Have you ever used your kill switch?
Discussion
t...I crashed my bike in February, and my bike caught fire with me under it. Luckily a witness pulled me out. Not exactly sure what started the fire, as I was too busy being broke, but it isn't unreasonable to think that the leaking fuel from the ruptured fuel tank was ignited by the wires.
If the killswitch had been flicked perhaps it might not have started.
If the killswitch had been flicked perhaps it might not have started.
Speed addicted said:
accident said:
Mastodon2 said:
How do you do that then? Pull clutch in, flip killswitch, free-wheel along for a bit then flip killswitch and hit the starter again?
really youve never done a poppit?carbed bike going allong a narrow street or tunnel is better hit kill switch(in gear do not alter throttle or pull clutch)wait a few seconds you slow down a bit due to engine braking,then put kill switch to on position and enjoy the bang
I found low gear/high revs to make the best bangs.
I really do miss carbed bikes!
Pebbles167 said:
I crashed my bike in February, and my bike caught fire with me under it. Luckily a witness pulled me out. Not exactly sure what started the fire, as I was too busy being broke, but it isn't unreasonable to think that the leaking fuel from the ruptured fuel tank was ignited by the wires.
If the killswitch had been flicked perhaps it might not have started.
More likely to have been fuel igniting on some nice hot exhausty bits.. or more likely still, spilled brake fluid. Petrol tends to flash-off in contact with something hot but brake fluid WILL ignite.If the killswitch had been flicked perhaps it might not have started.
Pebbles167 said:
I crashed my bike in February, and my bike caught fire with me under it. Luckily a witness pulled me out. Not exactly sure what started the fire, as I was too busy being broke, but it isn't unreasonable to think that the leaking fuel from the ruptured fuel tank was ignited by the wires.
If the killswitch had been flicked perhaps it might not have started.
On a happier note, at least your front disk looks fineIf the killswitch had been flicked perhaps it might not have started.
I've had to use a kill switch once... on my GSXR1100WP engined single seater
it was at the Brighton Speed Trials in 2005 or 2006 because the bracket holding the throttle pedal pivot was flexing and meant the pedal got stuck fully open at 121mph over the finish line
luckily these days there is a much longer safety margin than in the old days and I managed to flick the kill switch, hook my boot under the pedal to free it and switch the engine back on to cruise into the paddock at the Marina end like nothing happened
it was at the Brighton Speed Trials in 2005 or 2006 because the bracket holding the throttle pedal pivot was flexing and meant the pedal got stuck fully open at 121mph over the finish line
luckily these days there is a much longer safety margin than in the old days and I managed to flick the kill switch, hook my boot under the pedal to free it and switch the engine back on to cruise into the paddock at the Marina end like nothing happened
Have to admit to using it quite often, probably as I have had several dirt bikes over the years without ignition switches so the kill switch is the only option - usually just a push button though.
Often kill the Hayabusa at night on switch to leave lights on so I can see the garage door lock without leaving the bike running.
We used to use motorcross bikes for speed hill climb, my Dad's YZ490 was suffering 'fuel starvation' at high speed - turned out to be his helmet chin bar resting on the kill switch in the centre of his bars when he tucked down!! - it got moved.
Often kill the Hayabusa at night on switch to leave lights on so I can see the garage door lock without leaving the bike running.
We used to use motorcross bikes for speed hill climb, my Dad's YZ490 was suffering 'fuel starvation' at high speed - turned out to be his helmet chin bar resting on the kill switch in the centre of his bars when he tucked down!! - it got moved.
Speed addicted said:
This, but if you leave it too long it sounds like a shotgun, you get two feet of flames and in one case you get to weld up the center section of a 1200 bandit exhaust.
I found low gear/high revs to make the best bangs.
I really do miss carbed bikes!
I used to love doing this, and also the gag with centre stands at nightI found low gear/high revs to make the best bangs.
I really do miss carbed bikes!
Happy days!!!
Pebbles167 said:
I crashed my bike in February, and my bike caught fire with me under it. Luckily a witness pulled me out. Not exactly sure what started the fire, as I was too busy being broke, but it isn't unreasonable to think that the leaking fuel from the ruptured fuel tank was ignited by the wires.
If the killswitch had been flicked perhaps it might not have started.
A Bit of an extreme measure for a Nice Patina finish!If the killswitch had been flicked perhaps it might not have started.
On a serious note, You are lucky to be alive.
Pebbles167 said:
Wedg1e said:
More likely to have been fuel igniting on some nice hot exhausty bits.. or more likely still, spilled brake fluid. Petrol tends to flash-off in contact with something hot but brake fluid WILL ignite.
You've explained more here than anyone else did to me!Hooli said:
The same thing killed one of my dad's cars. The brake servo/master cylinder leaked fluid over the exhaust & the car burst into flames at about 60mph with no brakes.
I almost lost my TVR one night; the clutch master cylinder seal was failing and the car was losing fluid down the firewall under the carpet. Trying to make it to my g/f's place I'd taken along a bottle of clutch fluid in case I needed to top up. Sure enough as I went through a village the pedal went to the floor, so I pulled into a layby on this country lane, pitch black, no torch... groped my way to the fluid reservoir, took the cap off and gingerly tipped the bottle of fluid.Unfortunately the reservoir was still full, just that the piston seal lip had split (as I found out later) so the clutch fluid ran down the outside of the reservoir and dripped onto the offside manifold.
I could see as clear as day, for the 15 seconds or so it took the fluid to burn off, licking at the fibreglass footwell... I slammed the cap back on the reservoir sharpish but if it had caught, there wouldn't have been much I could do.
The time after I picked the bike up from MOT station, turn off immobiliser and turn key and nowt happens. Much cursing, fiddling, and arsing about with alarm/immobiliser before complaining to garage they've broken my bike. They of course flip the big red kill switch back to on, and turn a similar red...
Doh!
Doh!
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