EX250F key blanks: Difference between revisions

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__TOC__

If you need a new key for your bike, there ~~is one~~ good ~~choice~~, ~~one~~ hard-to-find ~~choice~~, and ~~one~~ expensive ~~choice~~. A good locksmith should be able to tell which blank needs to be used, but some of them may not do much motorcycle business. This is to help you help them.

If you need a new key for your bike, there are four flavors to choose from: good, hard-to-find, needs-tweaking, and expensive. A good locksmith should be able to tell which blank needs to be used, but some of them may not do much motorcycle business. This is to help you help them.

==OEM Kawasaki key blanks==

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==Ilco X266==

The Ilco X266 (also marked KA16) will work in the EX250, but it's really not the correct key. The proper blank (X103) is common enough. On the other ~~had~~, the modification required is easy for a locksmith to do, and if you have to choose between using an X266 and not getting a key made, you might want to go this route. Once the key is modified, it will work. It won't work at all in unmodified form. If you like, show this section of the FAQ to the locksmith for reference.

The Ilco X266 (also marked KA16) will work in the EX250, but it's really not the correct key. The proper blank (X103) is common enough. On the other hand, the modification required is easy for a locksmith to do, and if you have to choose between using an X266 and not getting a key made, you might want to go this route. Once the key is modified, it will work. It won't work at all in unmodified form. If you like, show this section of the FAQ to the locksmith for reference.

The X266 is not listed for the Ninja 250 but rather the Concours. This blank is also all-metal, but its shape is the same as the OEM key. The problem with the X266 is that there is a small ridge on each edge that prevents the key from being fully inserted into the Ninja 250 lock cylinders. The amount of interference is fairly small (less than a millimeter) but that is enough to cause problems. Without a minor modification to the key, an X266/KA16 blank cut to fit the ignition/seat/helmet locks will not work in the fuel filler cap.

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==Key dimensions==

The critical dimensions of the three aftermarket blanks are identical to the OEM Kawasaki blank, with the exception of the ridges on the X266/KA16. The thickness and width of the part that inserts into the lock cylinder are the same. The most important dimension is the length from the tip of the key to the shoulder step, 20mm. The reason for this is that the ignition, helmet, and seat lock cylinders rely on the shoulder stop to determine insertion depth, whereas the gas cap has an internal stop such that only the end five of the six tumbler positions are used. If that 20mm length were to change, then a key cut for the other three lock cylinders would not work for the gas cap, and vice versa.

The critical dimensions of the three aftermarket blanks are identical to the OEM Kawasaki blank, with the exception of the ridges on the X266/KA16. The thickness and width of the part that inserts into the lock cylinder are the same. The most important dimension is the length from the tip of the key to the shoulder step (20mm). The reason for this is that the ignition, helmet, and seat lock cylinders rely on the shoulder stop to determine insertion depth, whereas the gas cap has an internal stop such that only the end five of the six tumbler positions are used. If that 20mm length were to change, then a key cut for the other three lock cylinders would not work for the gas cap, and vice versa.

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 __TOC__
-If you need a new key for your bike, there is one good choice, one hard-to-find choice, and one expensive choice. A good locksmith should be able to tell which blank needs to be used, but some of them may not do much motorcycle business. This is to help you help them.
+If you need a new key for your bike, there are four flavors to choose from: good, hard-to-find, needs-tweaking, and expensive. A good locksmith should be able to tell which blank needs to be used, but some of them may not do much motorcycle business. This is to help you help them.
 ==OEM Kawasaki key blanks==
@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 ==Ilco X266==
-The Ilco X266 (also marked KA16) will work in the EX250, but it's really not the correct key. The proper blank (X103) is common enough. On the other had, the modification required is easy for a locksmith to do, and if you have to choose between using an X266 and not getting a key made, you might want to go this route. Once the key is modified, it will work. It won't work at all in unmodified form. If you like, show this section of the FAQ to the locksmith for reference.
+The Ilco X266 (also marked KA16) will work in the EX250, but it's really not the correct key. The proper blank (X103) is common enough. On the other hand, the modification required is easy for a locksmith to do, and if you have to choose between using an X266 and not getting a key made, you might want to go this route. Once the key is modified, it will work. It won't work at all in unmodified form. If you like, show this section of the FAQ to the locksmith for reference.
 The X266 is not listed for the Ninja 250 but rather the Concours. This blank is also all-metal, but its shape is the same as the OEM key. The problem with the X266 is that there is a small ridge on each edge that prevents the key from being fully inserted into the Ninja 250 lock cylinders. The amount of interference is fairly small (less than a millimeter) but that is enough to cause problems. Without a minor modification to the key, an X266/KA16 blank cut to fit the ignition/seat/helmet locks will not work in the fuel filler cap.
@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 ==Key dimensions==
-The critical dimensions of the three aftermarket blanks are identical to the OEM Kawasaki blank, with the exception of the ridges on the X266/KA16. The thickness and width of the part that inserts into the lock cylinder are the same. The most important dimension is the length from the tip of the key to the shoulder step, 20mm. The reason for this is that the ignition, helmet, and seat lock cylinders rely on the shoulder stop to determine insertion depth, whereas the gas cap has an internal stop such that only the end five of the six tumbler positions are used. If that 20mm length were to change, then a key cut for the other three lock cylinders would not work for the gas cap, and vice versa.
+The critical dimensions of the three aftermarket blanks are identical to the OEM Kawasaki blank, with the exception of the ridges on the X266/KA16. The thickness and width of the part that inserts into the lock cylinder are the same. The most important dimension is the length from the tip of the key to the shoulder step (20mm). The reason for this is that the ignition, helmet, and seat lock cylinders rely on the shoulder stop to determine insertion depth, whereas the gas cap has an internal stop such that only the end five of the six tumbler positions are used. If that 20mm length were to change, then a key cut for the other three lock cylinders would not work for the gas cap, and vice versa.