Kill switch origin?

[p.dath]

Where did the kill switch come from?

I'm thinking long ago something bad must have happened that made the appearance of kill switches on bikes a standard item.

[slofox]

Where did the kill switch come from?

I'm thinking long ago something bad must have happened that made the appearance of kill switches on bikes a standard item.

I wonder that too....my first bike could only be stopped by stalling it or by sticking your hand over the air intake of the carb....no fancy ignition key thingummies in them thar days...

[MSTRS:Me]

Racing development...aren't all innovations due to that?

[javawocky]

remember back in the day when I did mx, the first part to take off before the side stand was the kill switch - don't want no mud getting in there are ruining your race.

[xwhatsit]

Racing development...aren't all innovations due to that?

That was the impression I got. Race bikes didn't have a key. Still want a switch of some sort probably (although if no battery who cares... not going to burn out the coil)... so why not put it on the bars, near-at-hand, in case you crash and need to stop the engine from running oil-less because it's on its side... or you're on the grid in first gear with the clutch in and the throttle sticks open... I know this pain (sort of) because my C50 doesn't have a killswitch, and when I first got it the ignition switch was broken and didn't want to turn off. Almost impossible to stall too because of the auto-clutch >.<

That's my guess

[LBD]

Began with a kill leaver...Nitro glycerine production where the production process was manually oberved and controlled by an operator sitting on a one legged stool so he would not fall asleep.

If the process went awry, he would pull the kill leaver to stop the process or the process would kill him....KKKKAAAAABBBBOOOOMMMM.

Needless to say the factory was not in a densely populated area....

[Pedrostt500]

My Dad used to have a farm bike that had a habit of jamming in gear every now and again, and also the throttle sticking open, he thought the kill switch a mighty fine idea.

[Motu]

The kill button has always been around - the British bikes of yore with a magneto had a terminal on the mag for a kill switch....Matchless had a button on the mag.Singles had a valve lifter.

[slofox]

The kill button has always been around - the British bikes of yore with a magneto had a terminal on the mag for a kill switch....Matchless had a button on the mag.Singles had a valve lifter.

Mine didn't.

[Motu]

Your what didn't? Make,model and year please.

[mctshirt]

Having an ignition switch in the middle of the instrument cluster by the handlebars is a new invention - so new Harleys still haven't got there. If the bike falls on side where key is that kill switch is mighty handy for calming things down. Nothing focuses the mind like the result of lifting a bike with a jammed throttle that's still in the same gear it went down in

[Ixion]

Stupid Yankee regulation.

[Kickaha]

Stupid Yankee regulation.

And don't get him started on left side gear change

[CookMySock]

Stupid Yankee regulation.

Is that what it is? I assumed there was some legal slant on it somewhere.

Steve

[Staticam]

Oh, I kind of hoped it could have come about way back when, hooked up to something potent - to get rid of errant cagers. Of course these days, to be pc, it restricts the rider...