Where to find Key blanks?

Hi, so I was looking around, and noticed that my 5th gen doesn't seem to use the same standard key as all the other honda bikes. I recently bought replacement blanks on amazon that had the honda logo on them. They have two 'valleys' on the right side of the key blade on each side and are considerably longer than my key, which has one velley on the left side on each side. Sure enough the new keys fit my roommate's 6th gen (and supposedly all of the CBRs as well), but not my 5th gen.

Where can I find some nice key blanks to make new keys? I really want the thick plastic handle with the honda logo if I can get them. Currently I'm still using the original factory key, which seems like asking for trouble in case it breaks!

 

Call one of the online parts houses and tell them what you need in exact terms, then make sure your key blank or other is in stock.

Amazon is good but better IMO to deal with a distributor direct.

If ya can get along without the advertising, a locksmith may have blanks. Hardware stores and big box stores are OK but limited. In your area you may have to show proof of ownership before a locksmith will make you a new key.

 

online parts houses like who exactly?

I tried amazon and a bunch of other places on google, but could only find the 6th gen key style sold anywhere. Even the blanks catalog directly from Ilco had only 2000+ VFR listed and didn't seem to acknowledge that pre-2000 VFRs even exist.

A locksmith or hardware store would probably have a key that fits, but it won't be a nice one with a plastic handle, much less the Honda badge. I really don't want to be hassled by the dealership for it.

Roommate turned this site up for me while looking, (the one I have is the one that's out of stock... the only one that's out of stock), and I'm kinda tempted to throw down on the 3L since it should work and looks nice, but it's pricey and the site seems super shady to me.
http://www.motorcyclekeys.com/blanks2.html

 

" Honda motorcycle parts" should get you several online parts suppliers including smaller dealers who sell online.

Sounds like what you really need is a couple of spare keys. Your best bet for that is a locksmith. Hardware stores have limited stock and there is the legal aspects they have to deal with.

That website lacks fancy farkles but hardly looks flaky IMO.

So far as breaking a key goes, it is likely that the internals of the ignition, tank filler and seat release mechanisms will fail before one of the factory keys break.

Bottom line? Lose what you've got and you are SOL

Contacting parts suppliers using online or phone service might get you closer to the ballpark by ID ing your bike by the year instead of this generation thing.

 

Well in my case I have only one factory key, and it came bent, and I can tell it's quite brittle from it, so yeah I want to replace it with a couple duplicates and keep the original in a safe place. Always best to have a spare key so as to avoid the situation where you might be SOL anyway.

 

Is the Honda dealership not an option to get key blanks???

 

Last year I went directly to the dealer and ordered an original key blank for my 5th gen. When I bought my bike it only came with two non factory copied blanks and call me OCD but I also wanted a factory key with the thick black handle and the Honda logo on it. The blank cost me $10 and then I had a locksmith cut the key using one of the keys I had as a guide.

Overall I think the key cost me about $20 by the time I had it cut to suit the bike's existing locks and it works better than the two copies that came with the bike. I know the stealerships usually cost more than most online stores but at least if you order the key and they get the wrong one, you don't have to pay the shipping twice, and you are not stuck with a blank that you can't use. One nice thing about ordering from the dealer is that you don't have to pay shipping to get the part if it is not in stock. Just my 2 cents

 

I bought a key from the dealer last year. I had to take it to a locksmith to have it cut. The dealer didn't want to cut it with his punch machine because he knew it wouldn't work. The locksmith did a nice grind job matching it to my original. The dealer told me the hand held punch didn't grip the blanks right so he had no confidence it would work. I was pissed that the dealer still wanted to charge me $20 for the blank which normally included the punching. I told him the the locksmith was going to charge me $5 to cut the key. After much arguing he finally gave me the blank for $15. The locksmith wasn't happy that I had to go back and forth between his shop and the Honda shop to get the blank. When he cut the the key, he handed it to me and said "No charge".

Bottom line I got the key for $15. The locksmith didn't make a dime and the Honda shop made out like a bandit.

 

I agree as a believer in always having a new key backup.

 

Here, $5.28. http://www.partzilla.com/parts/search/Honda/Motorcycle/1999/VFR800FI+A/HANDLEBAR/parts.html

 

Bottom line to the bottom line, businesses like your local locksmith deserves lots of your business and word of mouth advertisinv. Good for him. See if a big business will do that for you.

 

I bought some all metal blanks off ebay and they worked great. Copied my existing key, which is actually bent a little.

Seller name was unlimitedss and is still active on ebay.

Jose

 

I've only ever asked for pre-'97 key blanks, but my local Hamburg Honda dealer gets $7.50 for cutting a key with your #. And they usually have free hot coffee too, sometimes a stale doughnut. Good service, family-operated shop.

 

The reason some dudes like the keys with the embossed Honda logos on them is, it ya carry one in your wallet along with that condom after a week or two ya get this really nifty circle looking thing with the Honda logo in it. Harley has been selling wallets like this for years and all the harleydoods have one.

The question is, why should those dudes have all the really cool shit?

 

Hi There

Is this what you are looking for ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-OEM-HONDA-KEY-BLANK-VFR-800FI-800-FI-INTERCEPTOR-1998-1999-2000-2001-VFR800-/321135664022?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4ac52d5b96

I know its on ebay UK, but its from an American company

Heres the phone number 860-871-9999
its called Grim Reaper Racing and Moto Cross

Good Luck

 

I got my Gen 5 blank from ebay, probably from China, and it fit into the ignition good, so I took it to Ace Hardware where they cut my blank for me, and it works great. Now I have a spare key.