I just asked my buddy that and he said with the ECM he's got it's needed to "gracefully" turn off the engine and retain settings. This only applies to newer models. I still use my main switch from time to time though...

 

If by chance a throttle cable would hang, or some other anomaly would occur, the kill switch would shut the motor down safely, instead of pulling in the clutch on a stuck throttle cable and blowing the motor.

BTW, I always use my kill switch to shut the bike off, before I turn off the ignition. I might be the only one here to actually wear a kill switch out by the sound of things.

 

Every time I start trying to train myself to use that switch I end up leaving the other one on! If I keep it up I'm sure I'll ruin the battery some day.

 

Everytime I use it, I imagine a face on it................

 

Okay, how many of you have taken a motorcycle safety course? I'm talking about the advanced course. One of the first things they teach is to turn off the bike with the kill switch. The reason? Is to start a habit. Get into the habit of turning it off with the Kill switch so that in time of emergency you do it out of habit. You don't have to think about it, you just do it. Just like all habits.

 

+1 on part of my routine.

 

I use the kill switch when I intend to park the bike in gear, like on a hill. This reminds me to put the trans in neutral before starting. But I just learned the other day my bike won't start in gear if the clutch isn't disengaged. So, I don't even need the kill switch for that! My 02 would lurch forward trying to start it while in gear.

So, I'm one of those who seldom use the kill switch.

 

Yikes!!! I use it once in a blue moon, like when I am on a hill and want to kill the bike without removing my hands from the bar and keeping it in gear at the same time... I really am not worried about the switch malfunctioning from lack of use.

 

Even though I used my kill switch it still went bad and would cause the engine to die at the worst possible times. The switch would cause just a brief interuption in the ignition circuit and cause the engine to die and would never trigger a fault code. Changed out the switch assy. & presto! no more engine dieing on me. So I guess that didn't help much with the contacts on mine. Course at the time it did have over 100,000 miles on the bike! Ride Safe!

 

Even though I used my kill switch it still went bad and would cause the engine to die at the worst possible times. The switch would cause just a brief interuption in the ignition circuit and cause the engine to die and would never trigger a fault code. Changed out the switch assy. & presto! no more engine dieing on me. So I guess that didn't help much with the contacts on mine. Course at the time it did have over 100,000 miles on the bike! Ride Safe!