Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Hi guys,

ok im not sure if this has been discussed before and if it has then im very sorry.

Anyway, i just recently brought a 2005 zx 636 and i only have the black key for the bike. Im the third owner and the first owner lost the master key. So my question is. If the battery of the bike goes flat (like dead flat that you need to replace the bat) will the black key start the bike after 30 minutes. I understand that car ECUs resets itself so is it the same for a bike? Will i be able to start the bike with the black key?

Another question is, if i am unable to start the bike. what can i do? will i have to purchase another ECU with a master key or is there a a way around it?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Jimmy

Someone will probably have the right answer but when I bought mine the dude said the red key was manadatory once you disconnected the battery and that if I lost it i should immediately kill myself because the cost of replacing the ECU would give me a heart attack anyway. Then again he might have just been bullshitting me to scare into not losing the red key....

when i brought the 12r was told DO NOT LOSE THE RED KEY replacement cost $2500

^^ i was told $1800 if the red key is lost. This is because they can code another replacement key off the red key but not off the black as the do not have the printable information on them that is needed to recode a new key.

Your black key is coded and should start your bike in all situations (remember your immobiliser is active at all times and checks your key for the correct code before it will start) so from that angle you will be fine, but from here you will unable to get spares without the red key. Which means if you lose that key you will need a new ECU and preprogramed key set.

God i love my 9R lol ........... dont have to worry about a red key .......... is the new 10R the same with the red key........

^^yep

hey guys,

thanks for ur answers.

so is it correct to say that if the battery does die and i need to replace it then ill b able to use the black key to start the bike? i understand that the red key is for encoding other user keys so i know that i will not be able to do that. Unless i get a full ecu which i have asked at kawasaki and that will be about $2k.

I also spoke to kawasaki in adelaide and Ian advised me that if the battery does die and needs to be replaced then the black key will start the bike because the key is encoded. so i guess im safe there. But he did say that if and hope if does not happen if the ecu short circuts then ill need the red key to start the bike because the user keys will be unuserable.

thanks

jimersees wrote:so is it correct to say that if the battery does die and i need to replace it then ill b able to use the black key to start the bike?

yep

Sounds right to me, I only ever used the red key once on my 05 636 and then I'm not even sure if I needed to, but the black one wouldn't get it going. In reality, I think your concern will be for losing the current one. Anything else is very bad luck.

Honestly how do people lose these keys, it's really not that hard. Maybe try contacting them in a few mths time to see if they've found it yet.

Hi guys,

Basically the bike was owned by my cousin and he had it for about a year or so.

When he purchased the bike the owner did not have the red key as he said that he lost it so my cousin has been without it since realli.

Ill just pray that nothing happens...

thanks

definately the red key = master key.
the black ones are the additional keys.

for my 06 zx6rr i started it the other day after the battery had been flat for about a year (the whole bike has been in the shed for 18months) & the bike started on the black key with a jump start - ie, the battery was not stuffed.

coded keys mapped to the ecu cost a bomb - $1800 - $2500 sounds right.
better than $6k i was told for a 1098?

RichB wrote: Honestly how do people lose these keys, it's really not that hard. Maybe try contacting them in a few mths time to see if they've found it yet.

In the pet shop window this arvo " LOST - Horse. Grey 17hands.....etc etc and pic"
Keys are easy

maybe the keys are attached to the horse

hahahah

a horse... lost hrmmm

ill just keep praying that nothing happens.

Thanks for all you help guys... i can now sleep better

Red keys get "lost" when the bike gets listed as an insurance write off, it only goes to the auction with the key it went to the insurance assessor with, i.e the black key.

Bike wreck gets brought, gets repaired, gets sold sans master key...with appropriate excuse.

No red key on a bike with an immobiliser, take a good hard look at it and if your still keen haggle the price down to negate the HUGE liability of no master key.