How to Find Your Motorcycle Key Code

Quick answerA motorcycle key code is a short number or letter-number code that tells a locksmith or dealer how to cut a key for your locks. Look first on the small metal tag or plate that came with the keys, then in the paperwork from the sale, then ask the dealer that sold the bike. If none of those turn it up, a locksmith can usually work out the cuts from one of the bike's locks.

What a key code is, and what it is not

A key code is a reference number that maps to a specific cut pattern. With it, a locksmith or dealer can cut a fresh key to factory spec without having the original in hand, which also avoids copying the wear from an old key. It is not the VIN, and on chipped keys it is not the immobilizer code. A key cut to code on a transponder bike will turn the locks, but it still has to be programmed before the engine will start.

The parts of a motorcycle key. The key code describes the cuts along the blade.

Where to look first

Most riders find the code in one of these places. Honda and Suzuki owner's manuals, for example, point owners to a key number plate supplied with the keys and say to keep it for ordering replacements. That little tag is easy to toss or leave on the key ring, so check drawers, the owner's manual pouch and the original sales folder before assuming it is gone.

The metal tag or plastic plate that came on the original key ring
A number stamped on the key itself, found on some keys, including Harley-Davidson keys
The owner's manual pouch or dealer sales folder
Purchase paperwork or the selling dealer's delivery records
A photo you, or the previous owner, took of the tag

Codes on the bike's own locks

Some lock cylinders carry a stamped number, but it cannot be seen with the lock fitted to the bike, so this is a check for a locksmith or dealer, not a roadside one. Keep in mind that a lock replaced at some point in the bike's life may not match the code on the original paperwork. When no code is available at all, a locksmith can work out the cuts from one of the bike's own locks and cut a key from that. Expect to show photo ID and the registration or title before anyone makes a key from a code or from a lock.

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Key codes by make, at a high level

Details vary by model and year, so treat this as a starting point and check your owner's manual. Where the paperwork is gone, the selling dealer is the next call, since some dealers can look up codes from the VIN after checking ownership.

Make	Where the code usually lives	Worth knowing
Honda	Key number plate supplied with the keys	Honda manuals say you need it for a replacement key
Suzuki	Key number plate supplied with the keys	Many US-market Suzukis have no chip. On immobilizer models the number covers only the cut, and the key still has to be registered to the bike
Harley-Davidson	Stamped on the key itself, under the black head cover on keys that have one; dealer records by VIN	On fob models, the fob is assigned to the bike separately from any key cut
BMW	Dealer records by VIN	BMW manuals send owners to an authorized BMW Motorrad dealer for spare keys, and the dealer checks the request is legitimate
Ducati	Code card supplied with some models	The card carries an electronic code, which is separate from the key cut

Keep the code safe

Treat the key code like a spare key. Do not keep the tag on the key ring or in the bike's storage, where a thief who gets either one gets both. Photograph the tag, store the photo somewhere you can reach without the bike, and put the original with your title. If you are selling the bike, hand the tag over with the keys so the next owner is not starting from scratch.

Quick questions

Can I order a key online with just the code?

Some suppliers cut keys to code by mail, but a transponder key still needs programming at the bike. Having the key cut locally also means it gets tested in the ignition, seat and gas cap before you pay.

What if my ignition was replaced and the code does not match?

Then the paperwork code belongs to the old lock. A locksmith can make a key to the current ignition, and if you want one key for everything, rekey the other locks to match it.

Is the key code the same as the PIN on keyless bikes?

No. The PIN on keyless Harley-Davidson and Indian models is a security code for disarming or starting without the fob. A key code only describes a mechanical cut.

Services that can help

Key details by make

Keep reading

Can a Locksmith Make a Motorcycle Key From the VIN?Sometimes, but not directly.
Lost Your Only Motorcycle Key? What to Do NextIf you lost the only key to your motorcycle, a new one can almost always be made, but the route depends on whether your bike uses a plain metal key, a chipped transponder key, or a keyless fob.
When to Get a Spare Motorcycle Key, and Why NowGet a spare motorcycle key as soon as you are down to one working key.
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.

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Page last updated November 14, 2026.