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I think I'll start doing the kickstand then. There's not enough reason to use the kill switch. The whole 'repetitiveness' thing is reasonable. But what kind of emergency would require me to kill the power to my bike?

Shiv wrote:I think I'll start doing the kickstand then. There's not enough reason to use the kill switch. The whole 'repetitiveness' thing is reasonable. But what kind of emergency would require me to kill the power to my bike?

if you dump it and its still running that would be a good enough emergency reason . I use the kill switch cause well its right there. My bike is setup like a harley where the ignition is where my left leg is almost at the bottom of the frame of my bike. I dont use the kickstand as a kill cause I like to have the bike off before I put my kickstand down. Less chance ofproblems occuring. I also leave mine in neutral unless im on an incline cause its just easier to start my bike without keeping the clutch in .

ofblong wrote:

Shiv wrote:I think I'll start doing the kickstand then. There's not enough reason to use the kill switch. The whole 'repetitiveness' thing is reasonable. But what kind of emergency would require me to kill the power to my bike?

You won't know until you need to.


I have several times already needed to use the kill switch. And the kill switrh is how I easily turn the bike off for normal circumstances.

I can't take my hand off the bar if I'm holding the clutch and brake, the only way left to shut it off is with my thumb. And I have ended up with the bike on the ground, kneeling beside it in gear, still running, clutch and brake engaged...only thing left to do is shut the bike off. Anyone could say I couldas just popped the clutch and let it stall, but that's stupid 1) cause the bike might lurched or jump on thte ground, damaging itself or me, and 2) my bike rolls into 1st with no throttle. I suppose it would stall if let out quick enough. But that all just sounds improper.

Anyway, everyone should have a routine. I do mine so that I can keep MYSELF from doing something dumb...again I can't afford to make mistakes that SHOULD have been avoided. Like Gummiente stated about routine and repitition, that's why I do.

Kill switch --> tap to 1st...rock to be certain --> kickstand down --> key off --> step off the bike

I figure its a good habit and it's what it's there for. My kickstand also doesn't have a kill component to it, so that might be something to keep in mind for those of us not on our dream bikes. Not all future bikes will necessarily have that feature - although I'm sure you have to get into a whole new mentality of routine when you get a new bike anyway. 6 of one, half a dozen of another.

I never use the kill switch either and only use the kickstand if i'm parking on an incline and am going to leave it in gear. Flat surface the bike stays in nuetral and I turn it off with the key only.

Scott58 wrote:I never use the kill switch either and only use the kickstand if i'm parking on an incline and am going to leave it in gear. Flat surface the bike stays in nuetral and I turn it off with the key only.

+1 thats what I do also

ofblong wrote:

Shiv wrote:I think I'll start doing the kickstand then. There's not enough reason to use the kill switch. The whole 'repetitiveness' thing is reasonable. But what kind of emergency would require me to kill the power to my bike?

if you dump it and its still running that would be a good enough emergency reason . I use the kill switch cause well its right there.

See that's not always the case. On a bike like mine the key is only 6 inches away from the kill switch, so I'd rather turn it off and pull the key then hit the switch.

Besides if you went down and the engine is still running, then you probably came off the bike anyways. So you might as well make sure your key doesn't stay in it.

Our MSF told us to always leave it in first while parked. Before you start, you shift into neutral.

Startup: Kickstand, key, neutral, killswitch, clutch, start.

Shutdown: Clutch, first gear, killswitch, key, kickstand.

Thats how I was taught...never thought of doing it any other way.

Scott58 wrote:I never use the kill switch either and only use the kickstand if i'm parking on an incline and am going to leave it in gear. Flat surface the bike stays in nuetral and I turn it off with the key only.

That's exactly what I do and that's what my owner's manual tells me to do, so I just follow it.

shane-o wrote: I always use the kick stand to stop

I've found that brakes work a whole heck of a lot better j/k


seriously though, my key is in the middle of the gauge cluster, so I use it. I always park my bike in neutral (haven't parked on an incline yet). Plus my kickstand doesn't have the shutoff feature, so I've never had to worry about it.

I guess it's whatever you're comfortable with. The way I see it is that the killswitch was designed for emergencies, not everyday usage.