Correct way to turn off the bike

[nicolasr]

After several years of ownership of several different bikes, I have always turned my bikes off by first pressing the right hand switch and the closing the key. Yesterday someone said to me that it is not correct. He even said that it could be harmful... explaining to me that I should only close the ignition by the key.
What do you do? and do you Know??

Gracias

Nicolas

 

[Pterodactyl]

Sometimes I use the side stand to stop the engine and then the key.

Sometimes I use the kill switch and then the key.

Sometimes I use the key.

Always, your friend is full of malarky.

 

[frez]

I'm pretty sure it makes no odds these days, but in the past it could cause issues on some bikes using the kill switch instead of the key.

 

[Derekj]

Shutting down the power is just that. It makes no difference at all where you do that.

 

[BravoBravo]

The only reason I only use the key to turn my bike off is that I have seen too many riders use the kill switch and walk away, leaving the lights on.

Bruce

 

[Dogdaze]

The only reason I only use the key to turn my bike off is that I have seen too many riders use the kill switch and walk away, leaving the lights on.

Bruce

::026:: That's asking to be stranded, only a matter of time.

 

[SilverBullet]

I turn mine off with the kill switch almost exclusively.

• When restarting, I turn the ignition key first and then open the kill switch. Doing this you don't get the extra fuel pump prime. My thought is to help prevent a hard start occurrence.
  
  If I need to check the odometer, fuel gage, display temp, etc. I can also turn the key without worry of fuel pump priming needlessly.
  
  Sometimes after turning off with the kill switch I leave ignition on briefly if fan is operating to help cool the engine a little.
  
  It is also my routine for selecting TCS. Turn on ignition, select desired 1, 2 or OFF, open kill switch and then start bike.

_

 

[Don in Lodi]

The only reason I only use the key to turn my bike off is that I have seen too many riders use the kill switch and walk away, leaving the lights on.

Bruce

I use the kickstand switch almost all the time, I've killed my battery three-four times now since 8/11.

 

[Chuck B]

I turn mine off with the kill switch almost exclusively.

• When restarting, I turn the ignition key first and then open the kill switch. Doing this you don't get the extra fuel pump prime. My thought is to help prevent a hard start occurrence.
  
  If I need to check the odometer, fuel gage, display temp, etc. I can also turn the key without worry of fuel pump priming needlessly.
  
  Sometimes after turning off with the kill switch I leave ignition on briefly if fan is operating to help cool the engine a little.
  
  It is also my routine for selecting TCS. Turn on ignition, select desired 1, 2 or OFF, open kill switch and then start bike.

_

Fuel pump is pressurizing the system. Only the ECU opens the injectors. Pump can be running for weeks on end and no additional fuel will enter the cylinder unless the ECU tells it to....that will only occur with the starter spinning the engine.

 

[ace50]

I read heated arguments over this subject in the past. I've found no hard evidence either way myself, but if someone used sound reasoning to get there
(and was an electrical guru) I might believe it.

I've stopped the engine every which way, but mainly the key. I'm not going to worry about it and I've never had an electrical issue on any of the 7 bikes I've owned.

 

[Tyke]

I read heated arguments over this subject in the past. I've found no hard evidence either way myself, but if someone used sound reasoning to get there
(and was an electrical guru) I might believe it.

I've stopped the engine every which way, but mainly the key. I'm not going to worry about it and I've never had an electrical issue on any of the 7 bikes I've owned.

::026:: I even used to switch of my 70s Kawasaki Triples differently....sometimes with the key other times with the kill switch........they still broke down just the same ::025::

 

[EricV]

Most of us simple do what we have the habit of doing. None of the methods are "wrong". You will see huge debates over using the kill switch, with people quoting from various places that it's for emergency use only. What ever. It's there, it's part of my routine to use the kill switch. It does the intended job.

In regards to turning off the ignition, isn't that what we all do for every car we own? No harm that way either.

Essentially, there is a circuit with several switches in it. Break the circuit, the engine dies. Side stand is one of those circuits. If the engine dies, the rest of the system is still live, same as if you hit the kill switch, so you have to follow that with the key switch to turn off the power. Sort of like turning the key on a car from run to acc, the engine dies, but the system is still live until you turn the key the rest of the way to off. Again, no harm there, it's just not 'off' until you turn it off.

So pick your poison and enjoy your riding. If the kill switch wasn't there, you wouldn't ever try and start the bike with it off. I figure it's there, so why not use it. I haven't forgotten to turn on the kill switch in about 25 years, perhaps because it's my habit to use it every time.

Either laugh when your friend tells you that again, or ask him why he believes it could cause a problem, and on how old of a bike did he experience that problem himself? If he never actually experienced that problem himself, laugh again and tell him to stop believing everything he hears or urban legends.

 

[WJBertrand]

Do what's comfortable to you, it doesn't make any difference to the bike. Personally, I use the key to shut down for two reasons. 1st as already mentioned I can't accidentally leave the head lights or other farkles on and secondly, I'm less likely to leave the key behind, inviting theft. I guess a third reason could be efficiency. Why flip two switches when one will do the job?


-Jeff

 

[nicolasr]

I turn mine off with the kill switch almost exclusively.

• When restarting, I turn the ignition key first and then open the kill switch. Doing this you don't get the extra fuel pump prime. My thought is to help prevent a hard start occurrence.
  
  If I need to check the odometer, fuel gage, display temp, etc. I can also turn the key without worry of fuel pump priming needlessly.
  
  Sometimes after turning off with the kill switch I leave ignition on briefly if fan is operating to help cool the engine a little.
  
  It is also my routine for selecting TCS. Turn on ignition, select desired 1, 2 or OFF, open kill switch and then start bike.

_

That is why I always do it that way.
Thanks

 

[nicolasr]

Most of us simple do what we have the habit of doing. None of the methods are "wrong". You will see huge debates over using the kill switch, with people quoting from various places that it's for emergency use only. What ever. It's there, it's part of my routine to use the kill switch. It does the intended job.

In regards to turning off the ignition, isn't that what we all do for every car we own? No harm that way either.

Essentially, there is a circuit with several switches in it. Break the circuit, the engine dies. Side stand is one of those circuits. If the engine dies, the rest of the system is still live, same as if you hit the kill switch, so you have to follow that with the key switch to turn off the power. Sort of like turning the key on a car from run to acc, the engine dies, but the system is still live until you turn the key the rest of the way to off. Again, no harm there, it's just not 'off' until you turn it off.

So pick your poison and enjoy your riding. If the kill switch wasn't there, you wouldn't ever try and start the bike with it off. I figure it's there, so why not use it. I haven't forgotten to turn on the kill switch in about 25 years, perhaps because it's my habit to use it every time.

Either laugh when your friend tells you that again, or ask him why he believes it could cause a problem, and on how old of a bike did he experience that problem himself? If he never actually experienced that problem himself, laugh again and tell him to stop believing everything he hears or urban legends.

Yes pressing the kill switch first and the the key has been my habit for the last 10 years!!! Never had a problem either. So many urban myths make you have a second thought!!!!
Not changing anyway

 

[JRE]

I always use the key for no other reason than it keeps me from forgetting the key in the ignition and walking away.

 

[shrekonwheels]

Could someone please start a thread for "how to properly put your kickstand down"?

 

[Dogdaze]

Could someone please start a thread for "how to properly put your kickstand down"?

I think that's been covered ::008:: ::010::

 

[Dirt_Dad]

In regards to turning off the ignition, isn't that what we all do for every car we own? No harm that way either.

Used to, not any more. In fact there are now reports of people forgetting to turn off their push to start cars, walking away with it running in the garage, and someone dying in the house from carbon monoxide. I haven't gone to that extreme, but I have definitely left the keys sitting on the front seat and walked into the house without them a few dozen time.

 

[trikepilot]

Dammit, I knew I was going at this all wrong. I have been just laying Fancy on her side (so she can rest!) and then let her choke and gag to stop.