I have seen posts concerning getting a new key and the Dealer not knowing how. Well, they need to go to yamahakeys.com which is the official Yamaha USA key distributor. They can make a new factory cut key from the key number of course but also from your key or even from a picture of your key. So take a picture if you no longer have the number.

They can also reset a new ignition lock or gas cap to your original key. Sorry, this isn't a do it yourself company, they only deal with Yamaha Dealers.

Hope this helps.

A few little tidbits about Yamaha locks (I work @ a dealership);

1. The keys used for Star motorcycles are double cut keys but only have tumblers (the actual working part) on the forward or top side of the lock. They cut both side so you can stick the key in either way and it'll still work.

2. Because it's a double cut key that only uses one side, you can cut each side of one key to fit 2 bikes, assuming they're both Star motorcycles and use the same blank (most do). Most Yamaha sport bikes use the same blank as well.

3. Genuine Yamaha key blanks are expensive. The plain trapazoid-top one is something like $10 not counting cutting it. The "Shooting Star" blank from Yamaha retails at about $45.

4. The key blank brand and item number that works best in Star motorcycles is the Ilko YM63. Other brands (Curtis, etc) might work, but often with mixed results. You can get the Ilko blanks at most Ace Hardware stores in the USA. They are usually available on eBay at very low prices.

5. The dealer setup sheet has your key code at the top right of the form & the dealer that built the bike should have a copy. Calling them can get you the code to order new pre-cut keys from any Yamaha dealership. Any dealership can find the dealer that first sold the bike on the Yamaha Dealer System online at the store & it costs them nothing to tell you the name of the place. Call that store and they should have the key number in their records, but keep in mind old records could be in storage and not very easy to get at.

6. Any locksmith can make a new key using the lock on your bike. Make sure they ONLY use the ignition lock to do this since the ignition has the most tumblers and keys made from it will fit all the original locks on the bike. The fork lock, seat and helmet locks your bike may be equipped with are keyed alike but have fewer tumblers and if your locksmith uses those locks to make new keys, they'll only fit those locks and very likely NOT work in the ignition.

7. AAA members can usually get on-site locksmith services as part of their policy. This might save you a lot of money since on-site locksmith services are fairly expensive. AAA won't provide emergency or on-site services the same day you setup a new membership, so you can't save money by paying for a membership only when you want help.

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We've bought several bikes from other dealers and at Yamaha dealer-only auctions and they sometimes don't come with keys, or might only come with one. We've found out the hard way about all these details. Many dealers who've never had to go through this song & dance of making keys for bikes without any keys might not know this stuff since all bikes that come direct from the factory in crates have 2 keys with them. I strongly suggest you buy a few Ilko YM63 blanks and keep them tucked away for future use. Not all locksmiths carry these since bike keys usually make up very little of their business.

Make this a sticky, or maybe add the info to the tech articles here?
Feel free, it's good info for anyone riding a Star or other late model Yamaha motorcycle.

Cheers,
- JJ

What I liked about the whole thing is that they can make a factory cut key from a picture.

Yup, they can do a lot but only through a dealer & making a key from a picture is pretty expensive.
I guess the moral of the story is "Don't lose your keys".

I almost lost my keys to the bike but found them later so I took them to the local lock smith and now I have a few, 1 at home, 1 in my wallet and 1 for the bike. they cost me about $2.50 each.I don't think you can get them made at the local hardware store machine, they don't have the blanks. the price included the cutting of the key also.

I had keys made at a locksmith from my OEM key so I could make my hidden key I think he use a Nissan key blank to make them.

BubbaKahuna wrote:
Yup, they can do a lot but only through a dealer & making a key from a picture is pretty expensive.
I guess the moral of the story is "Don't lose your keys".
The order form we got quotes the same price whether it's from the key number, an original key, or from a picture of the key.

I agree - don't lose your keys or the number.

take it from sombody who had to have the locksmith come out and cut a key to fit, a couple of cheap keys made when you have them and thrown in the desk is cheap insurance. cost me almost 200 bucks to have one come out to my rural area and that was after i called 7 other locksmiths that wouldnt touch it with a ten foot pole

Thanks for the reminder, I am going down soon to get a hida-key made.

worst part really was that they keys had been hidden by my kids because they thought it was funny to see me running around looking for them, and they "reappeared" 2 days after i had the keys cut to fit