To kill or not to kill (switch), that is the question

[RGVSpyderGirl]

For my RT with a SE5 transmission, the manual says to put it in neutral, set parking brake, and turn key off. The girl who sold me my bike and went through all the shut down steps said she always just hits the kill switch then sets the parking brake and turns key off. That's the easiest but does it hurt the engine to continually turn it off with the kill switch.

[wyliec]

I always use the kill switch. Just in case there is ever a problem while riding, and you need to hit the kill switch, it will be ingrained into you brain. I have an SM5.

[Havasu Rider]

I was told to use the kill switch. It is also the way I shut off my Yamaha and everything was OK.

[DynamoBT]

I always use the kill switch. Just in case there is ever a problem while riding, and you need to hit the kill switch, it will be ingrained into you brain. I have an SM5.

The kill switch wouldn't be there if it wasn't to be used.

It's a very good habit to get into to turn the engine off using the kill switch. Just remember to turn it to the "run" position when you go to start up the Spyder again!!!

[SpyderAnn01]

I use the kill switch.

[MarkLawson]

A bike mechanic friend tells me that from his perspective, all the kill switch adds is a other point of failure for the bike to leave you stranded somewhere. He sees nothing it adds that the key doesn't already handle. He says he's had to replace a number of them over the years.

I agree with my friend and only use my kill switch when I hit it by accident.

[spyder08]

I use kill switch everytime, then parking brake and then turn key off.

[bikeguy]

A bike mechanic friend tells me that from his perspective, all the kill switch adds is a other point of failure for the bike to leave you stranded somewhere. He sees nothing it adds that the key doesn't already handle. He says he's had to replace a number of them over the years.

I agree with my friend and only use my kill switch when I hit it by accident.

I agree with you and your friend. Living in a small farming and ranching community and having a motorcycle background, I wound up working on lots of friend's four-wheelers when they started becoming popular with farmers and ranchers. Most of the time the fix was as simple as putting gas in the tank, turning the gas petcock on, or cleaning an air filter. I replaced a few fouled plugs, a few batteries, and occasionally repaired some wiring that was destroyed by running through a mesquite or cedar bush. I also turned on a few kill switches that had been turned off and not turned back on but the only real part failure I ever found was two defective kill switches. I really think I can reach the key about as fast as the kill switch.

Cotton

[wyliec]

I really think I can reach the key about as fast as the kill switch.

Cotton

On my spyder my thumb is right next to the kill switch. So, for me, the key would take a split second longer.

[groundeffect]

I always use the kill switch. Just in case there is ever a problem while riding, and you need to hit the kill switch, it will be ingrained into you brain. I have an SM5.

Yep - Same here - every time.

[bruiser]

When I purchased my RT S the dealer tech said "always use the key switch and not the kill switch to turn off the ". Of course, this is the same tech that left tools and access panel in frunk, quart low on oil and frunk switch not adjusted last service.

[sinkhole]

Neutral, parking brake, kill switch off, reset kill switch to run, ignition switch off, remove key.

[NancysToy]

Well, this is about as emotional and divided as the questions about oil, seats, and octane. I'll be glad to muddy things further with my two cents.

I use the kill switch. There is a reason they were federally mandated on bikes. If you use it to shut the bike down, that becomes natural, and you will automatically do it if needed someday. I have always done the same with race bikes, for the same reason. Why not the key? How much control do you have when your hand reaches for the center of the handlebars? The idea is to keep your hands where they belong, doing what they need to do in a critical situation. Shutting off in the garage is not critical, but if the situation were serious someday, you would not want the delay of thinking what to do...or the possible loss of control because you did what came naturally from everyday use, and removed your hands from the bars. I never heard of an MSF course that did not advocate the use of the "kill switch". BRP is new to this game, their manual is not the Bible.

There, that should be worth at least two cents.

[Firefly]

Always use kill switch. Anyone who rides much will tell you this-- been a well known preference for many years for most bikers.

It's a safety reflex issue. If that is how you're programmed to shut the bike off--- that is what you'll do during and emergency should the need to shut her down arise. Never had one fail.

The manual also recommends you practice doing and emergency shutdown while riding so you know what to expect.

[Brunswick]

I always do the kill. Personally, I recommend shifting into neutral before the kill, just in case you decide you want to move it around a little w/o bothering to start it up (easier to push in N). I often shift into N while approaching my destination, hit kill, coast up and hit the brakes.

[acinpcola]

I always use the key to turn off the engine, I did it with my wing and I now do it with my I don't touch the kill switch

Be Safe
AC

[sledge]

I always use the key to turn off the engine, I did it with my wing and I now do it with my I don't touch the kill switch

Be Safe
AC

I do the same thing every time, I have had my 2011 RTS a little over 2 years ..... put about 9,000 miles on it, no problems, I have read where people have had parking brake problems, so I never use it.

[Peter Aawen]

I always use the key to turn off the engine, I did it with my wing and I now do it with my I don't touch the kill switch

Be Safe
AC

I do the same thing every time, I have had my 2011 RTS a little over 2 years ..... put about 9,000 miles on it, no problems, I have read where people have had parking brake problems, so I never use it.

but I hafta say, dragging up a 2011 thread & post was a bit of thread archaeology!

Still... I've discussed this before, so I won't add too much again - you can look up & read back thru the (now combined) thread if you really want to see my earlier posts.

But for those who still feel the need to discuss this, just type "Kill Switch" into the Search field (up toward the top Right of the page); check the 'Search Titles Only' box in the Drop Down list; then submit the Search & do some reading.... You don't really need to do much more than read the thread titles to begin to work out why Kill Switches on modern EFI engines motorcycles are an anachronism that are probably more likely to cause you issues than they are save your life! And besides, you don't have a big red button like that on your car, do you?!

Enjoy.

[SpyderLady]

Always use kill switch. Anyone who rides much will tell you this-- been a well known preference for many years for most bikers.

It's a safety reflex issue. If that is how you're programmed to shut the bike off--- that is what you'll do during and emergency should the need to shut her down arise. Never had one fail.

The manual also recommends you practice doing and emergency shutdown while riding so you know what to expect.

I have ridden Harleys and now Spyders. Kill Switch should always be used as indicated by many.... safety first!!

[Bob Denman]

Gee... I had been just stuffing the tranny into neutral, setting the parking brake and turning the key off... Your logic behind using the kill switch is solid and I believe that I'm going to try and get used to adding it to the process. Thanks!

[Y Rider]

The operators manual states the following:

[Yol Bolsun]

Tks to all. Kill switch will become part of the shut down process.

[freebob]

For my RT with a SE5 transmission, the manual says to put it in neutral, set parking brake, and turn key off. The girl who sold me my bike and went through all the shut down steps said she always just hits the kill switch then sets the parking brake and turns key off. That's the easiest but does it hurt the engine to continually turn it off with the kill switch.

..

A close by Spyder Rider called me the other day saying his RS SE5 would not start and would I come over and check it out for him.
I got on his Spyder switched on and realized Spyder was not in neutral so had to push brake to start....Safety lock out on SE5...

Freebob...

[dave01]

Huligan kill switch = trigger. Personally, I use it every chance I get.

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[MouthPiece]

Stop, first gear (never in reverse even if headed down hill), parking break, ignition switch, kill switch. (Done mostly for theft purposes)