How do you shut your bike off???

[MarkusN]

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.

Nothing like first hand experience.

AKA:

Wise men learn from the mistakes of others. The rest of us have to pee on the electric fence ourselves.

[MarkusN]

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.

FYI: The part wearing out of a switch is usuall the tiny silver contact point, which burns away from the electric arc. No current, no arc. So you DO save on key switch wear by using the kill switch.

[JonC]

Kickstand, Kill switch, Ignition. I park in gear, so the kickstand takes care of it. 

[chrisalberts]

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 you're running out of petrol.

I am with you right there.  It sounds ridiculous, but 3 of the things I most like about my new bike (fuel injected) over my GS are: no petcock, low fuel light and no choke (it does have a high idle lever, but I don't find I need it - I always needed choke/enrichment on the GS from a cold start).

C.

[nArKeD]

Garage:  Shift to neutral and turn key.

Anywhere else:  Put kickstand down and turn key.

[niteshade]

I put kickstand down (in 1st), and turn the key.  Shift into neutral next time I restart the bike.  Don't usually use the kill switch.   I wonder sometimes if leaving the kill switch in the "on" position when parked is bad.  I do it a lot, usually because I forget.

[MarkusN]

I wonder sometimes if leaving the kill switch in the "on" position when parked is bad. I do it a lot, usually because I forget.

Not at all, unless you want to see it as an additional deterrent to stupid thieves.

[Yankee Punker]

 I voted kill switch, but meant the one on the side stand!!

Stop bike still in first gear, drop down the side stand, the engine's now off, turn bars all the way left, turn key to lock, and if that does not shut it off there's still three other ways.

[deathlucky]

thats what i do i i never use the kill swich i did bumb it 1 time when i was riding i turned it back on and herd a huge bang lol

[MarkusN]

Want to increase your readership threefold? Learn to bump the switches on the bottom row of your keyboard from time to time. Those labeled ".", ",", ";","RETURN", "SHIFT". They won't cause a bang either.

[deathlucky]

Are you having a go at me? If so get stuffed you can read it so get over it. OKAY???

[MarkusN]

Yup. I had. This once. This is an online forum where many people come for help. Asking for help in a way that is readable to the recipient is common courtesy. (You may remember that I took quite a bit of an effort to help you out with you cam chain tensioner.)

People who don't care enough to use standard spelling and punctuation when asking for help (when they can; I am not talking about those whose first language is not English) get one warning. Then they are ignored.

[deathlucky]

Ok that fair enough. I'm sorry.

[MarkusN]

Apology accepted. 

[phire]

SEARCH, N00BCAKE!!!!!!!!!
Haha.... just like the MSF says... use the kill switch, so you don't have to take your hands off the bars..

I don't know what MSF course you're referring to, but the one in Illinois states to use the key only.  The thumb switch is there more for emergency purposes than to be used as a day-to-day way to shut off the bike.  Not taking your hands off the handlebars?  That's just plain silly.  You're shutting off the bike anyway which implies you're going to get off of it, and that involves.... yup, taking your hands off the bars.

Man are you dense or what? You're never suppose to take your hands off. You're suppose to stay chained to the bike everywhere you go! Kinda like that holy shirt that Hindu's or whatever wear that has to always be touching them at all times.

But seriously, the kill switch should be used for emergency kills primarily. It's there to provide you with a means to quickly kill the bike without taking your hands off the handlebars. Not saying emergency only as it really doesn't matter, it's just extra work to do. Unless you're very paranoid about the ignition accidently getting turned and the ignition switch getting pressed while you're gone and want all the kill switches active to prevent the bike from wanting to take a ride by itself... Hell, we shouldn't forget about our kick-stand friend, either. Make sure you leave the bike in 1st at all times so the bike won't start with the stand down if you're paranoid enough.

(Leaving it in 1st is still a good idea regardless if you're parked on any sort of incline or decline.)

[phire]

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.

Well, sometimes it's a pain in the butt for me if it doesn't want to go into neutral. But, unless I'm parked in my garage or something, it's parked in first. Plus, where my bike is parked everyday, a LOT of people walk by it and if someone tries to sit on it or a kid starts playing around it.... bad things COULD happen..

[annguyen1981]

Man are you dense or what? You're never suppose to take your hands off. You're suppose to stay chained to the bike everywhere you go! Kinda like that holy shirt that Hindu's or whatever wear that has to always be touching them at all times.

So I NOT supposed to stand on the pegs?  Or turn the choke on and use it as a "cruise-control" while I sit up straight (no hands)

[TragicImage]

PWND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111111one

[phire]

Man are you dense or what? You're never suppose to take your hands off. You're suppose to stay chained to the bike everywhere you go! Kinda like that holy shirt that Hindu's or whatever wear that has to always be touching them at all times.

So I NOT supposed to stand on the pegs?  Or turn the choke on and use it as a "cruise-control" while I sit up straight (no hands)

No, I mean, as long as the bike is constantly touching you throughout every second of your life, you're good. Just like those Hindu's, doesn't matter if their shirts are on or wrapped around their waist, it still counts.