Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

I have a 05 ZX-10R however i only have a single black key for this. previous owner claims thats all he has also.

im told i cant cut any new keys for the bike without the red key.

What are my options apart from having the local kawa dealer replace the whole ignition barrel / immobiliser. ($3k just for the part i hear)

is there anything i should worry about apart from loosing the single black key i have?
i saw something refering that when changing the battery you need the red key to start it? or is this bollocks?

Is it worth trying to pick up a part from a wrecked bike?

many thanks

I see trouble coming.... All i know is my bike shop said "DONT LOSE THE RED KEY!!!!!!!!!!!"

Speak to a dealer, but I think you just need the red one to reprogram blank keys. When I had my first service done they didn't require the red key and I assume they disconnect the battery when working on the bike!!! (manual says you should, but who does what the manual says).

matt76 wrote:I see trouble coming.... All i know is my bike shop said "DONT LOSE THE RED KEY!!!!!!!!!!!"

i got that same speech....

i also heard sumwhere they can re-tune a key off a "tuned" key, but the signal becomes weaker (kinda like how over all these years, even tho tasmanians still shag there family members, they are becoming LESS related...if u kno wot i mean??)

Neka79 wrote:

matt76 wrote:I see trouble coming.... All i know is my bike shop said "DONT LOSE THE RED KEY!!!!!!!!!!!"

i got that same speech....

i also heard sumwhere they can re-tune a key off a "tuned" key, but the signal becomes weaker (kinda like how over all these years, even tho tasmanians still shag there family members, they are becoming LESS related...if u kno wot i mean??)

I left my ignition on the other day, completely drained the battery so i took it out of the bike and charged it.
Put it back in a couple of hours later and it fired up fine, only used the black key. Had to reset the clock and that was it.

Neka79 wrote:(kinda like how over all these years, even tho tasmanians still shag there family members, they are becoming LESS related...if u kno wot i mean??)

Do they still do that? Damn! No-one in my family has hit on me for ages.

The red is for reprogramming the black keys.

The 14 had a red one with it so they must still have the same concept.

they still run with the same concept on most new kwakkas...

Scooby - DON'T LOSE THAT KEY MATE !!!!

I think the options are *really* limited if you don't have the red key......my dealer said basically if I lost the red key to my 12, I was going to be up for a complete new ignition system/computer/wat evr, because its all coded to *THAT* key and that key only.....and it would cost me an arm and a leg if it had to be done.

Daisy wrote:

Neka79 wrote:(kinda like how over all these years, even tho tasmanians still shag there family members, they are becoming LESS related...if u kno wot i mean??)

Do they still do that? Damn! No-one in my family has hit on me for ages.

If I recall your pink painting pictures it would appear that the males around you are poofs.

daffy67 wrote:I left my ignition on the other day, completely drained the battery so i took it out of the bike and charged it.
Put it back in a couple of hours later and it fired up fine, only used the black key. Had to reset the clock and that was it.

Hi Daffy,


are you saying you took the battery out completly and you could still start the bike afterward with only the black key?

i'm only worried if we need the red key to start the bike after the battery has been disconnected for eg a service

scooby wrote:aree you saying you took the battery out completly and you could still start the bike afterward with only the black key?

i'm only worried if we need the red key to start the bike after the battery has been disconnected for eg a service

You dont need the red key for that reason (starting bike after dead battery) Scooby.

scooby wrote:I have a 05 ZX-10R however i only have a single black key for this. previous owner claims thats all he has also.

im told i cant cut any new keys for the bike without the red key.

What are my options apart from having the local kawa dealer replace the whole ignition barrel / immobiliser. ($3k just for the part i hear)

is there anything i should worry about apart from loosing the single black key i have?
i saw something refering that when changing the battery you need the red key to start it? or is this bollocks?

Is it worth trying to pick up a part from a wrecked bike?

many thanks

If the previous owner bought the bike new, he wouldve had the key & has
lost it.

The master key (coloured red) has an in-built transponder, containing the
master key code. These codes are unique to each key. This code and an
additional two user key codes must be registered in the ECU for the system
to operate.

The master is necessary when registering additional user keys & should not
be used as the main key to start the bike except in emergencies (loss or
damage of user keys) & be kept in a safe place.

The user keys (coloured black) are used when riding. These keys have unique
codes which differ from the master key. Up to max of (5) user key codes can be
stored by the ECU at any one time. These codes cannot be registered to the
ECU without first registering the master key code.

Given the above my take is that once you lose your last remaining key, you
wouldnt be able to get another key done without having the master key. You
would need to replace the ECU. Changing the ignition barrel alone isent going
to do it.

I may be wrong but thats how I see it after reading the Owners Manual.

all this talk got me spooked.. so i had to find my red key...now im happy... calm...

Neka79 wrote:all this talk got me spooked.. so i had to find my red key...now im happy... calm...

Better to be safe than sorry.

Mines held by the bank in a sealed envelope with my important documents.

If you don't have the red key apparently you are pharked and a long way from home if you disconnect the battery. The immobiliser/ECU will only allow you to restart with the red key. Without the red key you're only option is a new ECU at approx $2k.

This is the spiel I got when I bought mine. I haven't tested it though. Perhaps ring a Kwaka dealer to confirm