Kawasaki Ninja 500R and Ninja 250 (EX250F) Key Replacement

Quick answerThe Ninja 500R and the first long-running Ninja 250 are plain-key bikes that share their key blanks. Kawasaki's parts catalog lists one blank for both early bikes and a later one for both from the mid-1990s, with no immobilizer parts in the ignition and locks diagrams. A lost key is cut at the bike. On machines this age, a worn ignition or a missing key number is the more common complication.

Kawasaki Ninja 500R and Ninja 250 (EX250F) key quick facts

Kawasaki's catalog lists blank 27008-1173 for the 1994 and 2009 Ninja 500R (EX500D) and for the 1995 through 2007 Ninja 250R (EX250F).
Earlier bikes take a different blank: 27008-1103 is listed for the 1987 and 1993 EX500A and for the 1988 through 1994 EX250F.
Blank 27008-1173 also appears on the 2006 Concours, which shares the later Ninja 500R's ignition switch part number.
The Ninja 500R has two keyed helmet locks; the EX250F has one.
Both have a keyed seat lock and a keyed fuel tank cap.
The 2008 and later Ninja 250R is a different generation on a different blank, 27008-0053.

Kawasaki Ninja 500R and Ninja 250 (EX250F) key types by year

Years	Models	Key type	Chip	Notes
1987-1993	EX500 (EX500A)	mechanical cut key	no	Blank 27008-1103 in the 1987 and 1993 catalogs. Ignition, seat lock, two helmet locks and a fuel cap lock rotor.
1994-2009	Ninja 500R, EX500 (EX500D)	mechanical cut key	no	Blank 27008-1173 in the 1994 and 2009 catalogs, with a different ignition switch from the earlier bike. Seat lock, two helmet locks and a fuel cap lock rotor.
1988-1994	Ninja 250, Ninja 250R (EX250F)	mechanical cut key	no	Blank 27008-1103 in the 1988, 1990, 1992 and 1994 catalogs. Seat lock, one helmet lock and fuel cap.
1995-2007	Ninja 250, Ninja 250R (EX250F)	mechanical cut key	no	Blank 27008-1173 in the 1995, 1997, 2000, 2003 and 2007 catalogs, on its own ignition switch. Seat lock, one helmet lock and fuel cap.

Two long-running twins, two blanks by era

The EX500 and the EX250F were sold side by side for two decades, and Kawasaki's catalog pairs them on key blanks. Both start on blank 27008-1103. The 500 moves to 27008-1173 with the 1994 EX500D, and the 250 follows in the 1995 catalog. The ignition switches are different part numbers on the two bikes, but in any given era the uncut key is common to both. The model year tells us which blank to bring.

If you own a 2008 to 2012 Ninja 250R, this is not your page. Kawasaki redesigned the bike for 2008, and the catalog shows the newer model on a different blank and ignition switch. One quick check is the helmet lock: the older EX250F has a separate keyed helmet lock, which the 2008 diagram does not list.

Need a key for your Ninja 500R?

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Locks and what they guard

Both bikes follow the same pattern, with the 500 getting one extra helmet lock.

Ignition switch with built-in steering lock.
Seat lock, operated with the ignition key.
Helmet lock: two on the Ninja 500R, one on the EX250F, each listed as a separate keyed lock assembly.
Fuel tank cap, keyed.

Age, learners and copied keys

A motorcycle this old has usually had several owners, and its key may be a copy of a copy. Each round of copying moves the cuts a little further from the original, and a worn lock adds to the mismatch. The sign is an ignition that only turns if the key is held just so.

The fix is to stop copying copies. We read the lock and cut a key to its proper depths. If the ignition is too far gone for that, we replace it and match the new one to the seat and fuel cap, so you are not left carrying two keys.

Bought without a key, or lost the only one

A Ninja 500R or old 250 turning up in a shed with no key is an everyday request. Once we have seen your photo ID and the title or registration, we make a key from the ignition lock at the bike, then check the seat, helmet locks and fuel cap. If the bike sat for years, a lock can be stiff even with the right key. We free it up while we are there if we can.

Nothing needs coding, because there is no immobilizer on either model.

Where to find the key code

Kawasaki supplied a key number with the original keys and left a space in the owner's manual to write it down. On a bike of this age the number is rarely still with it, so plan on a key cut from the lock.

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)

Kawasaki Ninja 500R and Ninja 250 (EX250F) key FAQ

Do the Ninja 500R and the older Ninja 250 take the same key?

In the same era, yes. Kawasaki's catalog lists blank 27008-1103 for both early bikes and 27008-1173 for the 1994 and later 500 and the 1995 and later 250. Each bike has its own cuts, so one bike's key will not start the other.

Is the 2008 Ninja 250R key the same as the 2007?

No. Kawasaki lists a different blank and ignition switch for the 2008 redesign. The 1988 to 2007 bike is the EX250F and the later one is the EX250J.

My key only works if I jiggle it. New key or new ignition?

Start with a key cut to the lock instead of copied from your worn one. That often restores a clean turn. If the switch itself is worn out, we replace it and match it to your other locks.

Is there any chip or immobilizer on an EX500?

No. It is a plain mechanical key, and Kawasaki's ignition and locks diagrams for it list no immobilizer parts.

The immobilizer system on this bike

Kawasaki Immobilizer and KIPASS: Keys, Fobs and Lost KeysKawasaki has two electronic key systems: a transponder immobilizer with coded keys, and KIPASS, a fob system used on the Concours 14 and a few newer models.

More Kawasaki models

Services for this bike

Worn or Bent Motorcycle Key: Signs, Risks and the Right FixA worn motorcycle key shows up as a key that needs wiggling, works in one lock but not another, or works worse than the spare.
Motorcycle Key Won't Turn in the Ignition? Causes and FixesWhen a motorcycle key will not turn, the usual causes are a steering lock under tension, a worn or bent key, worn wafers inside the ignition, dirt or corrosion in the cylinder, or simply the wrong key.
Bought a Used Motorcycle With No Key? Here's What to DoA used or auction motorcycle without keys can usually get new ones, but plan on the full all-keys-lost process and bring the signed title or other transfer paperwork plus photo ID, since a locksmith or dealer has to tie you to the VIN.
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.

Where we come to you

Sources

Page last updated November 14, 2026.