ignition switch assembly to find the key number, which tells you where else it lives. On a HISS bike the key number only gets you a correctly cut blade; the chip still has to be registered to the bike.

Honda dealer or mobile locksmith?

A Honda dealer can order a key by key number, and the dealer is the right call for warranty work or a Smart Key system with no working fob, since Honda's manuals send lost Smart Key registration to the dealer. Without the key number, Honda's manuals say the dealer will probably have to remove the ignition switch assembly to find it, so the bike has to be towed or trailered in first. A mobile locksmith comes to the bike and cuts the key to the lock on site, which on a plain-key Honda is the whole job. Honda's newer US manuals themselves say to take a spare key and the key tag to your dealer or a locksmith for a duplicate. If your bike has HISS or Smart Key, call first with the model and year so we can tell you whether it is an on-site job or a dealer one.

Honda models we make keys for

Honda key and lock services

Honda key FAQ

Can I get a key made for my Honda without the original?

Yes. We can cut a key to the lock on the bike, and on most US-market Hondas that is all it takes because there is no chip to program. Have photo ID and the registration or title ready so we can confirm ownership. You do not need the key number, though it helps.

How do I know if my Honda has HISS?

Look for a HISS or immobilizer indicator on the dash and a HISS section in the owner's manual. Most Hondas built for the US do not have it, but equipment differs by year and market, and imports often do. If you are unsure, send us the model, year or VIN and we will check.

Will a hardware store copy start my Honda?

On a plain-key Honda, an accurately cut copy on the right blank will start the bike, though many hardware stores do not stock motorcycle blanks. On a HISS bike a copy may turn the ignition, but the engine will not start unless the key has a chip registered to that bike.

Do I really need a new ECU if I lost all my Honda keys?

Not on a plain-key Honda, which is most of the US lineup: a new key is cut to the lock and you are done. Honda's manuals list a replacement PGM-FI unit or ignition control module only for HISS bikes with no registered key left. We will tell you which applies to your model before any work starts.

Can you make a spare for my Honda Smart Key?

Smart Key fobs are registered to the bike electronically, so they are not cut and copied like a blade key, and Honda's manuals point owners to the dealer for registration. Call us with your model and year and we will tell you straight whether it is something we can do or a dealer job. Either way, sort out a spare while you still have one working fob.

Where we work on Honda bikes

Adding a Spare Motorcycle Chip Key: Who Can Program It?First check that your bike has a chip at all: many Japanese motorcycles sold in the US use a plain key, and a spare for those is simply cut.
Auction or Salvage Motorcycle With No Keys: What to ExpectA motorcycle from Copart, IAA or a lien sale can get new keys once you hold paperwork that ties you to the VIN: a title or Salvage Certificate endorsed to you, or the lien sale certification packet, plus a bill of sale and your photo ID.
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.
Can a Locksmith Make a Motorcycle Key From the VIN?Sometimes, but not directly.
Corroded Motorcycle Locks From Salt Air: Signs and CareSalt air corrodes the small parts inside ignition, seat and fuel cap locks, and the first signs are a gritty key, a lock that needs a second try, or a little-used lock that stops working.

Other makes

Sources

Page last updated November 14, 2026.

Honda Motorcycle Key Replacement