I've been reading for awhile on the site, not much of a poster, but I've waited until now to say it.

When they taught us how to use a motorcycle here in Canada, they told us that the switch with the arrow, and the crossed out arrow, is an EMERGENCY shutoff switch. But thread after thread shows you guys calling it a "parking switch" or "on-off".

As far as I can tell, and from the description in the owner's manual, that switch is basically an "Oh, *$&#" switch for when you are tipping over, or the bike is lying on its side running. Using it as an "off" switch is the same as turning the key to "off", except turning the key won't leave your rear brake light guzzling juice from the battery.


Is it just a pet peeve of mine, or are there any arguments for actually using the Emergency Shutoff Switch for anything that is not an Emergency Shutoff?

-Ryo.

well when i took my MSF course we were taught to use the kill switch first to turn off the motor then turn the key into the off position.....so thats what i do

An unnecessary step as far as I can tell, with the added chance of that rear light staying on if you're forgetful (along with a golden key for any opportunistic thief who just watched you use the Switch instead of the key).

a lot of times i turn off my bike just by using the kickstand   

When I took the MSF in march they told us to always use the the emergency kill switch to shut off the bike. One thing this does is hone you to instinctively flip the switch to turn the bike off.  I find the kill switch is the easiest anyway as it is just an easy motion to hit it (the reason for its location).

Hmmm... we just had this discussion;

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=50003.0

To summarize... there are two schools of thought.  I belong to the school where turning off your bike via kill switch is the proper way to do it (for a number of reasons) and then you remove your key.  Others belong to the school where you turn your bike off by turning the key - mainly so you don't drain the battery.  My arguments for the kill switch are in the thread linked above.  In the end though, its your call.

The kill switch is there for when you can't reach the key.  When there is no emergency it doesn't matter how you shut off the bike.  You can use the key, the switch, or put the stand down.  They all work.  Since you have to shut the key off anyway, I rarely use the kill switch.

I took the MSF course also and they taught us to turn it off with the kill switch then turn it off with the key so now its just a habit of mine.  Bill is right though, it doesnt matter how you turn it off when there isnt an emergency but when there is an emergency the kill switch is pretty convenient.  I usually leave it in gear too, even on a level(ish) slab of concrete.

 My ACE has a radiator fan so to let it run a bit when I turn the bike off.. I turn the kill switch to off to "kill" the bike, then I switch it right back on so its in the right position for next time... I wait till the fan shuts off then I turn the key to off.

On the GS I mostly use the key to shut it off unless im sitting somewhere and just killing it for a min, then I use the switch and leave the key on   I use the kick stand method as well 

OH NO! not this topic again Im sorry I got mixed up in it the last time.
Turn it off however you want, theres no end all reason to use either way. just take your key every time.

i use the key, just in case some freak transient occurs(I would hope suzuki engineers, would not penny pinch that much, although nearly every wire in my headlight case is spliced lol). Since nobody mentioned it yet, after shutting the bike off if you have electrical problems flicking the switch can prevent battery drain.

I think its slightly safer to turn off motor when you still have both hands on the handlebar in control position.

For example, turning it off after you get off is less safe. So, turning it off with only one had attached is very slightly less safe.

Quote from: bill14224 on September 19, 2009, 08:04:33 AM
The kill switch is there for when you can't reach the key.  When there is no emergency it doesn't matter how you shut off the bike.  You can use the key, the switch, or put the stand down.  They all work.  Since you have to shut the key off anyway, I rarely use the kill switch.

although the stand wont work, unless hte bike is in gear.

Quote from: scottpA_GS on September 19, 2009, 01:25:11 PM
My ACE has a radiator fan so to let it run a bit when I turn the bike off.. I turn the kill switch to off to "kill" the bike, then I switch it right back on so its in the right position for next time... I wait till the fan shuts off then I turn the key to off.

On the GS I mostly use the key to shut it off unless im sitting somewhere and just killing it for a min, then I use the switch and leave the key on   I use the kick stand method as well 

ACE?  I'm assuming that a bike, right?

Anyway...  My R6 has a radiator too, and I USED to let the fans do their thing before taking the key out.  But then someone pointed out to me that the only thing I'm accomplishing is letting the battery drain a little.

When the bike's not running, the coolant isn't circulating through the radiator and engine.  Therefore, when the bike's off but the fans are running, all you're doing is cooling the coolant inside the radiator.

Good point Ann... 

Yes the ACE is a Honda Shadow ACE "American Calsic Edition" 

The MSF course i took also said to use the shutoff switch to turn the bike off and then turn off the key.  I have just gotten in to a habit of that since then and haven't forgotten to turn the key off yet.

its like using a "butter knife" for mayo or mustard, its called a butter knife, and thats just a name for it, use it how you would like, haha. Some times things are made more technical than they should be, haha.

Wait - so I don't have to kill someone every time I use the kill switch?   

Thumb->key.  Easy.  Never left the key in, never had a kill switch fail.

HI RyanMidd,I reckon your Canadian model Gs probably doesn`t have an extra position on the Ignition barrel,last position after steering lock.If you don`t realize leaving in Park position park lights will drain battery.A mechanic i knew thought using the kill switch on the throttle seemed to fry the CDI unit quicker,I`d be interested if anyone could prove this theory (i always use ignition to switch off).

I always use the key, the kill switch has never been used on my bike.  There is no real reason for it.  I cant think of an "emergency' where flipping the kill switch would do any good.  if you drop or wreck ur bike it's gonna die.  If u get in a bad spot, duh, you pull in the clutch.  Reminds me of morons who think the parking brake on a car is an "E brake". LOL.  How dumb can you be?  I knew this girl who almost got in a wreck so she pulled her "emergency brake" and spun out her accord and hit a curb.  A parking brake on a car just sets the rear brakes....duh......morons.  Doesn't matter how u shut ur bike off.  It all accomplishes the same thing....