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Hey what if your going 80+ mph on lets say a highway and for some reason accidently hit the engine kill switch?

What happens and what is the safest way to get out of this situation? Any stories?

Thanks.

Grab that clutch! Then restart the engine. I've had my engine die on me (when it ran out of gas and I couldnt hit reserve fast enough) on the freeway. You'll start slowing down quick even with the clutch engaged but you wont go flying off the road or anything.

PS: Since I don't go 80+ on the freeway I cannot vouch for hitting your kill switch at those speeds and have no sympathy for what happens to you if you do.

If you just pull in the clutch and go down a gear or two (if engine braking has slowed you down that is) turn the kill switch to on, and the engine should start right back up when you release the clutch. At least, that's how my '83 Honda works; I'm not sure about newer bikes.

SausageCreature wrote:If you just pull in the clutch and go down a gear or two (if engine braking has slowed you down that is) turn the kill switch to on, and the engine should start right back up when you release the clutch. At least, that's how my '83 Honda works; I'm not sure about newer bikes.

That's pretty much push starting the bike. I've done it twice on my bike, but never at 80MPH

Tigger wrote: What happens and what is the safest way to get out of this situation? Any stories?

The engine stops making power and you slow down. The safest way to get out of the situation would be to turn the kill switch back on and continue riding.

Forget clutching and shifting. If the the bike is still in gear, flipping the switch will do the job. The only caution would be : Don't do anything crazy like opening the throttle all the way before flipping the switch.

flynrider wrote:

Tigger wrote: What happens and what is the safest way to get out of this situation? Any stories?

The engine stops making power and you slow down. The safest way to get out of the situation would be to turn the kill switch back on and continue riding.

Forget clutching and shifting. If the the bike is still in gear, flipping the switch will do the job. The only caution would be : Don't do anything crazy like opening the throttle all the way before flipping the switch.

+1. I had a short on the Vision (i know what you're thinking, how was there a short in 25 year old wiring?) and just needed to flick the kill switch off then on to get her back. Didi it once at 70, no problem.

Out of curiosity, if you're moving quickly and flip the kill switch back on, will the bike immediately start again without having to push the starter?

jonnythan wrote:Out of curiosity, if you're moving quickly and flip the kill switch back on, will the bike immediately start again without having to push the starter?

Yup, it's called "bump starting." You may have heard of it done in a car before. Put the car/bike in second gear and get it rolling a decent pace and drop the clutch. When it catches, the motor will turn over and run/continue to run. Good to hear it works safely at higher speeds. I've never done it faster than 5 -10 mph.

Later,
WVUChrome...

I have done it several times. When I was first getting used to my bike, I inadvertently hit the kill switch while riding on the highway.
I just noticed a loss of power and thinking it was me being lazy on the throttle turned the throttle but got no more power...then I realized I had hit the kill switch and simply turned it back on and everything was fine.

Okay, get going 80mph down the road, well clear of other traffic, and intentionally hit the kill switch. Well, darn, it's just like rolling off the throttle. Roll off the throttle, turn the switch back on, and roll the throttle back on. At worst you'll get a big ol' bang in the muffler when the unburned fuel in there gets sparked. Just the ticket for spooking bagladies who wander down the middle of the road with their grocery carts.

Forget the clutch and downshifting, just roll the throttle off and turn the switch back on.