Using kickstand as the kill switch...

[Nalian]

Today I noticed my bike doesnt care about the kickstand. If I'm running the bike and drop the stand, it doesn't shut off. Maybe my bike is broked.

Some bikes don't have a kickstand kill switch - mine doesn't either.

I think mine does...but I also think you have to engage the gear with the stand down for it to kick in. I've never tested it, but I vaguely remember them saying that in the MSF where we used Buell Blasts.

Ah - I have heard that there are some that make the ride rough and will eventually kill the engine until you bring the stand up - maybe it's one of those.

[Gummiente]

Some bikes don't have a kickstand kill switch - mine doesn't either.

Nalian, your bike doesn't have a sidestand cutout switch or a clutch cutout switch or even a neutral gear cutout switch. In fact, were you to leave the bike in gear and hit the starter button with the ignition turned on you would be in for a nasty surprise - the bike will jump forward because the starter motor is turning the transmission and rear wheel.

The various sidestand, clutch, neutral and other safety switches are not mandated by the DOT, it is purely voluntary for manufacturers to add them to their bikes. HD doesn't feel the need to add these item to their bikes, because Harley riders are expected to know not to do silly things like ride away with the sidestand down or start the bike in gear.

[ZooTech]

HD doesn't feel the need to add these item to their bikes, because Harley riders are expected to know not to do silly things like ride away with the sidestand down or start the bike in gear.

Seen it done twice, both by Sportie owners. One was my best friend with his '98 883, and the other was a friend of my bro-in-law on his '03 Anniversary 1200.

[Big B]

HD doesn't feel the need to add these item to their bikes, because Harley riders are expected to know not to do silly things like ride away with the sidestand down or start the bike in gear.

Seen it done twice, both by Sportie owners. One was my best friend with his '98 883, and the other was a friend of my bro-in-law on his '03 Anniversary 1200.

the first thing my buddy did after rebuilding and repainting his dad's ultra classic was dump it after starting it in gear and standing next to it

[Nalian]

I'm in the habit of starting the bike with the clutch pulled in anyway, but I bet it would only take once!

[flynrider]

In fact, were you to leave the bike in gear and hit the starter button with the ignition turned on you would be in for a nasty surprise - the bike will jump forward because the starter motor is turning the transmission and rear wheel.

That's a nice feature. I used to start that way on my old KZ whenever the clutch cable would break. I'm sure it wasn't good for the starter, but it got me home a couple of times.

Light turns green, hit the starter, then hit the gas!

[NorthernPete]

the whole kickstand idea doesnt appeal to me, in that I have to keep the bike in gear and release the clutch for it to kill, and that just leaves to many things to go wrong and me to go roaring up on the sidewalk or bink of the curb and fall over.

Eh? Do you have a Polish motorcycle or something? Why must you release the clutch for it to shut off? Mine simply will not run if it's in gear with the stand down. I use the kickstand 95% of the time.

checked this...My bike must be Polish.... I had the stand down, in first gear, with clucth pulled in..it was still running.

[celt]

I use my sidestand to shut off the power.

I've read on bike specific forums that on the model I have (Shadow ACE 750), the killswitch tends to wear out very quickly with use and is expensive and a pain in the "O Ring" to replace.

[macktruckturner]

I use the kickstand most of the time, as there are very few places here to park that aren't on an incline - so I'm leaving it in gear anyway. Otherwise, I just turn the key off. I'll use the kill switch if it's in neutral and I need to turn the key on for something, and I don't feel like the fuel pump priming right now - alternately I could just kick it down into first and not mess w/ the kill switch at all.

I do inspect all components of my motorcycle regularly (every week) - and the kill switch is one of them, so I do indeed know where it is located, and how it works. As for the comment about asking a soldier how often they practice drill and ceremony and all that - hardly ever. In fact, you really only focus on it in basic training - which was several years ago. When someone says "LEFT FLANK!! MARCH!" I still know what I'm supposed to do, and I hear that maybe once ever 2 years.

[Nibblet99]

why not just turn the key off like on everything else.i have done this for 50 years and i have never had any problems.

+1, why use a killswitch when theres a perfectly good key?