No key, or the handlebar is locked: how to move the bike
What to try before you call, and how a locked bike is lifted rather than dragged.
What to do right now
- 1
Search properly before you assume it is lost. Check your pockets, your bag, the ignition and the seat storage, and ask whoever rode it last.
- 2
Try the lock gently if the key works. With the key in, turn the handlebar slightly left and right while turning the key. Do not force it.
- 3
Look for a spare. At home, with family, in the office or in the showroom's records.
- 4
Gather proof of ownership. A locksmith or a showroom will usually ask for the registration certificate and your ID.
- 5
Keep the bike somewhere safe. A covered, lit spot is best. A bike with no key is easy to move for the wrong reasons.
- 6
Decide where the bike goes. A locksmith's shop, the showroom or home. If the bike is in an awkward spot, towing it is often easier than bringing someone to it.
How we help
A lost key or a handlebar lock that will not release leaves you with a bike that cannot be started or steered. It is stressful, but it is also one of the more predictable problems: the fix is a locksmith or a showroom, and the only question is how to get the bike there.
A bike with a locked handlebar cannot be rolled in a straight line, so dragging it is not an option. This page covers what to try first and how we move it.
We are a towing service, not a locksmith. We do not cut locks or make keys. What we do is move the bike safely to the person who does.
Because a locked handlebar means the front wheel cannot turn freely, we lift the bike onto the truck instead of dragging it. Straps go on frame points, and the steering is secured so the bike cannot swing during the trip.
We take it to the showroom, a locksmith or your home, whichever you choose. If the bike is in a basement or a gated lot, tell us when you call so that we plan the pickup.
We move a locked motorcycle on our bike towing service truck, and a scooter with scooty and EV towing. Roadside assistance cannot open a lock or make a key, so a tow to the locksmith or showroom is the right call here.
What to tell us when you call
- Whether the key is lost or the lock is jammed
- Make and model
- Whether the handlebar is locked straight or turned
- Where the bike is, and any gate or basement rules
- The showroom or locksmith you want it taken to
What not to do
- Do not force the lock with a screwdriver. It can break the mechanism and turn a cheap fix into a replacement of the whole lock set.
- Do not hand the registration papers to a stranger. Use an established locksmith or the showroom, and ask what they need first.
- Do not leave the bike on the road overnight with no key. Move it to a safe, lit place.
Frequently asked questions
Can you tow a bike with a locked handlebar?
Yes. We lift it onto the truck so that the front wheel is not dragged.
Do you cut locks or make keys?
No. We are a towing service. We move the bike to a locksmith, a showroom or your home.
What will a locksmith or showroom ask for?
Usually proof of ownership, such as the registration certificate and your ID. Ask them before you go.
Can the showroom make a duplicate key?
Usually yes, with the registration certificate and ID, though the process differs by brand. Call ahead to confirm.
Related help
Last reviewed: October 2026
Stuck right now?
Tell us where you are and what the bike is doing. You get an honest estimate before the truck leaves.
Find RS Towing Service on Google Maps
Our base is in RBI Layout, JP Nagar 7th Phase. We are open 24 hours, every day.
5, RBI Layout Main Rd, RBI Layout, JP Nagar 7th Phase, J. P. Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560078Open in Google Maps