How do you shut your bike off???

[MarkusN]

Key in pocket. Works best when I pocket the key first, then don the protective overpants.

[dbNnc]

I like to roll into a parking spot looking at girls, forget what I'm doing, release the clutch lever and kill the engine with one big jerk, then put my foot down to catch the bike from falling over.

Actually, I just use the kill switch.

[MarkusN]

...kill the engine with one big jerk, ...

Girls fall for jerks. Or so I am told.

[natedawg120]

Kill switch, lock wheel, get off bike, remove key and place in pocket.  Then ungear as I walk to my apt. 

[pandy]

I just stop and get off my bike. He falls over, and his engine cuts out. Easy! 

[Kasumi]

Pull to a stop, sometimes flick into neutral just before i stop or put a foot down then click up into neutral. Key off and sidestand down or sidestand down key off whichever im in the mood for. Hop off the bike pull the bars to lock position, key to lock and key out. Done and dusted.

Do you guys all use the kill switch because you stop and leave it in gear while you turn it off? Seems abit odd to me but if thats what you do i can understand kill switch on the bars because you have to hold the clutch in and reach for the key, with one hand on the bars and moving abit i can understand if you accidentally pushed the clutch bar forward and tipped the bike so if i was ever to turn off my bike in gear i would use the kill switch prolly.

Back onto turning the bike off in gear, is that because you leave your bike in gear when you stop? When i park on a hill i tend to go into neutral then switch the bike off and just put it back into first before i get off  but thats just me.

[Chuck]

Do you guys all use the kill switch because you stop and leave it in gear while you turn it off? Seems abit odd to me but if thats what you do i can understand

I always park in gear, because I don't always know I'm on a hill, even if I am.  I never want the bike to roll, so why even give it a chance?  I don't remember things, so I rely on habit to do the right thing all the time.  There's absolutely no value to leaving it parked in neutral.  Going to neutral is part of my start up procedure and it doesn't take any time to do so.

[Sakuraba]

I put the sidestand down. Since i park in gear, it cuts off for me

[aaronstj]

Kill switch, 'cause that's what they said to do in the MSF.  And it makes sense.  If I ever need to shut the bike off in an emergency (though I can't think of why I would at the moment) it's a simple matter of muscle memory.

Of course, sometimes I just put the sidestand down and kill it without thinking.  Or worse, let go of the clutch and kill it.

[RVertigo]

Plus, I like to clutch it in, kill the engine, and coast to a stop in my desired parking position. Then remove key. Put key in pocket. Remove gear. Spend a minute looking for key. Find key in pocket. Go inside. Come out. Gear up. Realize key is in pocket. Fish around for 2 minutes with gloves on to get key out of tiny key pocket in pants. Woohoo!

You must be my long lost twin brother.

I think we're triplets.

[manofthefield]

I like to roll into a parking spot looking at girls, forget what I'm doing, release the clutch lever and kill the engine with one big jerk, then put my foot down to catch the bike from falling over.

Thats the best way to do it.  Everytime.  I turn off my truck the same way, except it doesn't try to fall over... so far

[TragicImage]

I just run it till its outta gas.

[TheFleshRocket]

MSF instructor told me to always use the kill switch also.  Said ignition and kill switch may need to be replaced over time due to normal use.  It's cheaper to replace the kill switch.

That makes not the tiniest lick of sense.  The key shuts off the engine.  The switch also shuts off the engine, but then you need to use the key too.  So using the kill switch isn't going to save any wear on the ignition slot, hence wear on parts is not a reason to use the kill switch instead of the key.

And FYI, I have 35K miles on my CBR with the stock ignition slot and kill switch--I'm pretty sure you can rest assured that neither one is going to wear out while you own the bike.

[TheFleshRocket]

MSF Basic Rider Course Handbook.  In my 2003 year copy it's on page 19.
Section C, Starting and Stopping the Engine
"To stop the engine, move the engine cut-off switch to OFF.  Do this every time so you can reach the switch quickly if you need to.  Turn the ignition switch to OFF. ......"

My MSF manual is in the trash (my girlfriend took the course this weekend and insisted that I take it with her--for pointers or moral support or something) and I'm not digging it out.  Suffice it to say that I don't recall it saying anything specific about how to shut off the bike.  Our instructors, however, stated that we should only shut off the bike with the key unless there was a good reason to use the kill switch, and they are entirely right. 

Using the kill switch every time for practice is just plain silly.  I can't think of any situation where it would be necessary to use the kill switch in an emergency-like maneuver where a smart rider wouldn't be able to just USE it without requiring any practice.

And the MSF guide isn't always right anyway.  While I agree with most of what the course teaches (at least the version in Illinois), they also instruct riders to use all four fingers on the brake.  Any even remotely seasoned rider on a bike with at least halfway decent brakes knows that you get far better control with just two fingers and you can continue to manipulate the throttle with your ring and pinky fingers while braking with the index and middle fingers.  The only time 4-finger stopping is the preferred method is if you're using a 125cc MSF bike with drum brakes that requires you to pull the lever all the way to the grip to slow down. 

[scratch]

Braking with all four fingers gives you better leverage with the outside fingers, further out on the lever.  Also, you have more of a tendency to shut off the throttle, if you're using all four fingers.
Personally, I've been curling my pointing finger around the throttle and using the other three fingers for braking.  This is just IMO.  And, lately, I've been curling the pinky, too, because it's too short to reach.  Finally, because I've pulled my thumb muscle, I'm only using my index finger, now, which is also how I used to race.

[chrisalberts]

MSF here in Texas taught me to use the kill switch then the key and I did that for a while.  Over time, I realized that there's no particularly good reason to do that and so now I just use the key, particularly on my new bike.  I'm not for a moment trying to criticize those who choose to use the kill switch and the key, but I prefer using just the key.

I'm now GS-less as I sold it last Friday to another new rider.  Only had it 7 weeks and 1400 miles, but it did what I needed it to do.  Maybe you'll see the new owner post here on GStwins.

C.
ex- 99 GS500e
current 03 Ducati Monster 620ie

[dgbernstein]

Roll to a stop in garage, put in neutral, deep breath, a silent "thank you" for another ride and safe return home, then reach with right hand to turn the key.

[John Bates]

My thought is that the more I am familiar with the controls the better off I'll be in an emergency.  By using the kill switch regularly I will be able to respond to a situation that requires quick action.  For example: if the throttle, for some strange reason, sticks open I will be able to respond without having to look for the kill switch.  I will have a built in response formed by habitually using it.

Another example is the fuel petcock.  I want to be able to reach down and switch to reserve without fumbling around and without pulling to the side of the road.  I don't know precisely when this will be required but I want to be ready, so I practice it regularly. Especially when I sense the fuel is getting low.

Maybe I'm being overly cautious but I like the feeling of being prepared.

[Kasumi]

One of my pet hates is having a bloody reserve on the petcock. I like a nice petrol light on the dash that tells me im on reserve petrol. Not a lever which is badly postioned which you have to try turn when your running out of petrol.

First problem with the petcock reserve switch - Your going through rolling countryside (lots of inclines and hills etc...) you go up a steep hill and you stop getting petrol, you lean over too far and you stop getting petrol even when you have a reasonable amount in the tank.

Second problem - you have been going nicely along and you reach a hill and as before petrol all moves and the reserve valve isnt open because you were doing fine on petrol so you get no petrol going up the hill, you manage to reach the top and you have to try and reach the reserve switch somewhere down by your leg (reserve switches were never places somewhere convenient), when you reach down its never where you think it is, and in the case of my zxr is bloody hard to twist because its on the other side of the frame and a stupid plastic turn knob flexes when your trying to change in to reserve especially when you cant get a good grasp in your gloves. So you streighten back up to where you were before with reserve on and head for the nearest petrol station to fill up just so when your on a hill again you don't have the same problem.

Final problem - might not apply to all of you but you set off and its jerky because it needs to be switched to reserve and no matter how many times it happens it still confuses you before you realise yes it needs reserve switching on.

A nice light would be perfect, so you know when you need to fill up and you don't have problems with hills etc..

[che mike]

My MSF manual is in the trash (my girlfriend took the course this weekend and insisted that I take it with her--for pointers or moral support or something) and I'm not digging it out. 

that's the attitude to carry through life! i bet you learn lots of stuff that way.