Kawasaki Ninja 300 and Versys-X 300 Key Replacement

Quick answerThe Ninja 300 and the Versys-X 300 share more than their 296 cc twin: Kawasaki's US parts catalog lists the same plain key blank for both, and neither US owner's manual has an immobilizer section. If the key is lost, a new one is cut to the key number or to the locks on the bike and it starts the engine as soon as it turns. Nothing has to be programmed.

Kawasaki Ninja 300 and Versys-X 300 key quick facts

Kawasaki USA lists key blank 27008-0053 for the 2013, 2015 and 2017 Ninja 300 and for the 2017, 2018 and 2022 Versys-X 300 ABS.
The 2015 Ninja 300 manual describes one combination key for the ignition switch, steering lock, seat lock and fuel tank cap.
The Ninja 300 key number may be stamped on a separate plate; the Versys-X 300 key comes with a key number tag.
On the Versys-X 300 the tool kit, two storage compartments and the helmet hooks are all under the single key-locked seat.
Neither the 2015 Ninja 300 manual nor the 2018 Versys-X 300 manual mentions an immobilizer or a coded key.
The Ninja 300 carries over the blank and the ignition switch part number of the 2008 to 2012 Ninja 250R.

Kawasaki Ninja 300 and Versys-X 300 key types by year

Years	Models	Key type	Chip	Notes
2013-2017	Ninja 300, Ninja 300 ABS (EX300A, EX300B)	mechanical cut key	no	Blank 27008-0053 in the US catalog for 2013 and 2015. Three-position ignition switch; the key comes out in OFF or LOCK.
2017-present	Versys-X 300, Versys-X 300 ABS (KLE300B, KLE300C)	mechanical cut key	no	Same blank number in the US catalog for 2018 and 2022. The catalog also lists a seat lock, a seat lever lock and a fuel cap lock rotor.

One key blank across the 300 twins

Kawasaki built the Versys-X 300 around the Ninja 300 engine, and the lock hardware followed. The US parts catalog shows blank 27008-0053 on the Ninja 300 ignition and locks diagram and again on the Versys-X 300 ignition switch diagram. The ignition switches themselves carry different part numbers, so a switch from one bike is not a drop-in for the other, but the key that goes into them is cut from the same blank.

The owner's manuals back up the simple picture. The Ninja 300 manual tells you a duplicate can be made by a Kawasaki dealer from your original key or from the key code. The Versys-X 300 manual says you need the key number or a spare key. Neither describes registering a key to the bike.

Need a key for your Ninja 300?

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

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What the key opens on each bike

The two bikes use the seat lock differently, which matters when you are locked out.

Ninja 300: the key in the seat lock, turned clockwise, releases the passenger seat. The rider seat is held by bolts at the side covers and does not use the key.
Ninja 300: the helmet hooks and the tool kit compartment are reached once the passenger seat is off.
Versys-X 300: the key in the seat lock releases the one-piece seat; lift the rear while turning the key clockwise.
Versys-X 300: under that seat are the tool kit, the storage compartments and the helmet hooks.
Both: ignition switch with steering lock, and a keyed fuel tank cap.

Where owners get caught out

On the Versys-X 300 almost everything useful is under the seat, including the tool kit you would want for a roadside fix. A lost key on a trip means no tools, no helmet hooks and no fuel, so a spare carried separately earns its keep on this bike more than most.

On a Ninja 300 that has been a commuter or a first bike, look at the key itself. A key that has been bent and straightened is weakened and can snap in the ignition or the fuel cap. If yours shows a kink or a crack at the shoulder, have a fresh one cut before it breaks. If it has already broken, keep both pieces: the cuts on them are enough to make a new key.

No keys at all

Kawasaki's manuals for both bikes say that if every key and the key number are gone, you will need to replace the ignition switch and all other locks operated by that key. That is how a parts counter solves it, since a dealer cuts from the number.

We work from the locks instead. After checking your photo ID against the registration or title, we read the bike's own locks, cut a key on site and try it in the ignition, the seat lock and the fuel cap before we leave. The original locks stay on the bike, and the same visit is the easiest time to have a second key cut.

Where to find the key code

The Ninja 300 key number comes with the keys and may be stamped on a separate plate; the manual has a space to write it in. The Versys-X 300 keys come with a key number tag. Kawasaki suggests asking the dealer that sold the bike, which may have the number in its records.

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)

Kawasaki Ninja 300 and Versys-X 300 key FAQ

Will a Ninja 300 key blank work for a Versys-X 300?

The blank is the same part number in Kawasaki's US catalog, so the uncut key is interchangeable. The cuts are individual to each bike, so a cut Ninja 300 key will not turn a Versys-X 300 lock.

Is there a chip in the Ninja 300 key?

Not on a US bike. The US owner's manual describes an ordinary combination key and says a dealer can duplicate it from the original key or the key code. There is no immobilizer section.

My Versys-X 300 key is locked in a pannier or left at camp. Can you still make one?

Yes. We cut a new key from the locks on the motorcycle itself, so we do not need the original. Bring your photo ID and the registration or title so we can confirm the bike is yours.

Can I get the Ninja 300 rider seat off without the key?

The rider seat is bolted, not key-locked, but the passenger seat and what is under it need the key. If the seat lock itself is the problem, that is a lock repair we can do at the bike.

The immobilizer system on this bike

Kawasaki Immobilizer and KIPASS: Keys, Fobs and Lost KeysKawasaki has two electronic key systems: a transponder immobilizer with coded keys, and KIPASS, a fob system used on the Concours 14 and a few newer models.

More Kawasaki models

Services for this bike

Lost Your Motorcycle Key on a Ride, Far From HomeIf the key goes missing at a stop far from home, secure the bike where it stands, retrace the stop, and then gather the details a locksmith or dealer will need: your photo ID, registration, VIN, year, make and model, and any key number.
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.
When to Get a Spare Motorcycle Key, and Why NowGet a spare motorcycle key as soon as you are down to one working key.
What Affects How Long a Motorcycle Key Takes?The time a motorcycle key takes depends mostly on four things: whether the key has a chip, whether you still have a working key, whether your make allows keys to be registered outside the dealer, and whether any part has to be ordered.

Where we come to you

Sources

Page last updated November 14, 2026.