Son moved to away so I can't help him. He called last night saying he went to go for a ride and the fork lock won't unlock. The bike used to sit covered outside but several months ago he moved and it's now in a garage. Obviously it unlocked when he rode it to the new place, I assume he locked the fork out of habit from the previous 2 years.
He sprayed the lock slot with wd-40 but that hasn't helped.
Any ideas of what will work short of having a shop come and pick the bike up to take to replace or remove it?

 

Just keep spraying and jiggling the key for a couple of days, maybe try a different penetrating oil? Get a small punch and give the center a couple of light raps every so often as well, maybe a little bit of heat, I have one of those small butane torches I use for heat shrink tubing. Just spitballing here

 

Thanks, the 08 has a flat key slot not a barrel lock so there’s no “center“ to tap but maybe the area around the neck

 

wd40 is trash
find some KROIL
if you put wd40 on one of my guitars, the warranty is null and void

 

Can the key be removed with the slot in the horizontal position? Pull and push the left grip while simultaneously turning the key counterclockwise.

 

He indicates that the key won’t turn completely to the unlocked position

 

In review of the parts list for 2008.
It looks like the sportster uses a flat key on motorcycle neck.
I understand that key will not turn to the unlocked position.
It reads like forks are stuck in locked position.
Not really clear but it reads like perhaps the key is removable from lock and key itself is not stuck.
Sometimes pulling the handlebar towards the "more locked" position ...turning bars into the kick stand leaning side and turning key will remove pressure at lock pin.
If the problem is the actual tumbler pin then using some automatic transmission fluid on the key...put ATF fluid on key and insert key..remove key..repeat...then jiggle the key to turn.
Strength/muscle is generally NOT used to force lock since it generally just damages things...gentle jiggles of bar and key can sometimes regain compliance.
It does not take much to jam a lock...a little bit of salt, a tiny amount of corrosion and non-use can jam it.