Using the kill switch - mandatory?
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: USA
this from the HD Tri Glide owner manual :
Stopping the Engine
Top of page
1. Stop the engine by turning OFF the engine stop switch on right handlebar.
2.Turn OFF the ignition switch. If the engine should be stalled or stopped in any way, turn off the ignition switch at once to prevent battery discharge.
3.Shift the transmission into gear and apply the parking brake.
Stopping the Engine
Top of page
1. Stop the engine by turning OFF the engine stop switch on right handlebar.
2.Turn OFF the ignition switch. If the engine should be stalled or stopped in any way, turn off the ignition switch at once to prevent battery discharge.
3.Shift the transmission into gear and apply the parking brake.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 344
Likes: 4
From: USA
I'm a manly man and a meat eater. With big meaty manly hands. Meaty manly hands that are covered with thick and armored dead cow skins when I ride my manly motorcycle. Armored meaty manly hands that hit the 4way flashers instead of the kill switch. Armored meaty manly hands who's thick gloved fingers would rather grab the LARGEST kill switch in the motorcycle universe to kill the bike. Now THATS a manly man switch. A manly switch that KILLS EVERYTHING. Might be too much for fingers adorned with fingerless mesh gloves. Best to press the kill switch with your naked thumb peeking out of your fingerless mesh mess. That's cute. 
But not manly
But not manly
Last edited by nuttbaggerr; Apr 14, 2015 at 02:03 PM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
Just for grins here is a kill button story for ya, I was 17 and racing mx 2-3 times a week and I usually would wash my bike on Sat morn between the Fri night races and Sundays races. Went to the coin op and after washing my Husky CR390 I decided i'd warm her up to burn off any moisture in the exhaust or possibly the mag. I forgot to turn on the fuel, ended up being a big mistake. So she fires up and I blip the throttle to keep her running and after a few blip she idles on her own then starts to idle faster............I blip the throttle, and then next thing she is wfo on the milk crate(the carb was leaning the mix out and when I blipped the throttle the slide musta stuck or hung due to the vibes or a piece of sand or whatever), I hit the kill but its a single wire kill that relies on the neck bearings to complete the ground, its is winding out and Im sure it gonna stick a piston or hang a ring or something I can't afford so I pull the plug wire WOW!!!!!!!!!!! 40,000+ volts going thru me till she wound down from redline. That was fun.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
Oh I pushed it but the bike was vibrating so profusely that the ground was not being made through the neck bearings, only a 1 wire kill set up. I think I clenched my teeth so hard I cracked a rear molar that came apart a few years later.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 143
Likes: 25
From: Boise
All I can say is Yeoooooow. Man that's got to leave an impression. and a Memory for sure! Ouch!!!!
When I bought my new Harley the Sales guy recommended hitting the kill switch to shut the bike off and then turn ignition so you kept both hands on the bars while it was still running. I have to agree since im coming from a 450lb bike to this 900lb gorilla. Also still getting used to be able to have the kickstand down when the bike is in gear. On my 1200 Suzuki bandit when you put the bike in gear with the Kickstand down it would kill the bike also. So you didn't try to take off with it down.
When I bought my new Harley the Sales guy recommended hitting the kill switch to shut the bike off and then turn ignition so you kept both hands on the bars while it was still running. I have to agree since im coming from a 450lb bike to this 900lb gorilla. Also still getting used to be able to have the kickstand down when the bike is in gear. On my 1200 Suzuki bandit when you put the bike in gear with the Kickstand down it would kill the bike also. So you didn't try to take off with it down.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,706
Likes: 14
From: Near Frankenmuth, MI
A lot of guessing going on here.
I'll start out by telling you why the manual tells you to use the Kill Switch on 2014 and 2015 Rushmore vehicles.
This information came directly from the Service Manager:
The new bikes are like a computer, actually a laptop on wheels. There is a sequence to shutting your Rushmore model's down and it starts by using the Kill Switch to stop the engine, then the the ignition switch. Without using the Kill Switch correctly you risk damage to the computer system much like pulling the plug out of the wall to shut off a computer.
The reason I found this out was because on 2 occasions, including tonight, my Infortainment Center would not power up. I asked what the trick is and he asked "How do you shut off your bike?". Then he explained all of the above.
It made sense. I rolled my bike out to the driveway and started it up with the radio playing. I pulled up to where I shut it down so the wife and I can get ready to ride and on this occasion I remember shutting it off with the ignition switch. When we headed out (second time in 500 miles this happened) the Infotainment Center did not come on. I stopped at the next corner and shut off the bike with the ignition switch, 5 separate times on the way to the dealer, and still the Infotainment Center did not power up. I got to the dealership and this time I shut the bike off with the Kill Switch. I immediately turned it back on and the Infotainment Center powered up like normal.
I walked right into service and asked about it and learned why the Kill Switch is the only way to shut off the bike and not negatively impact the computer systems.
If your luck has allowed you to operate without using the Kill Switch then you are an anomaly.
I'll start out by telling you why the manual tells you to use the Kill Switch on 2014 and 2015 Rushmore vehicles.
This information came directly from the Service Manager:
The new bikes are like a computer, actually a laptop on wheels. There is a sequence to shutting your Rushmore model's down and it starts by using the Kill Switch to stop the engine, then the the ignition switch. Without using the Kill Switch correctly you risk damage to the computer system much like pulling the plug out of the wall to shut off a computer.
The reason I found this out was because on 2 occasions, including tonight, my Infortainment Center would not power up. I asked what the trick is and he asked "How do you shut off your bike?". Then he explained all of the above.
It made sense. I rolled my bike out to the driveway and started it up with the radio playing. I pulled up to where I shut it down so the wife and I can get ready to ride and on this occasion I remember shutting it off with the ignition switch. When we headed out (second time in 500 miles this happened) the Infotainment Center did not come on. I stopped at the next corner and shut off the bike with the ignition switch, 5 separate times on the way to the dealer, and still the Infotainment Center did not power up. I got to the dealership and this time I shut the bike off with the Kill Switch. I immediately turned it back on and the Infotainment Center powered up like normal.
I walked right into service and asked about it and learned why the Kill Switch is the only way to shut off the bike and not negatively impact the computer systems.
If your luck has allowed you to operate without using the Kill Switch then you are an anomaly.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,872
Likes: 1,325
From: DeLand, Florida
Where is the kill switch on my VW GTI? Just like my car, and yes it has a complicated computer, I turn the bike off with the main switch. The kill switch on a motorcycle is there for safety reasons only. It gives you the ability to kill the engine without taking your hands off of the grips. That is the safest way to kill the engine and keep control if you are moving. If you are stopped it really makes no difference. Kill your bike whatever way makes you happy. I actually wish mine was like a CVO and only had a kill switch. I really don't need two......