Learned something new!

[timebombprod]

So I never knew that the killswitch should be left in the on position, I just used it as a extra step to turning on the bike but now i know that repeatedly using the killswitch could wear it out fast and come a day where your bike wont turn on!

So should I just turn the key instead when turning the bike off? It seems a bit impractical but I guess I should be fully stopped before turning the bike off so it shouldn't be a problem.


If this is just a load of BS just say so!

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

A debate as old as kill switches themselves. Opinion, There’s really no need to use the kill switch except in an emergency, where you might not be able to reach the key. Leaving it on can’t hurt anything. It will last longer if you don’t use it every time you start and stop the bike.

 

[timebombprod]

A debate as old as kill switches themselves. Opinion, There’s really no need to use the kill switch except in an emergency, where you might not be able to reach the key. Leaving it on can’t hurt anything. It will last longer if you don’t use it every time you start and stop the bike.

Goodstuff! I'll probably train myself not to use it as its turned into muscle memory.

 

[Big T]

I use it every time for the last 50 years and I'm still waiting for it to wear out.

I do it so my natural response is the turn the bike off if I end up in the ditch or under the bike or something.

Haven't had it happen on the street since 76, but it's come in handy on my dual sports

 

[Redman]

Keep in mind that the "kill switch" does not "kill" the entire bike on our GSes.
It only cuts out the power to the coils (and start button).

If you see recommendation to use it al the time, I suspect the reasoning is just so that you develope the habit and are then familiar with it and maybe then use it in some emergency situation.

 

[93Bandit]

I was taught to always use it. I never really thought about why... My 83 has the original switch and it still works fine. I'm not concerned about it wearing out. My $0.02

 

[Rob S.]

It's nice to kill the engine before you take a hand off. Not that I haven't played "Look, Ma, no hands!"

 

[Baatfam]

I don't even know if mine work....on any of the bikes....never used them...:-\\\

EDIT: Actually, I know they work because I've accidently flipped them, and had to figure out why they won't start....LOL....

 

[Brendan W]

I suppose I should be checking that it works more often than I do.

 

[zed1015]

Bulls*it Plain and simple.
Any switch will wear it's contacts after many years of use and the ignition, lights, brake light an horn switches etc are more likely to wear faster then the kill.

 

[slayer61]

I've never used one. Never even thought about it.

 

[rphillips]

Am I the only one that has, more than once, killed the bike with the kill switch then walked away forgetting to turn the ign. off & returned to a dead batt. For that reason I try to not use that switch. Worried about wearing the switch out? Yes, I worry about that as much as I worry about wearing the light switches in my house.

 

[Maddevill]

So, a friend of mine always used the kill switch to turn his bike off. One day I was walking out to the parking lot and there was his bike....with the key in the ignition. I swiped it and waited for him to show up. Amusing hyjinks ensued. I always shut my bike off with the key.

Mad

 

[Rob S.]

Am I the only one that has, more than once, killed the bike with the kill switch then walked away forgetting to turn the ign. off...

I've done that; never got to the point of a dead battery. It was back in my youthful, frenzied days.

 

[Guest]

Some switches clean their contacts by operating the switch, others take wear by use. IMHO it is like worrying if your kickstand is going to wear out by using it. Don't sweat it, it is a non issue.

 

[eil]

I use the kill switch to turn off my bike every time. It's just part of my routine. I think of it like an aviation checklist:

1. Flip kill switch
2. Turn off ignition
3. Kickstand down
4. Get off bike

Flipping the kill switch to "run" is part of my startup procedure as well. That way I _know_ it's in the right position, regardless of whether or not my 7 year-old son has been pretending to be a motorcycle racer/combatant lately.

 

[timebombprod]

I use the kill switch to turn off my bike every time. It's just part of my routine. I think of it like an aviation checklist:

1. Flip kill switch
2. Turn off ignition
3. Kickstand down
4. Get off bike

Flipping the kill switch to "run" is part of my startup procedure as well. That way I _know_ it's in the right position, regardless of whether or not my 7 year-old son has been pretending to be a motorcycle racer/combatant lately.

That's exactly what I do, never thought of it as an AVIATION checklist but yeah, its routine for me to do the same everytime in the same order of steps, if not it throws me off.

 

[93Bandit]

Am I the only one that has, more than once, killed the bike with the kill switch then walked away forgetting to turn the ign. off & returned to a dead batt. For that reason I try to not use that switch. Worried about wearing the switch out? Yes, I worry about that as much as I worry about wearing the light switches in my house.

I've done it more than once... Fortunately it never killed the battery though. Never get in a hurry when you're riding.