Leave kill switch on?
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 14
From: washington dc
I'm going to risk wading in a bit deeper. I shut off using the kill switch first, because I always park in gear (unless in the garage on the Condor) and I always hold the bike with my front brake as I shut down and prepare to dismount. I would not want only my left hand on the bars, pulling the clutch with the motor running, the bike in gear, and no brake applied, which would be required were I to reach for the switch. Seems better to shut the motor off and get the heavy *** bike settled before releasing the bars.
I guess I can never shut off my bike then. Mine only has a run/stop switch and the "ignition" is nothing more than a fork lock. When this argument comes up, I always ask for something from the manufacturer that says you should not use the kill switch to shut down a bike during normal operation.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 32,851
Likes: 17,886
From: Newcastle, OK
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Dec 26, 2014 at 09:22 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,174
Likes: 1,960
From: Great State of Canada
Originally Posted by uklauren 
why not get into the habit of locking the ignition switch after you've hit the kill switch and ignition and you wouldn't forget to turn off your ignition? I lock the ignition and the forks every time including at home in my garage.
why not get into the habit of locking the ignition switch after you've hit the kill switch and ignition and you wouldn't forget to turn off your ignition? I lock the ignition and the forks every time including at home in my garage.
A lot of guys tell me this looks like paranoia because "no-one ever steals your bike". For the sake of my insurance claim, if my bike does go missing, when the cops ask if it was locked I want to be able to say yes. Like giving an enema to a dead man, this might not do any good but it can't hurt.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,460
Likes: 3,554
From: Idaho
Actually, this isn't a stupid question, as shown by the eleventy-three different answers.
The Owner's Manual for my '14 says to stop the engine with the Run/Off switch. (No, it's not a Touring, but I assume the logic is the same.)
I'm going to be stopping by my dealership today, so I'll ask the PhD Tech, who not only understands current HD ignition systems, he's an old fart who actually does go all the way back to rotary dial bikes. And he'll tell me the truth.
Stay tuned.
The Owner's Manual for my '14 says to stop the engine with the Run/Off switch. (No, it's not a Touring, but I assume the logic is the same.)
I'm going to be stopping by my dealership today, so I'll ask the PhD Tech, who not only understands current HD ignition systems, he's an old fart who actually does go all the way back to rotary dial bikes. And he'll tell me the truth.
Stay tuned.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 789
Likes: 3
From: Kansas
The only thing a kill switch is good for imo is to shut the engine off in an emergency like when the bike goes down. That's all I can think off because thats the only time Ive used one on a dirt or street bike. my .002 wait a minute I always used them on dirt bikes...
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,460
Likes: 3,554
From: Idaho
So, you don't need to worry about hitting the kill switch. Unless you have an older bike, of course.
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 789
Likes: 3
From: Kansas
I do remember once in south dakota getting on the bike after we ate and unlocking the forks etc and it wouldn't crank. humm so I finally figured out some asshat had flipped the switch off probaly laffed his azz off watching me live and learn I guess.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 789
Likes: 3
From: Kansas
Current model HDs have a Lean Angle Sensor, and if it detects a lean of more than 45 degrees for a period of longer than onethousandandone, it completely kills the ignition.
So, you don't need to worry about hitting the kill switch. Unless you have an older bike, of course.
So, you don't need to worry about hitting the kill switch. Unless you have an older bike, of course.