As we rode our new ride thru CO last month I stopped my ride at a Indy shop where I used the thumb switch to shut the engine off as I had done for the majority of the last rides I have owned; a tech close to me saw me do that and stepped over to offer some advice, DON"T use the kill switch as a routine shut off.

His reasoning for the info was at MoCo school he was informed this has a potential to damage the ECM if done as a routine, it has to do with power flows into and out of the module and can not only be damaging to the module it can during regular use reset the logic to base parameters leaving the engine in a poor run mode until it can re-learn the parameters for clean operation.

I have stopped the use of the switch, fuel mileage is up, engine is more responsive and as to date seems to be quite correct in the advice. Anyone else hear this??

 

Nope haven't heard of it but interesting.

But the primary reason is so you don't look like a fool trying to start your bike and it doesn't, because you forget to turn the kill switch back on.

 

This is the ONLY reason I'd ever be reluctant to use it, bit me in the *** one time. But I still use the switch, every time.

 

" fuel mileage is up, engine is more responsive" .... could be because your not in Co at altitude.

 

Actually his fuel mileage should be better here.

 

Fuel mileage came down a we left altitude, was almost to 49mpg at Estes Park, bike just seems to require less throttle to achieve the same results as two weeks ago. Fuel mileage had been as low as 39mpg until stopped using the switch, engine pinging was noted every time at fuel ups regardless of fuel grade when I was using the kill switch and was looking fora stealer for a warranty claim, not doing that now.

 

I was also told this by 2 separate techs, neither from HD. I'm not 100% sure I've seen better MPG, but the bike is running much better since I stopped using the kill switch

 

Also, a naturally asperated, internal combustion engine will be down on power by 15% in Denver compared to sea level. Turbos are your friend at altitude.

 

So are you saying by not using the kill switch, power is still going to ECM and it is not constantly resetting? Makes sense. Might be a hard habit to break, but I am going to try it for awhile and see what happens. I put a supercharger on my Toyota truck (which loves Colorado altitude by the way), and I occasionally have to pull the fuse to the ECM to reset it when I make some tweaks. Thanks for the heads up.

 

I used my "kill switch" for over 30 years without any related issues I know of.