Motorcycle & Scooter Keys: reading the quote

Picking manipulates the wafers to open the lock without necessarily learning their depths, useful when the goal is just to turn the lock once. Decoding reads each wafer's actual depth, usually with a scope or a feeler-style tool, so that information can be turned into a cut key. For key service the lock is generally decoded rather than only picked, since the point is producing a working key, not just a single turn.

Make, model and age of the machine

Make, model and age decide how common the keyway and blank are. A widely used platform is usually the more straightforward case; an uncommon or older machine can take longer to source parts for.

Bringing multiple locks onto one key

Bringing the seat, fuel cap or a storage lock onto the ignition's key is extra work per lock rekeyed, separate from cutting the key itself, and is priced as its own line.

Sourcing an uncommon key blank

Some keyway profiles are harder to source a matching blank for than others, particularly on older or less common machines, and locating the right blank can add to the time before cutting even starts.