Don't use the kill switch?

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by Yellow Jacket

Heck, the best thing to do is to just store the bike and look at it once in a while. That way you won't wear the thing out.

That is what I have been doing since Oct. 13, 2013

[davidhollinger]

Originally Posted by TNrookie

I realize that I dug this thread out of the archives, but I take it that the kickstand kill switch didn't start until at least 05 with the 1600s maybe? My 02 doesn't have it and I'm gonna hafta develop a new habit because, right or wrong, I always did it on my Volusia/C50. It was the best way for me...bike in gear..and as someone above noted, not once did I walk away without the kickstand down.

My 2002 has a kickstand safety switch and so does yours. Leave it down and try to ride off. I hit a hole once and it cut the wire. Took me 20 min to figure it out and get taped up and rolling. It won't shut the bike off when you put the kickstand down but It will not let you ride off with it down either.

[Roadblock]

I think that "story" about wearing out the kill switch comes from the fact that many of the non-american assembled bikes I have owned as well as those of friends have had a problem with the kill switch that stems from corrosion of the contacts in the handlebar controls. I have seen Hondas, Kawis, and Zukes all have this issue, seems to really affect starters on big hondas as the ignition push button contacts corrode. Not sure what the difference is but I have never seen this issue with an HD. Of course this is all conjecture so I may be WAY off base :)

[Yellow Jacket]

Originally Posted by redjay

Hey Bob.
That has to be the feistiest post I ever saw from you on here (g).
Is the winter getting to you ?

I'm going to use that excuse and I'm sticking with it!

[redjay]

I think we in the Northern Hemisphere are all sick and tired of the winter.

[Jared]

Wow, it's interesting to see some of the threads that get resurrected from the dead.

[smokey422]

I have always used the kill switch to shut off the ignition on all my bikes (40 years riding experience) and never have had one go bad on me. I was a Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructor for years and we always teach students to use the kill switch every time they shut off the engine. It's the only way to develop the instinct to use the switch quickly if you ever need it. I taught a Gold Wing riders class once and they all argued this point with me. We were in the classroom portion of the class and I took my assistant instructor aside and told him to go outside and shut off every other kill switch in the line of bikes. We went outside for our first riding session and half the class started their bikes right up. The other half (the ones with their switches off) couldn't get their bikes started and were checking everything on their Wings while we waited on them. Not one even looked at the switch. I finally went over to the guy who gave me the biggest argument about not using the switch and asked him "Let me get this straight: in a quiet parking lot with friends all around and no distractions you can't remember to use your kill switch but in traffic when your throttle sticks wide open and you are screaming towards the rear end of an 18 wheeler you will instantly remember it and shut it off?" He got really red-faced and then turned the switch on and started his bike. By the end of class, EVERYONE was using their kill switch to shut off their Wings.

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by davidhollinger

My 2002 has a kickstand safety switch and so does yours. Leave it down and try to ride off.

That works great until you ride another bike without that feature. At that point you learned habit that is not a universal to other bikes. Opps! Guess I wasn't on a Nomad!

[RACNRAY]

Originally Posted by smokey422

i have always used the kill switch to shut off the ignition on all my bikes (40 years riding experience) and never have had one go bad on me. I was a motorcycle safety foundation instructor for years and we always teach students to use the kill switch every time they shut off the engine. It's the only way to develop the instinct to use the switch quickly if you ever need it. I taught a gold wing riders class once and they all argued this point with me. We were in the classroom portion of the class and i took my assistant instructor aside and told him to go outside and shut off every other kill switch in the line of bikes. We went outside for our first riding session and half the class started their bikes right up. The other half (the ones with their switches off) couldn't get their bikes started and were checking everything on their wings while we waited on them. Not one even looked at the switch. I finally went over to the guy who gave me the biggest argument about not using the switch and asked him "let me get this straight: In a quiet parking lot with friends all around and no distractions you can't remember to use your kill switch but in traffic when your throttle sticks wide open and you are screaming towards the rear end of an 18 wheeler you will instantly remember it and shut it off?" he got really red-faced and then turned the switch on and started his bike. By the end of class, everyone was using their kill switch to shut off their wings.

i like that story!!

RACNRAY

[0vationdave]

Originally Posted by glwilson

That works great until you ride another bike without that feature. At that point you learned habit that is not a universal to other bikes. Opps! Guess I wasn't on a Nomad!

I thought that was standard on all road bikes? My 1982 Virago had that feature on it..........as did my Honda and my Suzuki 1500 Intruder? Is that not standard on any newer bike?

[RACNRAY]

It is mandatory for all skoots to have kill switches. In over 37 years of werkin on skoots and 40 years ridin em I have not seen a skoot without a kill switch.

RACNRAY

[Mav1]

I got in the habit of using the key to turn off the bike on my vn900 as the key was located on the side of the bike. Too many times I used the kill switch and then walked away leaving the key in the bike and the lights on (out of sight out of mind). That habit has carried over to the Vaquero even though the key is now "front and centre". I like this location much better!

[carsixten]

I use the kill switch when I want to leave the bike in gear when parking it, such as when on a slight hill. Since the key, and the clutch are both left handed, you can't shut off the key while holding the clutch.
Use the kill switch to stop the motor, and then release the clutch. Then you can reach down and turn off the key.
I wish I could teach my wife to do this. 900 classic. She insists on putting it into neutral, and using the key to shut it off, and then trying to put it back into gear after it's off. All the while she's trying to hold the brake to keep it from rolling. Doesn't work worth s__t. Takes her a long long time sometimes. When I told her to use the kill switch, she told me to shut the F up! of course.
We ride together, and over the years, I've wasted many hours waiting for her to putz with the key, gears, helmet, purse, gloves, sunglasses...

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by 0vationdave

I thought that was standard on all road bikes? My 1982 Virago had that feature on it..........as did my Honda and my Suzuki 1500 Intruder? Is that not standard on any newer bike?

Not all bikes have a switch on the kickstand to turn the bike off...

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by RACNRAY

It is mandatory for all skoots to have kill switches. In over 37 years of werkin on skoots and 40 years ridin em I have not seen a skoot without a kill switch.

RACNRAY

But not all have a kickstand switch, which what the response was related to.