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What is the "proper" way to turn off your bike?

How do you turn off your bike?

  • Total voters
    50
Even if I use the key, it has a "park" position that leaves the tail light on. I still have to stop and look each time to make sure the light is off. Sometimes when the sun hits just right I'll come back to my bike after a couple hours and think "fuck... I did it again." And why does it have to be one click past the lock position instead of before it? At least Hondas don't do that.
 
Avoid kill switch. It is not as durable as ignition switch on street bikes. Dirt is different, kill switch is fine. I use key in neutral or sidestand in gear.
 
Kickstand, then key. I don't use the emergency shut off at all.
 
I go from right to left. Kill switch, key, kickstand.
 
Motech said:
Avoid kill switch. It is not as durable as ignition switch on street bikes. Dirt is different, kill switch is fine. I use key in neutral or sidestand in gear.
Click to expand...

LOL, this is a funny response. SO you are saying not to use the killswitch because it might wear out but you use your sidestand switch?

The only sensor I have ever had burn out on a motorcycle at all was the sidestand switch. That sucked until I realized why my bike wouldn't start.
 
SlideSF said:
Even if I use the key, it has a "park" position that leaves the tail light on. I still have to stop and look each time to make sure the light is off. Sometimes when the sun hits just right I'll come back to my bike after a couple hours and think "fuck... I did it again." And why does it have to be one click past the lock position instead of before it? At least Hondas don't do that.
Click to expand...

make a habit of going all the way to parking lights, then one click back, instead of trying to come up short one click every time. also, lube the lock, it'll make it easier to tell how many clicks you're going if you aren't fighting as much friction
 
When I want to turn my motorcycle off I tell it that yes, those saddlebags make it's ass look big. :x
 
clutch dump, key off
 
I've been told that before.. <shrug>

What we have here; is NOT a failure to communicate..

We're having generation gap issues..

pre and post MSF.. :laughing

Neither is wrong or right, the 'masses' need one answer which is to always use the kill switch.


mcarb said:
LOL, this is a funny response. SO you are saying not to use the killswitch because it might wear out but you use your sidestand switch?

The only sensor I have ever had burn out on a motorcycle at all was the sidestand switch. That sucked until I realized why my bike wouldn't start.
Click to expand...
 
I grew up with bikes without keys and no kickstand idiot switch. I always shut off the kill switch, first. It's a good habit. If you have an emergency, it should be a reflex action. It is easy to reach, unlike the key.
 
I have never used my killswitch. I can't imagine why I would? No matter what I do, I still have to take the key out, which renders the whole using of the kill switch completely useless.

That's why I don't use it. But, I too have heard that a ignition switch is much heavier duty and rated for a higher amount of use than the kill switch.

Not all switches are created equal.
 
auntiebling said:
make a habit of going all the way to parking lights, then one click back, instead of trying to come up short one click every time. also, lube the lock, it'll make it easier to tell how many clicks you're going if you aren't fighting as much friction
Click to expand...

Yeah, I do all those things. But I still manage to screw up once in a while.
 
Ironbutt said:
What we have here; is NOT a failure to communicate.. We're having generation gap issues.. pre and post MSF..
Click to expand...

This is true, however the question is how do you turn off your bike, not how do you turn the ignition off. It takes a key to turn off a motorcycle.
 
- kill switch enables/disables power to the engine.
- key disables/enables power to the entire bike.
- sidestand is redundant safety that enables/disables power to the engine so you can't start or run the bike while stand is down (same as kill switch). On my bike it is a resistor, not a switch.

to kill the engine, use the switch.
to power off the bike, use the key.
If you want to power up your bike and not accidentally start your engine, then you want to have the kill switch already in the disable position. This is why MSF has you use kill switch first then key off. it is a redundant safety measure. That way, every time you put in your key and power up your bike (check gages and lights and stuff), you need the second deliberate step of enabling with the kill switch in order to start the bike. MSF is about safety, not shortcuts.

That said...Everything folks stated in the posts above works too.
worrying about wearing things like switches out is pretty silly though.
 
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mcarb said:
LOL, this is a funny response. SO you are saying not to use the killswitch because it might wear out but you use your sidestand switch?

The only sensor I have ever had burn out on a motorcycle at all was the sidestand switch. That sucked until I realized why my bike wouldn't start.
Click to expand...

Sidestand switch is not a sensor. By design, it is one of the most durable switches on a motorbike. Sure, they sometimes fail, but they get used more than even the start button, and they're subjected to road grie and elements way more than any other. They're pretty tough.

Ever seen those little bitty contacts in a street kill switch? No comparo.

And put it this way: The sidestand switch is being used every time you move that sidestand. No practical difference in wear if it grounds the circuit in gear or neutral, so why not?
 
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