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Does it really matter how I turn off the bike?

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  #21  
Old 06-22-2010, 06:51 AM
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Personally...I shut the kill switch off....and keep listening to the radio while dismounting and getting all my stuff out of the tour pack.
 
  #22  
Old 06-22-2010, 07:15 AM
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I have only used the kill switch a couple times in 50000 miles.
Never had a dead battery in that time from forgeting to turn off the ignition switch.
 
  #23  
Old 06-22-2010, 07:37 AM
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Minor differences either way.
Using the kill switch will make it instinctive if you need to shut the bike off in an emergency, it also keeps the switch and contacts clean and functioning longer.
Also on some bikes you need to lean over to get to the ignition switch.

On TBW bikes the idle will reset higher if you use the kill switch with the throttle partially open (accidentally twist the throttle as you hit the switch).

I do it either way, these days usually with the kill switch, just got used to it because the ignition on my last bike was close to the exhaust.
 
  #24  
Old 06-22-2010, 07:54 AM
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I never use the kill switch. The reason is, most of the time when I turn the engine off, it's to park the bike outside and I have to lock the forks by turning the ignition switch anyway. Plus, I hate to start the bike in gear with the clutch pulled. Not good for the starter and the battery. That is, if I remember that I used the kill switch and that I'm in gear. Hate this stuff.
Ignition in "lock" and in neutral is the way I park, unless the parking space isn't flat.
 
  #25  
Old 06-22-2010, 07:58 AM
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Originally Posted by RKKY
Don't think my kill switch has been in the stop position on any of my Harleys more than a few times over the course of the last 20 years.
+1 and then it's usually by accident.
 
  #26  
Old 06-22-2010, 07:59 AM
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Originally Posted by piasspj
Minor differences either way.
Using the kill switch will make it instinctive if you need to shut the bike off in an emergency, it also keeps the switch and contacts clean and functioning longer.
Also on some bikes you need to lean over to get to the ignition switch.

On TBW bikes the idle will reset higher if you use the kill switch with the throttle partially open (accidentally twist the throttle as you hit the switch).

I do it either way, these days usually with the kill switch, just got used to it because the ignition on my last bike was close to the exhaust.
+1 on the TBW if you blip the thottle just before using the kill switch the TBW will think that the higher rpm is the resting idle and overtime your bike will idle faster thinking that is is at the correct idle speed. Then you will have to reset the TBW to reduce the high idle.
 
  #27  
Old 06-22-2010, 08:00 AM
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I used to use the kill switch first, then the ignition.

Until I was stopped at a Honda dealer while on the road, to pick up some Honda spray cleaner. Came out to a parking lot full of Goldwingers. Turned the ignition and hit the starter, and hit the starter, and hit the starter...lots of smerks and giggles coming from the Wing Gang.

That was the end of the kill switch for me! Now it is ONLY the ignition.
 
  #28  
Old 06-22-2010, 08:00 AM
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I was taught to always use the kill switch. 25 years later I still do.
 
  #29  
Old 06-22-2010, 08:06 AM
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You must first pull the master fuse then it doesn't matter which switch you turn next.
 
  #30  
Old 06-22-2010, 08:18 AM
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Don't even know where the kill switch is......
 


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