When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I use the kill switch and did not know it affected the bike's performance but now I know why the Ducati I rode recently felt like it had more power than my Road King.
Until recently the kill switch was the proper way. The previous key switch had the entire electrical load going through them and the kill switch was a way to make the ignition switch last longer.
Now the ignition key switch only activates a relay that provides full power to the starter.
So ether way is okay. The info about any magical improvements in performance is beyond bogus.
I just traced the wiring schematic, they both go to the same relay, so yes either way is just fine.
I used the kill switch once to see if it worked-it did. When I first got the bike, I used it a couple of times when parking up/downhill. Since I got used to the bike, I use the ignition switch only. The only use the kill switch gets now is when I bring it to the dealership for repair. They never have to turn it on to run the bike but they must have a policy that they have to turn it off before I pick it up.
When I put the jiffy stand down before shutting the bike off. I find I get 5miles more per gallon. I try to turn both swiches off simultaneously so that I confuse the ECM
The radio has an internal battery that keeps your settings for a few minutes but if you disconnect the battery for about an hour your radio will lose it's settings. Also the standard ecu reset procedure is to disconnect the battery for a while.
Ive had my radio out over night few times and have only lost time setting.all presets remain in memory.