Buell Motorcycle Key Replacement in Ventura & Santa Barbara

Buell key quick facts

Harley-Davidson announced the end of Buell production on October 15, 2009, and the last bike was built that month.
Buell XB models carry the ignition switch on the upper triple clamp, with a LOCK position for the steering.
On XB and tube-frame Buells the key can be removed in the P position, which leaves lights on and can drain the battery.
The passenger seat lock on XB models is opened with the ignition key.
The Buell 1125 service manual treats the ignition switch and fork lock as a single assembly.
The current Buell Motorcycle Co. is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan and builds 1190cc V-twin models.

Buell built American sport bikes around Harley-Davidson engines, and later a Rotax-built V-twin, until Harley-Davidson announced the end of Buell production on October 15, 2009. The last bike left the line that same month. That leaves a lot of Blasts, tube-frame Lightnings and Thunderbolts, XB Firebolts, Lightnings and Ulysses, and 1125s on the road with no factory behind them. Their keys are simple: a cut key with no chip, a keyed ignition switch and a mechanical steering lock, so a lost Buell key is normally a cutting job. The 1125R and 1125CR add one thing, a security system in the instrument cluster that the rider can arm with a four-digit PIN.

We cut spare keys, make new keys when every original is gone, extract broken keys, and repair ignition, fork and seat locks, at your location in San Diego County, Ventura County, Santa Barbara or Goleta. Tell us the exact model and year when you book. The lock layout changed with each generation: tube-frame bikes carry the switch behind the dash with a separate steering head lock, XB models have the switch on the upper triple clamp, and the 1125 uses a combined ignition switch and fork lock.

Buell key types by model and year

Years	Models	Key type	Chip	Notes
1996-2002	Tube-frame models (S1 Lightning, S3 Thunderbolt, M2 Cyclone, X1 Lightning)	cut key	no	On the X1 the ignition and headlamp switch sits behind the dash panel, and a separate steering head lock is worked with the ignition key. The service manual calls the switch not repairable, so a failed one is replaced.
2003-2010	XB series (Firebolt XB9R and XB12R, Lightning XB9S and XB12S, Ulysses XB12X)	cut key	no	The ignition and headlight switch is on the upper triple clamp and has a LOCK position. The key comes out in both LOCK and P, and the passenger seat lock is opened with the ignition key.
2008-2010	1125R, 1125CR	cut key, plus a rider-set PIN security system in the instrument cluster	no	The key has no chip. The owner's manuals describe a security system in the instrument cluster that disables starting when it is armed and is released with a four-digit PIN. For a lost or forgotten PIN the manual sends you to a dealer.

Buell 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.

Buell immobilizer and chip keys

The factory service manuals for the tube-frame X1 and the XB series cover a keyed ignition switch and a mechanical fork or steering head lock, and they list no immobilizer, transponder or security module. A correctly cut key is normally all those bikes need to start. If a previous owner added an aftermarket alarm, tell us before we arrive.

The 1125R and 1125CR are different. Their keys have no chip either, but the 2008 to 2010 owner's manuals describe a security system built into the instrument cluster: when the rider has armed it, the bike will not start until a four-digit PIN is entered. A new key does not change that. If the PIN is lost or forgotten, the manual tells the owner to see a Buell dealer, so tell us when you call whether the security system on your 1125 is switched on and whether you know the PIN.

One quirk catches owners out. On XB models and on the tube-frame bikes, the key can be removed in the P position as well as in the locked position. P leaves the lights on, and the service manual warns that leaving the switch there will run the battery flat. If your Buell is dead after sitting with the key out, check which position the switch was left in before assuming a lock or key fault.

Lost all your Buell keys?

With every key gone, we make a new key from the bike. We confirm your ownership, identify the lock hardware for your generation, cut a key that turns the ignition, and check it in the steering lock and the seat lock. On XB models the passenger seat lock uses the ignition key, so one good key normally restores access to the whole bike. If the ignition switch itself has failed, the factory manuals for the tube-frame bikes describe it as a replace-only part, and a replacement switch that arrives with its own keys may no longer match your fuel cap or seat lock unless the locks are matched.

Have your photo ID and the registration or title ready, along with the VIN and the exact model and year. If a key has snapped, keep both pieces, they help us make the new key. Mention any aftermarket alarm, and tell us if the steering is currently locked.

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 Buell key in Ventura & Santa Barbara?

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

Call (805) 429-8452 Text your year, make and model

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

Where to find your Buell key code

Start with what came with the bike: look for a number stamped on an original key and check the purchase paperwork. Some Harley-Davidson dealers may be able to order Buell keys from the VIN, so it is worth asking. If no number can be found, a key can usually be made from the locks on the bike.

Buell dealer or mobile locksmith?

Harley-Davidson ended Buell production in October 2009. If you want to try the dealer route, call a Harley-Davidson dealer first and ask whether they can order keys or lock parts for your VIN. Today's Buell Motorcycle Co. in Grand Rapids, Michigan builds its own 1190 models, such as the Hammerhead 1190 and Super Cruiser, and is a separate company from the Harley-era factory. A mobile locksmith does not depend on either parts counter for a key: we cut it from the bike's own locks, where the bike is parked, and can extract a broken key or sort out a worn switch in the same visit.

Buell models we make keys for

Buell key and lock services

Buell key FAQ

Does a Buell have a chip key or immobilizer?

No Harley-era Buell uses a chip key. On the Blast, the tube-frame bikes and the XB series a correctly cut key is normally all the bike needs, unless someone added an aftermarket alarm. The 1125R and 1125CR also have a security system in the instrument cluster that can be armed with a four-digit PIN. If it is armed, the bike needs that PIN as well as the key.

Can I still get a key made for a Buell now that the factory is gone?

Yes. Key blanks for the Blast, Firebolt, Lightning and Ulysses are still sold, and a locksmith can cut a key from an original or from the locks on the bike. Some Harley-Davidson dealers may also be able to order keys by VIN, so it is worth a call.

My key broke off in the ignition. What now?

Do not dig at it or try to start the bike with the stub. Keep both pieces, they help us make the new key. We can extract the broken piece and cut a fresh key at the bike.

Why is my Buell battery dead after I parked and took the key out?

On XB and tube-frame models the key comes out in the P position as well as the locked position, and P leaves lights on. The service manual warns this will discharge the battery. Check the switch position before suspecting the lock.

Will the current Buell company help with my 2000s Buell?

The Buell Motorcycle Co. in Grand Rapids builds its own 1190 models and is a different company from the one Harley-Davidson closed in 2009. For support on a Harley-era bike, ask them directly about your model.

Where we work on Buell bikes

Roadside Assistance and Lost Motorcycle Keys: What It CoversMost motorcycle roadside plans will send help or tow the bike when a key is lost, but few pay for the key.
Scooter Key Replacement: Shutters, Seat Locks and ChipsYes, a key can be made for almost any scooter, and on most 50cc to 150cc models it is a plain metal key with no chip.
Scooter Seat and Storage Locks: How They Open and FailScooters open the seat in one of three basic ways: a separate seat lock that takes the ignition key, a seat position on the ignition switch, or an electric button or keyless fob.

Other makes

Sources

Page last updated November 14, 2026.

Buell Motorcycle Key Replacement