Red KISS key : Kawasaki ZX Forums: Kawasaki Ninja Forum

johnandchris · 08-20-2009, 04:24 AM

Folks.
I have just joined the forum and i have a couple of questions.
Firstly let me introduce myself. My name is John and i have owned the 12 for about 2 weeks now and i am loving it. It is a 2005 (55 plate) in black (dark blue) and gold with 42k on the clock. One previous owner who happens to be the west midlands police (although i bought it from a bloke in cornwall who buys ex-police cars and bikes and he did not register it to himself).
I have a long history of Kwaks, having owned 3 zzr1100 and 1 zzr1200. I am also a member of the zzr-international forum under the same username and have been for a few years offering numerous posts.
The zx12r makes me giggle every time i ride it and i too have to admit to saying "make the jump to lightspeed chewy" when i accelerate hard.

I do have one issue with the bike however. I only have 1 grey key!! i have contacted the guy i bought it off and he said it only came with 1 key. He seems a genuine bloke and i picked it up from his house (did the usual asked to use the toilet etc to show he actually lives there)
I have tried to track down the red KISS key to no avail!

I have also contacted Kawasaki and asked about a new ECU and was told it is very expensive (i only paid 3.5k for the bike).
Does anyone know of a company that can reproduce master keys or cut and code form an original slave key (it is original). The key i have works fine but i have a habit of losing keys!!!! I would like a couple of spares.
Also i believe that the Immobiliser is bypassable which will be a last resort.

I appreciate that i am a newbee and must be viewed with a certain wariness, however i am genuine (see zzr-international) and i am not a thief into stealing zx12rs (although i appreciate a thief would also say that!!).

Also what are the best settings for a 90kg man. i currently have the fornt with 5 rings showing, comp and rebound at the lowest settings. The rear has about 10mm of thread showing and i can remember the comp and rebound (possibly 2.75 and 3.5)

Grateful of any help.

Warmest regards
John

**Shifty1** · 08-20-2009, 07:57 AM

Can't help you on the suspension.

But if you go to a Kawi dealership, they should be able to hook you up with some keys. Take the title with you to show ownership. I'm not sure whether or not they will be able to hook you up with the KISS key but they should at least be able to get you a couple of gray keys. Worst case, you can buy blanks online (ebay, various online shops, kawasaki) and then you just have to find someone to cut them.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

johnandchris · 08-20-2009, 08:28 AM

Thanks for the reply

The thing i am not sure of is whether they can code the grey keys without the red master key. The KISS i believe, has a chip in it whch disarms the immobiliser. Although you can get blanks cut, they would not have the corresponding code to allow the bike to start?
Any advice grateful.
I will update my persnal details shortly and i will try and get a photo of me and my bike to use as an avatar!!

Thanks
John

**Shifty1** · 08-20-2009, 08:36 AM

That's why you'll have to take your title to Kawi. They can actually use your VIN to cut new keys for you and program them to the correct ECU.

BULLDOG · 08-20-2009, 09:09 AM

I bought a couple of blanks off of ebay and got them cut in a local hardware store, I did have the Original with the little #bered tag on it..

JBearSVT · 08-20-2009, 03:06 PM

Welcome to the forums, good luck with your efforts.

johnandchris · 08-21-2009, 01:50 AM

Thanks for the advice folks.
So if i take my V5 to kawasaki with the bike and existing key (with the immobiliser chip in) they will be able to cut further keys for me?
If that is the case i will go and get a couple cut. Why then do they have a master red key. Kind of seems redundant.
Regards
John

johnandchris · 08-22-2009, 08:40 AM

Contacted KAWA dealer.
They have 'investigated' and can supply me with a black key cut to fit my bike, however without the red key, they cannot code it to my ECU!
They have suggested a new ecu, keys and locks and get this - £900. WOW.
There must be a way round this. I know i could get an ECU of an earlier now KISS Model, however i am fairly certain that there were ECU changes throughout the life of the 12 and therefore may cause issues.
Car companies can copy keys even if you have lost the master key, why not kawasaki. The cynic in me says the £900 for this replacement is purely because they can.
Is there any way of re-programming the ecu to bypass the Immobiliser or performing some other form of bypass.
Alternatively, does anyone know of a company in the UK that will produce and code another key for me. I have tried a place in London who guarantee to produce master keys for cars but the dont do motorcycle keys.

Again any help gratefully appreciated.

Regards
John

cltgt · 11-17-2009, 07:11 AM

I am new to the forums myself as I just picked up an 04 ZX-12R. I do not have a red key either. All I have are two grey keys. The bike runs and allall, but what would I need the red key for? Thanks.

johnandchris · 01-12-2010, 07:05 AM

The 04 did not (as i understand it) have a KISS key as there was no immobiliser installed. If you have an 04 then you should be able to get other keys cut easily as you dont have to code them.

On a positive note, i managed to track down the original organisation who owned the bike and they still had the other 2 keys including the red key. I now have them in my posession and the bike is now worth more!!! WIN WIN WIN!!

Thanks for everyones help.
Regards
JOhn