Discussion
When cleaning your bike make sure you haven't accidentally turned the kill switch off.
Not only will it save you ages mucking around with a battery charger and multimeter it will also save you a big red slap mark on your forehead once you realise what an eejit you've been.
I'm really hoping I'm not alone in making such a basic mistake.
Not only will it save you ages mucking around with a battery charger and multimeter it will also save you a big red slap mark on your forehead once you realise what an eejit you've been.
I'm really hoping I'm not alone in making such a basic mistake.
I have never understood why some bikes are like this. The MT07 that I learned on, and my Trident 660 have a three position switch. Up is kill, centre is run, down is start.
I called BMW Rescue out for my two day old G310R because I had accidentally touched the kill switch without realising (or noticing).
My R60/7 has a kill switch with three positions, centre is run, up or down is kill, so you have two ways to inadvertently move the kill switch.
I called BMW Rescue out for my two day old G310R because I had accidentally touched the kill switch without realising (or noticing).
My R60/7 has a kill switch with three positions, centre is run, up or down is kill, so you have two ways to inadvertently move the kill switch.
LOL, im sure everyone does it sooner or later. A neighbor is a relatively new rider and called me over one day in frustration, already late for a meeting and he couldn't get his bike going, he was convinced he had a flat battery. I went over with a jump pack, the seat was off so quickly connected to the battery, still wouldn't start, so I double checked the obvious and found the kill switch off...he was most embarrassed, but it was his first time 
In the mid nineties a lad who - as a teenager - I used to ride with, bought a GP100 after his RGV250 got stacked (he had wealthy parents). He went to Aust services, when he went back out to the GP100 it wouldn't start, so in a rage he abandoned it and later offered it free to someone; who immediately went to the services car park, flicked the kill switch to run, rode it home and got a free bike.
Years ago, after stopping for petrol somewhere on the A14, I sat for about two hours waiting for recovery to come out for my mate’s bike, which he couldn’t start after we’d fuelled up.
Of course, if the bike has one of those spacky immobilisers where you have to touch a fob onto a little disc, you do ACTUALLY have to do that before the bike will start…..
Of course, if the bike has one of those spacky immobilisers where you have to touch a fob onto a little disc, you do ACTUALLY have to do that before the bike will start…..
My KTM 690 enduro was an excellent commuter machine some 7 years ago.
I spent the best part of an hour one morning fiddling about with fuses, multi meter, Google etc.
It was a pretty lousy excuse for turning up late for work - I'm not sure my boss actually believed me as it sounded so stupid!!
I spent the best part of an hour one morning fiddling about with fuses, multi meter, Google etc.
It was a pretty lousy excuse for turning up late for work - I'm not sure my boss actually believed me as it sounded so stupid!!
I had some japan bikes with the little "push to kill" button on the right handlebar side.
When I bought my SkyMax 160 "Dax copy" 11 years ago, I pushed that same-ish button,
engine stopped, all OK, but................I could not kick it back into life, wtf ?
Took me a while - any MANY kicks- to realize that THIS button had a latching mechanism,
push in,button stays in, push again, button comes out and engine starts again.
When I bought my SkyMax 160 "Dax copy" 11 years ago, I pushed that same-ish button,
engine stopped, all OK, but................I could not kick it back into life, wtf ?
Took me a while - any MANY kicks- to realize that THIS button had a latching mechanism,
push in,button stays in, push again, button comes out and engine starts again.
Purely a safety backup, which is why I use mine regularly so I know it's working.
I can remember sticky ignition keys, ignition keys in bizarre locations and now we can add keyless systems go the mix. Having a big red button to stop button it is a handy thing to have if, for example, your first on scene at an accident and the bike is running on.
I can remember sticky ignition keys, ignition keys in bizarre locations and now we can add keyless systems go the mix. Having a big red button to stop button it is a handy thing to have if, for example, your first on scene at an accident and the bike is running on.
Sam Aigal said:
When cleaning your bike make sure you haven't accidentally turned the kill switch off.
Not only will it save you ages mucking around with a battery charger and multimeter it will also save you a big red slap mark on your forehead once you realise what an eejit you've been.
I'm really hoping I'm not alone in making such a basic mistake.
Many, many years ago (in the 90's) I once spent an hour diagnosing an electrical fault with my new to me Suzuki GSX250 which was preventing it from turning over. It was only *after* I'd taken the right hand switch gear apart and investigated with a multimeter that I realised that Suzuki's kill switch setup *also* prevented the starter from working (unlike Hondas which just killed the engine).Not only will it save you ages mucking around with a battery charger and multimeter it will also save you a big red slap mark on your forehead once you realise what an eejit you've been.
I'm really hoping I'm not alone in making such a basic mistake.
cliffords said:
I am not sure why bikes still have them .
I have a bike with a key ignition, I use that for on and off.
I had a keyless bike with a start button then doubled as the stop button.
What do I want a kill switch for ?
Genuine question not a rant
The reason is so that in an emergency someone who doesn't know what setup the bike has can easily turn it off. I have a bike with a key ignition, I use that for on and off.
I had a keyless bike with a start button then doubled as the stop button.
What do I want a kill switch for ?
Genuine question not a rant
Also in the case of a key its entirely possible that in a crash the key could break off leaving no easy way to turn it yet leave the engine running (unlikely but possible).
catso said:
I always use the kill switch to stop my bike so kill switch 'accidents' simply don't happen.
Also makes sure it works as, not using it and it getting moisture etc. in might prevent it from working properly?
Me too, I've never thought of turning off a bike in any other way, I thought this was the norm so surprised to discover it isn't.Also makes sure it works as, not using it and it getting moisture etc. in might prevent it from working properly?
I’ve had to use the kill switch when I accidentally parked in a hedge at speed. I found myself close to a still running bike half suspended amongst the very deep bush and it was nice to be able to stop the bike and the spinning rear wheel. I turn the engine off with the kill switch every time too when I’m not crashing so it’s part of the process. Isn’t it part of the starter button on your’s OP?
FlopperV60 said:
catso said:
I always use the kill switch to stop my bike so kill switch 'accidents' simply don't happen.
Also makes sure it works as, not using it and it getting moisture etc. in might prevent it from working properly?
Me too, I've never thought of turning off a bike in any other way, I thought this was the norm so surprised to discover it isn't.Also makes sure it works as, not using it and it getting moisture etc. in might prevent it from working properly?
kers. I'm sure they did it on purpose.Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff