Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Kill switch or console switch

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 8, 2011 | 05:39 AM
  #1  
Terrabella's Avatar
Terrabella
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 903
Likes: 8
From: California
Default Kill switch or console switch

The other day some old time biker told me the proper way to turn off your motorcycle was to use the kill switch rather than the console main switch. He said if you use the console switch to turn off the bike somehow it leaves a bit of fuel in the system hence you may get a cough when restarting the bike. The book said to use the kill switch. Don’t know but it sounds a bit picky to me. Is there any truth to the old timers conclusion or just another odd ball opinion.
 
Reply
Old Apr 8, 2011 | 05:45 AM
  #2  
mastery's Avatar
mastery
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 6
From: Indiana
Default

Lots of discussion threads on this already, use the Search feature if you want to read hundreds of responses. You'll find people arguing both ways. To start this new discussion...I use the kill switch before turning the key switch off.
 
Reply
Old Apr 8, 2011 | 05:49 AM
  #3  
bdp's Avatar
bdp
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,134
Likes: 4
From: Third Coast, South Texas
Default

Originally Posted by mastery
Lots of discussion threads on this already, use the Search feature if you want to read hundreds of responses. You'll find people arguing both ways. To start this new discussion...I use the kill switch before turning the key switch off.
Same here, but not till I make sure I'm not rolling on the throttle any. Old habit from my 08 TBW
 
Reply
Old Apr 8, 2011 | 06:20 AM
  #4  
2001NightTrain's Avatar
2001NightTrain
Cruiser
15 Year Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 241
Likes: 4
Default

Kill switch. In addition to the advice the old biker had for you...just took delivery on a new road king and the dealer brought this up...said always do kill switch first because over time if you use the console first; they have found that the console **** can go bad, develops a short or something...just fails over time.
 
Reply
Old Apr 8, 2011 | 06:29 AM
  #5  
EasternSP's Avatar
EasternSP
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Marine Corps
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 30,860
Likes: 32,730
From: King George, VA
Default

I use the kill switch because its hard to reach the ignition **** when the bike is crashed into the work bench in my garage.
 
Reply
Old Apr 8, 2011 | 06:41 AM
  #6  
mastery's Avatar
mastery
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 6
From: Indiana
Default

Originally Posted by bdp
Same here, but not till I make sure I'm not rolling on the throttle any. Old habit from my 08 TBW
You're not kidding there. Every once in a while, I forget about making sure it's calmed down first. Forget, and you get to the reset procedure for lowering the RPMs at the next start.
 
Reply
Old Apr 8, 2011 | 07:12 AM
  #7  
1flhtk4me's Avatar
1flhtk4me
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,675
Likes: 95
From: Billings,Mt.
Default

Been using the ignition switch for years,no problems.
 
Reply
Old Apr 8, 2011 | 07:12 AM
  #8  
geezer glide 56's Avatar
geezer glide 56
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 104
From: Mississippi
Default

I always use the key switch...Motorcycles didn't have a handlebar switch when I started riding in the 60s...It seems that the handlebar switch started showing up on metric bikes first.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 8, 2011 | 07:19 AM
  #9  
BLK08ROCKERC's Avatar
BLK08ROCKERC
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 739
Likes: 0
From: Americus, GA
Default

Originally Posted by 2001NightTrain
Kill switch. In addition to the advice the old biker had for you...just took delivery on a new road king and the dealer brought this up...said always do kill switch first because over time if you use the console first; they have found that the console **** can go bad, develops a short or something...just fails over time.
See in my experience the kill switch goes first. The console switch is more robust compared to the little plastic kill switch. Who f'n knows.
 
Reply
Old Apr 8, 2011 | 07:21 AM
  #10  
BLK08ROCKERC's Avatar
BLK08ROCKERC
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 739
Likes: 0
From: Americus, GA
Default

Originally Posted by mastery
You're not kidding there. Every once in a while, I forget about making sure it's calmed down first. Forget, and you get to the reset procedure for lowering the RPMs at the next start.
Can you elaborate on that? What does the reset procedure?
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:32 AM.

story-0
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-3
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-4
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-5
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-8
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

Slideshow: A clear-eyed look at what actually worked for Harley this year, and what quietly undermined its progress.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-29 17:10:48


VIEW MORE