Hyosung GT250 and GT250R Key Replacement

Quick answerThe Hyosung GT250 and GT250R are beginner-friendly 250 twins with full-size bodywork and very simple keys. There is no immobilizer. Each bike left the factory with two plain ignition keys, and the same key opens the rear seat lock. Replacing a lost key means cutting one to the bike.

Hyosung GT250 and GT250R key quick facts

Hyosung's GT250R owner's manual says these motorcycles come equipped with two ignition keys.
The ignition switch has three positions: ON, OFF and LOCK.
The steering locks with the bars fully left: key to OFF, pushed down, released, then turned to LOCK.
The rear seat lock is in the frame cover under the front side of the rear seat and opens with the ignition key, turned clockwise.
The manual says to put the bike on its side stand before locking the steering.

Hyosung GT250 and GT250R key types by year

Years	Models	Key type	Chip	Notes
Carbureted and fuel-injected years	GT250 (Comet 250), GT250R	mechanical cut key, two supplied	no	Three-position ignition switch with integrated steering lock. No immobilizer in the owner's manual.

First bikes, first lost keys

The GT250R looks like a 600 and costs like a 250, which made it a popular first motorcycle. First motorcycles lead hard lives. They are dropped in driveways, sold after a season, parked outside student housing and passed between friends. A used bike that has been through several owners often arrives with one key, sometimes a worn or bent one, and no record of the key number.

None of that is a serious obstacle, because the bike itself asks so little of its key. Hyosung's manual describes an ignition switch with ON, OFF and LOCK and nothing electronic behind it.

Need a key for your GT250?

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

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

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What the switch does

ON: the ignition circuit is closed and the engine can be started; the key cannot be removed
OFF: all electrical circuits are cut and the key can be removed
LOCK: reached by turning the bars all the way left, pushing the key down from OFF, letting it come up and turning it
Hyosung warns that turning the switch to OFF or LOCK while riding can be hazardous

Rear seat lock

As on the bigger GT650, the 250's rear seat is held by a key lock that sits in the frame cover under the front side of the rear seat. The ignition key goes in and turns clockwise, and the seat comes off. Refitting is a matter of sliding the seat hook into its retainer and pushing down firmly until it snaps into the locked position.

A seat lock is used far less than an ignition, so on any used motorcycle it can be the one that turns out stiff. Try it when you buy the bike, not on the day you need what is under the seat.

Bent keys, drops and extraction

A tip-over with the key in the ignition is a common way for any motorcycle key to get damaged. The key bends at the shoulder, gets straightened by hand, and can snap later, often in the switch. If your key has been bent, do not keep riding on it. Have a new one cut to the lock while the old one still comes out in one piece.

If it has already broken, leave the fragment alone. Digging with a screwdriver pushes it deeper and scars the wafers. A broken piece can be removed cleanly and used as the pattern for a new key.

All keys lost

We ask for photo ID and the registration or title, then make a key to the motorcycle and test it in the ignition, the steering lock position, the rear seat lock and the fuel cap. With no chip in the picture, a working key is a finished job. Ask for a second key at the same time and keep it somewhere that is not on the bike.

Where to find the key code

The GT250R owner's manual says the bike comes with two ignition keys and to keep the spare in a safe place. It does not describe a key number, so check any original key and the dealer paperwork for a stamped number, but do not count on one. On a bike that has changed hands several times, the key is normally made 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)

Hyosung GT250 and GT250R key FAQ

Does a Hyosung GT250R need a programmed key?

No. The owner's manual describes two plain ignition keys and no immobilizer. A correctly cut key starts the bike.

How do I lock the steering on a GT250?

Bars all the way left, key to OFF, push the key down, let it come back up, turn to LOCK and remove it.

My GT250R key is bent. Is it safe to straighten it?

Straightening weakens it, and it tends to snap later. Get a new key cut to the lock and retire the bent one.

How do I get the rear seat off?

Put the ignition key in the lock under the front side of the rear seat, in the frame cover, and turn it clockwise.

More Hyosung 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.
Broken Motorcycle Key in the Ignition: What to DoIf your key snaps in the motorcycle ignition, stop, keep both pieces, and do not try to turn the cylinder with the stub or dig the fragment out with a knife or screwdriver.
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.
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.

Where we come to you

Sources

Page last updated November 14, 2026.