emergency / kill switch ?

[Ray Wood]

I've been riding for close to 50 years and I've never understood the reason for turning off your bike with the emergency / kill switch, unless you go down. With modern bikes having a TOS, not even then. I see lots of folks turn off their bikes with it, then the key, sometimes they forget to turn off the key (mostly HD riders)...... === I've ask 3 factory trained mechanics, they all tell me not to do it, it's just for a emergency, ie going down. They went on to say, it kills the ignition, not the fuel pump, thus the pump keeps pumping fuel to the FI or on some bikes carbs.....

Can anyone tell me why I / you should turn off the emergency / kill switch, unless you go down??????

This may have been kicked around before.

Ray

 

[Fly Bye]

I have never used the kill switch for turning off the motor, I just turn the key.

Now there are some guys out there that turn the kill switch to the off position on their riding buddies motorcycle (when their buddy is not looking) so they can see the panic on their face when they attempt to start the bike with no results.

Perhaps that's why there is a kill switch?

 

[Fred W]

I agree, there is no real need for a kill switch on these bikes. And FWIW, the kill switch does kill the fuel pump as well as the ignition, at least on an FJR it does. What it doesn't kill is the headlights, so I suppose if you wanted to stop the engine but leave the headlights on for a while the kill switch would allow you to do that. But with the small size of the FJR's battery, I wouldn't do that for long and expect it to start again.

 

[RedPorscheKilla]

Hi Ray Wood,

A good question, well for me, I've been doing a lot of schooling on vehicles, especially motorcycles. What I took away was, that it is with more certainty to use the kill switch to make sure the engine will shut down for good to prevent anything bad from happening, i.e. engine keeps running after the key was turned and so on. So I went to google and asked BigBrother, here's a good answers from Yahoo answers:

Yahoo Answers.....

Here's the text of the best answer:

Using the Engine Cut-off Switch will not harm your bike in any way -- that's what the switch is for!

In the MSF Basic Rider Course, part of getting a new rider used to using the Engine Cut-off Switch is so that if/when there is a problem (engine races out of control, bike and rider fall over, etc.) the rider's first response will be to shut the engine off. That red switch is Federally-mandated to be in the same spot in each motorcycle sold in the U.S. so that no matter what you've been used to riding (and where the key was on your old bike) you can shut the motor off with your right thumb.

The "proper shutdown procedure" we teach in the Basic Rider Course is turning the motor off with the cut-off switch, turning the key off, and turning the fuel petcock to "off" (if your bike has one); often referred to as "Thumb, Key, Valve".

While you certainly can use the sidestand switch to shut the engine off (the switch shuts off the motor if the sidestand is down and the bike is in gear - lets it run if the bike is in Neutral) not every bike has this and if you change bikes -- even just to ride a buddy's bike around the block -- you could put the stand down while the bike is in gear and running.

Source(s):

I am an MSF-certified safety course Instructor.

I am a Motorcycle Skills Test Examiner for my home state BMV.

I have been a variety of bikes in all types of weather for 19 years.

Hope that explains it.

RPK

 

[CAJW]

In MSF curriculum it specifically states that to turn off a motorcycle you use first the Engine cut off switch, then turn off the key and then the fuel valve (if applicable). The reasoning behind this is what you learn first, you ingrain into habit and when the chips are down you'll do as you train and practice, no different in firearms training or anything else. If you go down or are in danger of going down, the last thing one wants to do is take their hands off the bars to shut off the engine while trying to keep the bike upright. If you are unlucky enough to have the bike fall on you, using old habits to shut off the bike by reaching (fumbling around possibly) to turn off the key while having a rotating rear tire and/or chain gnawing through your leg is what the MSF procedure hopefully will prevent. A dead battery due to not turning off the key is just an old age thing, no cure for that! Maybe a rubber band around the wrist?

 

[odot]

Hi Ray Wood,

A good question, well for me, I've been doing a lot of schooling on vehicles, especially motorcycles. What I took away was, that it is with more certainty to use the kill switch to make sure the engine will shut down for good to prevent anything bad from happening, i.e. engine keeps running after the key was turned and so on. So I went to google and asked BigBrother, here's a good answers from Yahoo answers:

Yahoo Answers.....

Here's the text of the best answer:

Using the Engine Cut-off Switch will not harm your bike in any way -- that's what the switch is for!

In the MSF Basic Rider Course, part of getting a new rider used to using the Engine Cut-off Switch is so that if/when there is a problem (engine races out of control, bike and rider fall over, etc.) the rider's first response will be to shut the engine off. That red switch is Federally-mandated to be in the same spot in each motorcycle sold in the U.S. so that no matter what you've been used to riding (and where the key was on your old bike) you can shut the motor off with your right thumb.

The "proper shutdown procedure" we teach in the Basic Rider Course is turning the motor off with the cut-off switch, turning the key off, and turning the fuel petcock to "off" (if your bike has one); often referred to as "Thumb, Key, Valve".

While you certainly can use the sidestand switch to shut the engine off (the switch shuts off the motor if the sidestand is down and the bike is in gear - lets it run if the bike is in Neutral) not every bike has this and if you change bikes -- even just to ride a buddy's bike around the block -- you could put the stand down while the bike is in gear and running.

Source(s):

I am an MSF-certified safety course Instructor.

I am a Motorcycle Skills Test Examiner for my home state BMV.

I have been a variety of bikes in all types of weather for 19 years.

Hope that explains it.

RPK

Yahoo answers? Are you kidding me? If it ain't google I won't believe it. :glare: <_<

 

[azitlies]

Also teach the MSF classes and we emphasize using the Engine Cut Off Switch for the following:

You have both hands on the hand grips, you're in complete control of the bike, now simply take your thumb and shut it off.

I think it's that simple, the "being in control" part.

Imagine being a somewhat new rider, finding yourself parked in an unusual situation (side hill etc), and losing your balance as you're searching on the side of the bike for the key. And as others have pointed out, now you're on the ground and the motor is still running

:angry:

 

[WitlessEvil]

The only practical application that I've found for the kill switch is when I am parking uphill.

It's just a lot easier to keep it in first, clutch in, and both brakes on after rolling to a stop in the parking space and just use my thumb to kill the engine with the swtich. Drop the kickstand lean it over and let go of everything. The bike stays put without rolling an inch and is in gear to prevent inadvertent rolling.

On flat ground I just use the key and I try really hard not park downhill.

Steve

 

[Fred W]

It's just a lot easier to keep it in first, clutch in, and both brakes on after rolling to a stop in the parking space and just use my thumb to kill the engine with the swtich. Drop the kickstand lean it over and let go of everything. The bike stays put without rolling an inch and is in gear to prevent inadvertent rolling.

Here's an idea: Just skip the switch part and drop the kickstand. That will kill the engine. If you feel that you need the rear brake in addition to the front one to hold position on the hill, it's probably too steep to be parkin' on.

BTW - I fully agree about no down-hill parking. Much better to back into such a space if needed, then you get to ride out up hill.

I just knew that the MSF guys would weigh in on their teachings on this topic. And that's all I have to say about that.

 

[Monty]

I've been riding motorcycles for a bit over 60 years. The only thing I've ever done with a kill switch is accidently employ it while washing the bike and then wonder why the bike won't start when I get ready to ride.

 

[azitlies]

It's just a lot easier to keep it in first, clutch in, and both brakes on after rolling to a stop in the parking space and just use my thumb to kill the engine with the swtich. Drop the kickstand lean it over and let go of everything. The bike stays put without rolling an inch and is in gear to prevent inadvertent rolling.

Here's an idea: Just skip the switch part and drop the kickstand. That will kill the engine. If you feel that you need the rear brake in addition to the front one to hold position on the hill, it's probably too steep to be parkin' on.

BTW - I fully agree about no down-hill parking. Much better to back into such a space if needed, then you get to ride out up hill.

I just knew that the MSF guys would weigh in on their teachings on this topic. And that's all I have to say about that.

And how many new riders do u think get off the bike and forget to put the kickstand down?

explain...

I just knew there would be someone who knew more than all the studies of all the data collected about such things in like decades... I'll say more if I have to.

 

[wheatonFJR]

I use the kill switch every time cuz it feels comfy to do so. Never drained a battery by leaving lights on. Was trained in the 70s by a brother of a friend. Always did it. Never worried about it. Nor started a thread about it.

 

[Intech]

The idea of being able to keep both hands in control of the bike and still be able to kill the engine is the key. I have very recent experience. I was rear-ended by another bike while stopped at a merge where I was yielding. I was in first gear holding the clutch. I had a trailer hitch, but no trailer riding 2 up. The hitch was pushed into the rear tire by the impact and locked it up. I could not roll at all, so as soon as the bike started to tip all I could do was hold on to minimize the impact with the ground. Janet jumped off fairly quickly, but while I had a death grip on both grips lowering the bike slowly the throttle was turning. AS soon as the bike stopped moving I hit the kill switch and was then able to let go of the clutch and grips. Glad it was there.

 

[SacramentoMike]

Offers opportunities for more adventure, too. Like the time I was touring through Hell's Canyon and my fully-loaded tank bag nudged it to "off." That was an interesting surprise.

But I like having three good options for shutting it down, as conditions demand.

 

[Ray Wood]

Very intersting replies, I agree with them all.

I too figured the MSF would weight in. A friend of mine is a MSF instructor, he has very strong feelings (about everything) & several reasons as to why one should use the kill switch. To me MSF is about "new riders" getting used to the bike controls & that's a good thing. I sometimes read things and think, "that's just the writer's opinion" Plus in 2012, if you don't "teach them everything" it could come back to bite you, in the form of a lawyer.

When I was riding dirt bikes I kept my thumb real close to the kill switch, still do but not as close.

Thanks for all your replies = looking fwd to some more.

Ray

 

[Bounce]

I use the kill switch every time cuz it feels comfy to do so. Never drained a battery by leaving lights on. Was trained in the 70s by a brother of a friend. Always did it. Never worried about it. Nor started a thread about it.

+1

but make it the 60's and a friend instead of a brother.

There are 2 other uses for it.

1. Pull up next to someone at a stop, reach over, and hit their kill switch.

2. When going through a tunnel, flip it off and back on... BAM!

Hijinks ensue!

 

[Patriot]

I'm famous to accidently hitting the switch mostly on bumps when my cruise is in operation. I find myself griping the front brake clamp so the throttle can "float" up and down with no restriction (I have high friction grip puppies)

It's not really rational my riding like that...it just seems natural to me

 

[RadioHowie]

Kill switch comes in handy at a toll booth. Cruise up to the booth, kill the motor, hand the money over, thumb the kill switch back on, hit the starter.....GO.

Right hand never has to leave the hand grip. Just pull the coins out of the jacket pocket.

 

[whataboutbob]

I guaranassteeya you would be happy to have it if your throttle stuck open.