Suzuki Boulevard C90 and M90 Key Replacement

Quick answerThe 1500cc Boulevards use a plain cut key, but the locks are spread around the bike more than on most Suzukis. The steering lock is a separate cylinder that the ignition key turns counterclockwise, the helmet holder has its own lock, and on the M90 the seat lock sits behind the right side frame cover. A replacement key has to be proved in each one.

Suzuki Boulevard C90 and M90 key quick facts

The Boulevard M90 (VZ1500) owner's manual says two keys come with the motorcycle and that an identifying number is stamped on the plate.
On both the M90 and the C90 the steering lock is separate from the ignition: bars full left, ignition key in the steering lock, turn counterclockwise.
The 2015 C90 (VL1500B, T and BT) manual describes a main ignition key and a spare, and an ignition switch with three positions.
The C90 helmet holder is on the left side below the rear seat and opens with the key turned clockwise.
On the M90 the first step to reach the seat lock is to unhook and remove the right side frame cover.
On the C90T and BT the sidecase lid opens with the ignition key turned counterclockwise, and the tool box holds a helmet holder wire.

Suzuki Boulevard C90 and M90 key types by year

Years	Models	Key type	Chip	Notes
2009 onward	Boulevard M90 (VZ1500)	mechanical cut key with a key number plate	no	Separate steering lock worked by the ignition key. Seat lock behind the right side frame cover.
2013 onward	Boulevard C90 B.O.S.S., C90T (VL1500B, T, BT)	mechanical cut key, main key and spare	no	Three-position ignition, separate steering lock, keyed helmet holder on the left below the rear seat.
2005 to the 2013 redesign	Boulevard C90, C90T (earlier VL1500)	mechanical cut key	no	Plain cruiser key. Send the VIN and a photo so we know which lock layout the bike has.

A steering lock that is not in the ignition

On a GSX-R or a V-Strom you lock the bars by pushing the ignition key down and turning to LOCK. The big Boulevards do not work that way. The C90 manual counts only three positions for its ignition switch, and locking the bars is handled somewhere else.

Instead there is a separate steering lock. Both the M90 and the C90 manuals give the same three steps: turn the handlebars all the way to the left, insert the ignition key into the steering lock, and turn the key counterclockwise. Suzuki follows that with a warning never to try to move the motorcycle with the steering locked.

It is the same key, which is good news. It also means a replacement key has to be tried in the steering lock as well as the ignition, because a key can start the engine and still fail to turn a second lock that is stiff or was changed at some point.

Need a key for your Boulevard C90?

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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Seat lock and helmet holder

The M90 keeps its seat lock out of sight. The manual's seat lock procedure starts by unhooking the hooks and removing the right side frame cover, and the lock is behind it. If you have never opened the seat on an M90, that is why you could not find a keyhole near the seat itself.

The C90 manual describes an external helmet holder on the left side, below the rear seat. Insert the key, turn it clockwise to open the latch, hook the helmet's fastener ring to the latch, and turn the key back to lock it. On the touring C90T and BT, Suzuki also puts a helmet holder wire in the tool box.

C90T side cases

The C90T comes with side cases and the owner's manual gives them their own section. To open a lid you insert the ignition key into the case lock and turn it counterclockwise, so from the factory the cases are on the bike's key. The tool box on the left side opens the same way.

If a case is locked shut and the key is gone, or the case key and the ignition key have become two different keys over the years, tell us when you call. Have any key that still opens one of them ready, since a working case key helps us match the replacement.

What we do when the keys are lost

None of these bikes has an immobilizer, so the work is mechanical from start to finish. Once your photo ID and the registration or title have been checked, we cut a key to the motorcycle.

Then we go round the bike: ignition switch, the separate steering lock, the fuel tank cap, the helmet holder, the seat lock on an M90, and the cases on a C90T. A key that starts the engine but leaves the steering locked to the left is not a finished job, so we do not stop at the ignition.

Where to find the key code

The M90 manual says an identifying number is stamped on the plate supplied with the two keys, tells you to use this number when making a replacement key, and gives a box to write it in. Check that page of your manual before anything else.

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)

Suzuki Boulevard C90 and M90 key FAQ

How do I lock the steering on a Boulevard M90?

Turn the handlebars all the way to the left, put the ignition key into the separate steering lock and turn it counterclockwise. The ignition switch itself does not lock the steering.

Where is the seat lock on an M90?

Behind the right side frame cover. Suzuki's procedure begins with unhooking and removing that cover.

Do the C90 and M90 have chip keys?

No. Their manuals describe ordinary cut keys, and there is no immobilizer on these models.

My key turns the ignition but the bars stay locked. What is wrong?

The steering lock is a separate cylinder. If the same key will not turn it, the lock is likely stiff or worn, or it was replaced with one that takes a different key. Do not force it; a key snapped in a steering lock is a harder job.

More Suzuki models

Services for this bike

Motorcycle Steering Lock Explained: How It Works and JamsA steering lock, called a fork lock by Harley-Davidson, is a bolt that holds the front end turned to one side so the bike cannot be wheeled away in a straight line.
Cruiser and Touring Motorcycle Keys: Bags, Forks, FobsYes, keys for cruisers and touring bikes can be replaced, and on most of them it is a mechanical job because the key is a plain cut or barrel key.
Motorcycle Gas Cap, Seat or Steering Lock Stuck? What to DoStuck gas cap, seat and steering locks on motorcycles usually come down to grime or corrosion in an exposed cylinder, a worn key, a stretched seat cable, or parts under tension that hold the latch closed.
Motorcycle Key and Lock Care: What Makers RecommendKeep water and grit out of the locks, use a small amount of a dry or lock-specific lubricant instead of oil, and replace a worn key before it fails.

Where we come to you

Sources

Page last updated November 14, 2026.