Noob Q - shutting down the engine

[storysunfolding]

I park mine in Neutral due to me parking directly against an object in front of me, and my bike jumps when cold starting in 1st. Besides which, I have carbs and carb-mounted choke, so I like to have my hands free to modulate and not worry about shifting.

I always end up parking on somewhat of a slope so parking in 1st gear is mandatory.

However, I find that a bike will jump forward even in nuetral on when it's cold out. However, if you put it into nuetral, then squeeze and release the clutch lever a few times it can prevent this from happening. Regardless, I always hold the brake as well when doing a cold start.

[dean owens]

just something to add...

we were taught

E(ngine)
K(ey)
G(as)

for shutting off the bike.

[slimcolo]

I don't use kill switch because I do not want to reach for it in emergency on a bike that has none. Most of my bikes don't. I leave on gas if it will be parked less than an hour. At end of day I always choke out motor, makes it easier to start next day.

[lunchmeat]

I was EXTREMELY lucky that this happened when it did, not when I was riding at speed. Always do your FINE-C.

It's not that big a deal running out of gas at speed. You just coast to a stop. You get some nice sputtering just before, too, which serves as a good warning to pull the clutch and stop to check it out.

I had a major problem with this - I wanted to reach down and flip the lever, but the engine braking under lack of fuel threatened to make me lose control. As such, it was basically impossible for me to reach it without killing myself.

Why didn't you just pull in the clutch and come to a stop on the side of the road..?

I park mine in 1st as well.

I pulled in the clutch and came to a stop in the left turn lane i was approaching....but there was no side of the road, as it was a multi-lane road with a median. Luckily, it was quite late and there was barely any traffic on the road at that point. The major problem is that, once you hit a certain point, you can't reach down and flip the lever - so you've got to do it when you hear/feel the warning signs, which I wasn't familiar with the first time it happened. The second time, there simply wasn't enough time to adjust since it wasn't a gas tank issue.

I park my bike in first, but I always start it in neutral. I can start it in first if need be, and I will do so for quick starts (if I turn on the bike, shift into first, then realize I forgot something) but I generally have to let the bike warm up a bit, and I usually have to back it out or something, so it's neutral all the way. It just makes things a little easier, and there's no chance of the bike jumping when I start it or anything.

[flynrider]

I use the key to shut off the engine. It works just as well as the kill switch and has to be turned off eventually.

I never switch the gas off. That's just one more thing to forget when you go to ride again. If your fuel system is in good shape, there should be no need to shut the fuel tap off. If it isn't, then it's probably a good idea to shut the fuel off until you can get the problem(s) fixed.

[dr_bar]

I:
1) find neutral
2) put down the kickstand
3) turn off the key, pull it out
4) walk away

Pretty much my routine unless I'm stopped on a grade, then I leave it in 1st. Sometimes I forget the last part of
the third step... DOH!!!!
I know why I forget though, My last bike had the key on the gauge cluster, I could see it so I remembered,
now it's on the right side out of sight...

[paul1149]

the ninja 250 manual says the gas and kill switch are unnecessary. I always park in 1st, then find neutral before I start up, and also hold the clutch in as I crank. It helps to warm up the oil a tad before dropping into 1st gear, as even with the clutch in it will otherwise lurch.

[RideYourRide]

When I shut my bike down, I usually hit the kill switch. My motorcycle owner's manual states that you should use the ignition to turn the bike off except in emergency situations, due to electrical connections or something, but I doubt it's an issue if I'm going to kill the ignition directly afterward. I'm sure there's a reason for Kawasaki to write that, but it's probably minor.

I trust what Kawasaki says in regards to their specific motorcycle more then I trust whoever told you to use the kill switch. I use the key because Honda likes me to. I find that they often know best.

[beardking]

I:
1) find neutral
2) put down the kickstand
3) turn off the key, pull it out
4) walk away

Pretty much my routine unless I'm stopped on a grade, then I leave it in 1st. Sometimes I forget the last part of
the third step... DOH!!!!
I know why I forget though, My last bike had the key on the gauge cluster, I could see it so I remembered,
now it's on the right side out of sight...

I have a very bad habit of forgetting the last part of #3. I park my bike in my garage so I leave the key in it, and so far, I haven't really done much riding that didn't end up with me back in the garage before shutting down the bike. This is a very bad habit that I need to break myself of.

As for the shutdown procedure for me:
neutral
kickstand
ignition
go in and have a nice refreshing Coca Cola and let my wife know that I didn't die like she thought I would.

[Nibblet99]

And same here for neutral, stand, key, fuel, drink

And you guys really gotta learn where your fuel tap is to just switch it at speed when the engine starts sounding lean