Topic: Using the kill switch

[MCRider]

This topic popped up before and it turned into a rather heated debate and I never could understand why.

Note lucky's post and the, I am right and this is the only answer attitude.  You don't really wonder why the heated debate do you.

I was wondering if that bothered anyone else than me, thanks for posting.

[MoMo]

Just to be different - I almost always use mine.  As was mentioned, I can kill the bike before I let go of the bars.
It's a routine - kill switch off, headlight off, key switch off, gas off.

Have followed that routine for 40 years...Larry

[Tews19]

What happens if you hit the kill switch on accident while riding? Power is lost but does the engine then freeze up when in gear ? I wonder?

[CB500_k2]

I use the kill switch for a starting routine for my hard to start in the cold CB500.  Open the kill switch, choke full on, open throttle wide, hit starter for about 5 seconds, close kill switch, crack throttle just a bit, hit starter button  and off she goes.  I am not quite sure what the logic is, but it does make it easier to start the old girl.  The procedure was suggested to me by my brother who is a motorcycle mechanic and old bike aficionado.

[knowsnothing]

I use the kill switch, key and turn the gas off.  I figure if someone is going to try and nick the bike, all the steps will slow them down and even then they might not get far 

[bjatwood]

What happens if you hit the kill switch on accident while riding? Power is lost but does the engine then freeze up when in gear ? I wonder?

It backfires, just like a car when you flip the ignition off. The unbrunt fuel explodes and boom! It's running again..

[ekpent]

What happens if you hit the kill switch on accident while riding? Power is lost but does the engine then freeze up when in gear ? I wonder?

Everything will be fine. I have a riding buddy and one of our fun pranks is to swoop up and turn off the other guys kill switch then nail it leaving them momentarily in the dust.Only way I can keep up with his punched out Z1.

[bjatwood]

I use the kill switch for a starting routine for my hard to start in the cold CB500.  Open the kill switch, choke full on, open throttle wide, hit starter for about 5 seconds, close kill switch, crack throttle just a bit, hit starter button  and off she goes.  I am not quite sure what the logic is, but it does make it easier to start the old girl.  The procedure was suggested to me by my brother who is a motorcycle mechanic and old bike aficionado.

I believe the logic is your "priming" it a bit with fuel to start. Kindof like when we had carburated cars/trucks. You pumped the pedal a couple times to set the choke and pump some fuel into the cylinders to start it. I kick my K3 with the fuel on and the choke on, and a bit of throttle.... if it's been sitting a couple weeks. Then just a push of the starter button and it's running. Followed by turning the full choke off immediately to about 1/2 way. This seems to be a good technique for my bike.. 

[MCRider]

What happens if you hit the kill switch on accident while riding? Power is lost but does the engine then freeze up when in gear ? I wonder?

It backfires, just like a car when you flip the ignition off. The unbrunt fuel explodes and boom! It's running again..

The engine does not freeze up. It coninues to turn thru, though under full compression braking. Sort of like cutting the throttle from speed to idle, and applying a little brake. Nothing hazardous. One would instictively grab the clutch lever under that circumstance, then regroup.

As bjatwood says, though not completely, if you've left the throttle open, when you turn the switch back to on you'll get a horrendous backfire. we used to do that on purpose, great fun. 

But if you cut the throttle and give the pipe time to clear out you won't get the backfire.

[Gordon]

I use the kill switch for a starting routine for my hard to start in the cold CB500.  Open the kill switch, choke full on, open throttle wide, hit starter for about 5 seconds, close kill switch, crack throttle just a bit, hit starter button  and off she goes.  I am not quite sure what the logic is, but it does make it easier to start the old girl.  The procedure was suggested to me by my brother who is a motorcycle mechanic and old bike aficionado.

I do the same thing on especially cold mornings, except I just leave the ignition turned off for the first couple of kicks, and then turn it on to start.  It primes the cylinders and makes it easier to start, essentially increasing the choke.

[Stev-o]

I rarely use mine, no need to I guess.

[Don R]

I've used mine and then got distracted and left the key on. So I usually try to use the key switch, sometimes if I want to leave it in gear (hillside etc) I'll use the kill and then switch off then petcock.

[Bailgang]

This topic popped up before and it turned into a rather heated debate and I never could understand why.

Note lucky's post and the, I am right and this is the only answer attitude.  You don't really wonder why the heated debate do you.

I was wondering if that bothered anyone else than me, thanks for posting.

I learned very early when I first joined this forum that that is just the way Lucky is take it or leave it and I must admit that if you can cut through the "attitude" he does come up with helpful advice and worth listening to so I just deal with it and welcome his opinion.

[jamesb]

I've used mine and then got distracted and left the key on. So I usually try to use the key switch, sometimes if I want to leave it in gear (hillside etc) I'll use the kill and then switch off then petcock.

.

That's my problem too. I get sidetracked and leave the key on then wanna go some where and have a dead battery because the light is on.

[Dream750]

The most important thing is that the switch functions correctly, no matter what method you prefer. Photo is from the CB750 owners manual:
 

[MCRider]

The most important thing is that the switch functions correctly, no matter what method you prefer. Photo is from the CB750 owners manual:

The term "primarily" implies that there are secondary uses as well. If there weren't there would be no reason to qualify it primarily and would just say "only".

[Dream750]

The term "primarily" implies that there are secondary uses as well. If there weren't there would be no reason to qualify it primarily and would just say "only".

MC, that's also the same way I understand Honda's description & terminology.

[70CB750]

Since I opened this can of worms, I feel obliged to comment that it is nobody's business how you use the switch.

I was just curious how other people do it 

[LoVel]

Yeah, what I do to my motorcycle is between me and my motorcycle and neither one of us is talking.

On another note I rode the CB this morning after she has sat for a few days and tried the kill switch open method.  Opened the petcock and choke, kicked her a few times gently just to turn her over,  opened the kill switch connection,  turned on the ignition and hit the starter button a couple of times, closed the kill switch and hit the starter and she fired right up.  Love it.  Thanks for the info.

[750K]

The most important thing is that the switch functions correctly, no matter what method you prefer. Photo is from the CB750 owners manual:

But how do you know it's working propperly if you aren't using it, bahahaha.

[70CB750]

I flip it by accident at least once a month - I know it works 

[ssolla000]

I dont use the kill button, or kickstand,, I just swing my leg over running and all and just let it fall over... i just dont like the idea of killing my bike..... 

[Cabilao]

I dont use the kill button, or kickstand,, I just swing my leg over running and all and just let it fall over... i just dont like the idea of killing my bike..... 

thats it! 

[dave500]

?bang?

[LoVel]

DHAFC