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BMW R 1200 S and R 1200 ST Key Replacement

The R 1200 ST and R 1200 S are short-run sport boxers from the first years of BMW's EWS immobilizer.

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Quick answerThe R 1200 ST and R 1200 S are short-run sport boxers from the first years of BMW's EWS immobilizer. Each was delivered with just one master key and one spare key, and both keys carry a transponder the bike must recognize. The same key works the ignition switch and steering lock, the seat lock and the tank filler cap lock.

BMW R 1200 S and R 1200 ST key quick facts

  • BMW's rider's manual for the R 1200 S says you receive one master key and one spare key.
  • The R 1200 ST manual says the same: one master key and one spare key.
  • On both bikes the ignition and steering lock, tank filler cap lock and seat lock are all operated with the same key.
  • Both manuals send an owner who has lost a key to the section on the EWS electronic immobilizer.
  • The R 1200 S manual says the engine runs only with keys belonging to the vehicle, and that a dealer can bar an individual key so it no longer starts the engine.

BMW R 1200 S and R 1200 ST key types by year

YearsModelsKey typeChipNotes
2005-2007R 1200 STtransponder key (EWS), keyed ignitionyesOne master key and one spare key. A case can be arranged to work with the same key on request.
2006-2008R 1200 Stransponder key (EWS), keyed ignitionyesOne master key and one spare key.

Two keys from new, often one today

Neither the R 1200 ST nor the R 1200 S was built for long. What they share with every other boxer of the period is EWS. What sets them apart for a locksmith is the key count: the manuals list one master key and one spare, nothing more. After close to twenty years, do not assume a used one still has both.

If you are buying one, ask to see both keys and start the bike with each. A key that turns the lock but leaves the engine dead may have been barred at a dealer after a theft or loss, or may be a cut-only copy someone had made for the seat. Either way it is not a working spare.

Need a key for your R 1200 S?

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

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What the key works on these sport boxers

The lock set is small. There is no fob, no central locking and, on the S, no factory hard luggage to think about.

  • Ignition switch and steering lock, combined at the top of the fork
  • Tank filler cap lock, on top of the tank
  • Seat lock, which also guards whatever is stored under the seat
  • R 1200 ST touring case: BMW's manual says the case can also be operated with the same key on request

EWS on an early hexhead

These bikes read the key the same way as the R 1200 GS and RT of the same years. The R 1200 S manual states the purpose plainly: the electronic immobilizer helps protect the motorcycle, and the engine can be started only with keys that belong to it. BMW also cautions against keeping the spare on the same ring as the key in use.

On bikes this age an EWS warning with a known-good key is not always a key fault. Owners of boxers from these years report trouble with the ring antenna around the ignition lock as well. We test the key and the antenna before recommending parts, because replacing the wrong one fixes nothing.

No key at all

With both keys missing, an R 1200 S or ST needs a new transponder key matched to its EWS. The dealer path is proof of ownership, a key ordered for the VIN and a wait, with the bike delivered to the workshop if you want it checked on arrival.

The mobile path is a visit to wherever the bike is stored. Bring photo ID and the registration or title; collector bikes sometimes sit on an old registration, so sort the paperwork first. We cut to the existing locks so the seat and tank cap stay matched, deal with the immobilizer at the bike where that is possible for the model, and strongly suggest leaving with two keys, since two is all BMW ever supplied.

Where to find the key code

The R 1200 S and R 1200 ST manuals do not describe a key number tag. Keys are tied to the bike through the EWS and ordered against the VIN, so the title or registration is the key document.

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)

BMW R 1200 S and R 1200 ST key FAQ

Does the BMW R 1200 S use the same kind of key as an R 1200 GS of that era?

It uses the same system. Both are keyed EWS bikes with a transponder in the key head. Each key is still specific to its own motorcycle, so a GS key will not start an S.

My R 1200 ST came with one key. Is that normal?

It happens on used bikes, but it is half of what BMW supplied. The manual lists one master key and one spare key. Have a second key made before the first is lost or worn out.

The seller says the second key was barred. Can it be used again?

Possibly. BMW's manuals of this period say a key that has been barred can be reactivated. That is a dealer function, and they will want proof of ownership and the other keys present.

The immobilizer system on this bike

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