FAQ: What do I do if I lose my motorcycle key?

Published: 30 October 2009 Updated: 19 November 2014

These days a lot of bikes have their ignition keys coded to the ECU to make it harder for thieves to get them going.

But that means you have to take extra special care of those keys because if you are unlucky enough to lose both keys you could need a new ECU at up to ₤1000.

The reason is that it’s often the case that two different companies make the ECUs and ignition system and the system is designed so that once it’s fired into life for the first time in the factory, it can’t be overwritten with a new code for obvious reasons.

However the systems do have a facility to introduce a new key to the system, providing you still have one key, but if they are both lost you’ve had it, so make sure you’ve always got a spare safe.