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Kawasaki Vulcan S Key Replacement

The Vulcan S uses a plain cut key, and the 2015 and 2018 US owner's manuals have no immobilizer section.

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  • Motorcycles and scooters only
  • We come to your bike
  • Keys cut and programmed on site
  • Proof of ownership required
Quick answerThe Vulcan S uses a plain cut key, and the 2015 and 2018 US owner's manuals have no immobilizer section. Its blank is the one Kawasaki lists for the Ninja 650, Z650 and Z900, which makes sense for a cruiser built around the 650 twin. The unusual part is the lock layout: the key opens a side cover, and the seat itself is bolted.

Kawasaki Vulcan S key quick facts

  • Kawasaki's US catalog lists key blank 27008-0596 for the 2016 Vulcan S and the 2018 Vulcan S ABS.
  • Besides the ignition and fuel cap, the bike has one keyed lock: the side cover lock.
  • Behind that side cover is an Allen wrench clipped to the battery case, which is the tool for the seat bolt.
  • The key can be removed from the ignition in OFF, in LOCK, and in a further position that leaves the hazard lights usable.
  • The 2015 and 2018 US Vulcan S manuals have no immobilizer or coded-key content.

Kawasaki Vulcan S key types by year

YearsModelsKey typeChipNotes
2015 onwardVulcan S, Vulcan S ABS, Vulcan S Cafe (EN650)mechanical cut keynoBlank 27008-0596 and ignition switch 27005-0595 in the 2016 and 2018 US catalogs. A helmet lock is available only as an accessory.
2015 onwardVulcan S built for other marketstransponder key on some versionsvariesSuppliers sell coded keys for this key family in other markets. Relevant only if your bike was imported; the VIN tells us.

A sport-bike key on a cruiser

Under the cruiser styling the Vulcan S is a 650 parallel twin from the Ninja family, and the key follows the engine. The blank number in Kawasaki's US catalog is the same one listed for the 2017 Ninja 650, the Z650 and the Z900. It is a different key from every other Vulcan, so a blank that suits a Vulcan 900 will not enter a Vulcan S ignition.

The owner's manual describes an ignition key with a key number tag and says a duplicate needs the key number or a spare key. It never mentions registering a key, and there is no immobilizer indicator on the instrument panel.

Need a key for your Vulcan S?

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

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

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How the side cover and seat work

Most Kawasakis release the seat directly with the key. The Vulcan S does it in two steps.

  • Insert the ignition key into the side cover lock and turn it clockwise.
  • Pull the side cover outward to clear its projection and take it off toward the rear.
  • Remove the Allen wrench stored on the battery case.
  • Use it to undo the seat bolt, then slide the seat off backward.
  • The tool kit is under the seat, held by a band.
  • The fuel cap has a key hole cover and takes the same key.

Things to watch on a Vulcan S

Because the side cover lock is the gateway to the battery and the seat, a failed or jammed side cover lock turns a flat battery into a bigger problem. If the key is getting stiff in that lock, get it looked at while it still opens.

The ignition's extra key-out position is handy for leaving the hazards on, but Kawasaki warns that hazard lights left on for a long time will discharge the battery. A lost key and a flat battery together are awkward on this bike, because the battery sits behind a cover that needs the key. We can sort out both.

A Kawasaki accessory helmet lock, if fitted, is a separate cylinder and may have come with its own key.

Replacing a lost Vulcan S key

This is a cut-on-site job. We confirm that the bike is yours from your photo ID and the registration or title, make a key from the ignition lock, and then check that it turns the side cover lock and the fuel cap. If you want the seat off to reach the battery while we are there, the new key gets you in.

Kawasaki's manual says that if all keys and the key number are lost you will need to replace the ignition switch and all other locks operated by that key. Making a key to the existing locks avoids those parts entirely.

Where to find the key code

The Vulcan S key comes with a key number tag, pictured in the owner's manual. Kawasaki says you need the key number or a spare key to have a duplicate made, so store the tag with your paperwork.

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 Vulcan S key FAQ

Does the Vulcan S have a chip key?

Not on a US bike. The 2015 and 2018 US owner's manuals have no immobilizer section, and Kawasaki's US catalog lists a plain blank.

Is a Vulcan S key the same as a Vulcan 900 key?

No. The Vulcan S takes the blank used on Kawasaki's 650 sport bikes. The Vulcan 900 uses a different blank and a different lock layout.

How do I get the Vulcan S seat off?

Unlock and remove the side cover with the ignition key, take the Allen wrench from the battery case, and remove the seat bolt. Without the key, the side cover lock has to be opened first, which we can do.

My battery is dead and I lost the key. Can you help with both?

Yes. We cut a key at the bike, which opens the side cover so the seat and battery can be reached.

The immobilizer system on this bike

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