Turning Your Bike Off

[Ghost Lemur]

So what does your "lights" switch do?

high beam, low beam.

[sunhuntin]

Or perhaps a fence or a conveniently positioned field?
Always used both over the years myself, usually get off the bike turn the key off and hit the switch too. You would not believe the number of people who are too stupid to check the kill switch position when trying to hotwire a bike. lol

thats a good idea actually. might be an idea to couple that with the fuel tap [hate it when dad borrows the bike cos he always turns that tap off...means i end up spluttering to a stop.]

[Kyle]

Hmm interesting ideas, kill switch and fuel tap as anti theft devices, i like that. I know that if i use the killswitch i always forget to turn it on myself, and i was the one that turned it off!

Personally i use the key to switch off unless doing a slealth roll in like posted above. The main reason is when i was training to work as a cage mechanic they taught us you dont want to leave the key on because the oil filled coils gets hotter and hotter and can wreak it. Though i dont know of any bikes with oil filled coils i still would rather turn the whole electrical system off in one hit to avoid accidentaly leaving the key on.

Never heard of the kill switch causing computer trouble, but i noticed they were talking about a buell, which wouldnt surprise me, if you want good electronics buy japenese, hehe.

ducks the flying projectiles.

[scracha]

I was taught the kill switch is only for emergencies (ie. stuck throttle or after a crash when it's lying on top of you with the engine running). Supposedly kill-switches are more prone to wearing out and getting water in them if you use them all the time (sounds like BS to me).

[Quartida]

high beam, low beam.

Ah, righty. Weird.

Well, I ain't mechanical enough to work out what's up with that.

[quickbuck]

If it was bad for the machine Im sure the manufacturers would state it in the manuals.

Funny old thing, that is why they do.

I am pretty sure, both my 98 GSX600, and 92CBR manuals have both said, "Caution: Only turn the motorcycle off by using the key. Only use the kill switch in the event of an emergency" Or some such words.

Will hunt out the CBR's manual to see the reason, but I'm sure it is to do with electronic ignition.

[quickbuck]

Kill switches were actually designed to aid in the creation a loud backfire...just ask Fatjim.

LOL, I once used my CBR400 to light up a very dark bike shed

Walked into shed at work (No lights), found bike, fitted key, it turned so it must me mine yay.
Neutral light? Check. Starter. Hit.
Whurr whurrwhurr Whurr whurrwhurr Whurr whurrwhurr

Strange, it always fires up first pop.

Whurr whurrwhurr Whurr whurrwhurr

Grrr, crap, not good.
Damn, looks like "somebody" has played with my kill switch!!! (Could have been me looking for my bike). Kill Switch to on. Check.

Hit starter button...

BOOM

Lights up the garage, and leaves my ears ringing!

I swear, the flame was about 10ft long!

I tell you, that left skid marks

[quickbuck]

Okay, can't find anything in the Honda book.

I know it was in the Suzukis.

I do know the Kill switch on the Suzuki did more to kill the bike though.
Unlike the Honda, it also prevented the starter from turning (stops lighting up the garage I guess). Mind, you also had to have the clutch in before the starter would work on that one too. Had cut outs all over the place.

[Shadows]

I always use the key, stops me forgetting to take the damn thing out of the ignition.

Yep, that's tha main reason I do the same, it also ensures that you haven't left the ignition on.

[Ralph]

I have usually always used the key, as far as I'm aweare it makes no difference at all apart from user preference, I use the kill switch from time to time to be farmiliar with it's position generally for emergency use only. I may be wrong but I always understood that it's desgin and location is based on this. In the past 10yrs of riding I've come off twice and always managed to hit the switch on the way, probably somthing to with going over the handle bars

[phantom]

Back in the old days when I was taught to ride I was told that the kill switch was for emergencies as it was a lot easier to flick the switch off than turning a key off. Back in those days the key switch could be hidden in all sorts of weird places. As a computer tech I can imagine that with the new fangled injected computerised bikes it would be best to just leave the kill switch for emergencies but there is nothing high tech on my bike and half the time turning off the key and even removing it makes no difference - it doesn't want to stop so its either wait for it to run out of petrol or use the kill switch

[UberSchnell]

I use the key, even when coasting in for stealth parking.

My old Spada's kill switch turned off the ignition circuit but not the starter motor circuit. This fooled me and a few friends too, 'cause it sounded like it was trying to start and just wouldn't. The Ducati switches both and makes it pretty clear what's wrong.

I just checked my manual, and sure enough there are notes about the use of the kill switch...
'This switch is mainly intended for use in emergency cases...'
'Stopping the motorcycle... To switch the engine off, simply turn the key to OFF'

Nothing about data logging or electronic damage though...

[Warren]

I use the sidestand on my scooter to turn it off and on the honda cb250 all I have to do is take my hand off the throttle and it will die by itself.

[UberSchnell]

... on the honda cb250 all I have to do is take my hand off the throttle and it will die by itself.

have you tried adjusting your idle???

[Ixion]

If I kill von Klunken with the kill switch, with a brake on, the ABS does not initialise when I restart next, until I turn off with the key and on again.