Engine Stop Switch -- Really?

[JayBros]

I use it all the time. Let's me get going a little bit quicker after I gas up.

You betcha!

 

[Road-Kill]

The fact that 1-2 seconds can make all the difference is exactly why the kill switch is a good practice. Why add the few seconds it takes to move your hand off the bar and to the key? Having it programmed into your 'muscle memory' is a good practice.. just like using your turn signals ALL of the time... you program your body to do that before turning or changing lanes.

To each their own, I'll stick with what every MC safety class teaches... which is to use it every time. There simply are not enough good arguments for not using it. It also may be a bit of a theft deterrent. Also not a bad idea to go out and practice on a back road using it while at speed to get a feel of what a total engine cutoff feels like.

To each their own....

MC safety classes teach that (in my opinion) because they must adhere to lawyer gibberish to prevent lawsuits. 1-2 seconds of notice prior to impact leaves shutting off the engine pointless. If you have enough time to flip that switch prior to or during an accident then you have enough time to avoid it to begin with. If flipping that switch makes you feel good then do so. If not reading the "safety card" is too time consuming then do so. Nobody I know who has a Spyder actually reads that thing every time they shut off the engine. So press away my friend.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

MC safety classes teach that (in my opinion) because they must adhere to lawyer gibberish to prevent lawsuits. 1-2 seconds of notice prior to impact leaves shutting off the engine pointless. If you have enough time to flip that switch prior to or during an accident then you have enough time to avoid it to begin with. If flipping that switch makes you feel good then do so. If not reading the "safety card" is too time consuming then do so. Nobody I know who has a Spyder actually reads that thing every time they shut off the engine. So press away my friend.

The hole in your theory is that you say the only time you need to shut off your engine is in the case of an accident. There are other emergency conditions besides accidents. Also using the kill switch keeps both hands on the bars.

Ill keep pressing away. I know I have been in an emergency situation and it was second nature to me. Good luck to you should you ever encounter an emergency.

 

[Peteoz]

Yep.....Makes sense to me....I'm convinced, Ann......I'll start using the Kill Switch as part of my routine.....

I did actually develop my own Kill Switch at one point. Every time I did a full U turn, the engine died on me, which was a bit dangerous with traffic coming:yikes:

Turns out it was completely my fault. I had rotated the bars up, which had changed the cable position next to the ignition switch, and when I added Lamont's IPS key cover, the new cable position caught an IPS ridge at full lock, and turned the key off. Frightening as heck the first time it did it, but easy fixed with a bit of repositioning.

Pete

 

[ABQSpyder]

Wow another topic that we can beat to death and spin our Wheel's no pun intended. I brought up TCLOCK and it was dismissed but whatever we preach we follow what they taught me in my MSF class . I took a MSF class sponsored by Harley and the other by NAME and advanced skills they really pushed TCLOCK and the value of checking your Ride before every Ride. In today's world is probably a good idea to know were the switch is since your probably either looking at your GPS adjusting the volume on your music are reaching for drink cup Really!

 

[kbwitt]

No will not use it

I do not use and do not plan on using it. If I was to worry about my bike catching on fire I would try to rethink my thinking.
Kenn

 

[SpyderAnn01]

I do not use and do not plan on using it. If I was to worry about my bike catching on fire I would try to rethink my thinking.
Kenn

Thats not really the point. The time to think about safety is before something happens not while it is happening.

 

[Easy Rider]

Thats not really the point.

No it isn't.
The point, for me, is:
On a 3 wheel ride, actually NEEDING the kill switch in some kind of emergency is something that happens so infrequently as to be trivial.
I certainly wouldn't lose one second of sleep worrying about it.

 

[Peteoz]

No it isn't.
The point, for me, is:
On a 3 wheel ride, actually NEEDING the kill switch in some kind of emergency is something that happens so infrequently as to be trivial.
I certainly wouldn't lose one second of sleep worrying about it.

I also wouldn't lose any sleep worrying about whether I might experience a particular kind of emergency, Easy Rider, but adding a step to my shutdown procedure that will take all of one second, and will enable me to know where my kill switch is subconsciously, with the added bonus of not accidentally flicking it off and wondering briefly why the Spyder won't start, only has upsides for me.

Pete

 

[Road-Kill]

Lets cut this pointless arguement

The "Kill Switch" has absolutely no value other then another means of turning off the bike. It is not a means of accident reduction. It will not assist in anything anywhere at anytime other then giving you a warm fuzzy feeling that you are doing "something". Pressing the "eco" button likewise does absolutely nothing and both are advice given by lawyers to reduce financial loss.

By the time you figure out to shut off your engine after an accident your significant other has already cashed in your life insurance policy and is sitting on a beach drinking pinna coladas. This of course is after you were scraped off the tread of the truck that ran over you. :roflblack:

 

[Firefly]

The "Kill Switch" has absolutely no value other then another means of turning off the bike. It is not a means of accident reduction. It will not assist in anything anywhere at anytime other then giving you a warm fuzzy feeling that you are doing "something". Pressing the "eco" button likewise does absolutely nothing and both are advice given by lawyers to reduce financial loss.

By the time you figure out to shut off your engine after an accident your significant other has already cashed in your life insurance policy and is sitting on a beach drinking pinna coladas. This of course is after you were scraped off the tread of the truck that ran over you. :roflblack:

You know... statements like this are so flat out ridiculous....for you to claim "It will not assist in anything anywhere at anytime..." when we have a person ON THIS THREAD who had just such a situation where it DID assist them.

Fine.. we get it... YOU don't want to use it.... but it DOES serve a purpose.. and no.. it's not all about 'accident reduction'. Not sure how many times we have to say that for you to understand it.

It's common sense to use it.. and you've provided ZERO reason why a person should not use it. Switch failures have been very rare.

Don't personally like to use it ... fine... but you're giving bad advice to others that is in direct conflict with what EXPERTS who train MSF make very clear... use the damn thing.

 

[Firefly]

Wow another topic that we can beat to death and spin our Wheel's no pun intended. I brought up TCLOCK and it was dismissed but whatever we preach we follow what they taught me in my MSF class . I took a MSF class sponsored by Harley and the other by NAME and advanced skills they really pushed TCLOCK and the value of checking your Ride before every Ride. In today's world is probably a good idea to know were the switch is since your probably either looking at your GPS adjusting the volume on your music are reaching for drink cup Really!

Most don't know what TCLOCK is. If you want people to learn and follow it, then maybe you should post a TCLOCK checklist rather than just claim it was 'dismissed'. Not everyone is going to be 'by the book', nor is inspecting every bike going to be the same. I keep trying to check my kickstand per TCLOCK but can't seem to find it.... lol. I doubt most of us do proper checks before EVERY ride. I do a quick once-over and only do a serious checklist when going on a trip. I'd probably be more stringent if I were on two wheels.

Using the kill switch makes good sense despite what some are saying out here. There are no good reasons not to use it, and many good reasons to.:thumbup:

 

[Pirate looks at --]

Beautiful

Never used the engine cutoff as a routine and never will unless Can Am says it protects the electrical system. As far as a "safety" feature the cutoff is worthless in an accident. I have investigated HUNDREDS of accidents including many motorcycle accidents. They happen fast and without warning leaving the rider/driver no time to do anything.....other then scream "sh*t". I wonder what people think they are accomplishing by flipping that kill switch? If you can't remember to turn the key to off then you might forget to brake or stop at red lights or chew before you swallow. Maybe Can Am will have people press the Eco to remind them of another useless worthless lawyer inspired lawsuit reducing procedure.

Go ahead and flip that kill switch.....and throw out a boat anchor while your at it, you never know, a tsunami might be heading your way.

As always, another positive comment!:banghead:

 

[Pirate looks at --]

Typical

The "Kill Switch" has absolutely no value other then another means of turning off the bike. It is not a means of accident reduction. It will not assist in anything anywhere at anytime other then giving you a warm fuzzy feeling that you are doing "something". Pressing the "eco" button likewise does absolutely nothing and both are advice given by lawyers to reduce financial loss.

By the time you figure out to shut off your engine after an accident your significant other has already cashed in your life insurance policy and is sitting on a beach drinking pinna coladas. This of course is after you were scraped off the tread of the truck that ran over you. :roflblack:

As usual, you are the only one arguing. Others are only stating why they use the kill switch. You are the only one in this discussion "arguing for the sake of arguing." There must be something positive you have to offer.........:bbq: though I am not too sure we have time to wait for that. Look to find something positive in life you will be happier, and so will we!:yes:

 

[Pirate looks at --]

I use it

I always shift into neutral, apply the emergency brake, and then hit the kill switch I immediately reset the kill switch so I am ready to go again. This was taught to by an experienced Spyder Ryder and it makes sense. So I know where it is, without thinking about it, and I am aware of what it does. In fact on our Iron Butt, I was doing 75 across the desert experienced a loss of power. It freaked me out! Looked at the kill switch and I saw that I had hit with my hand and shut the machine down. Flipped the switch without ever stopping and the engine came back to life and espoused to throttle input. Did it again crossing South Dakota this year. Certainly wakes you up!:yikes:

 

[Peteoz]

I always shift into neutral, apply the emergency brake, and then hit the kill switch I immediately reset the kill switch so I am ready to go again. This was taught to by an experienced Spyder Ryder and it makes sense. So I know where it is, without thinking about it, and I am aware of what it does. In fact on our Iron Butt, I was doing 75 across the desert experienced a loss of power. It freaked me out! Looked at the kill switch and I saw that I had hit with my hand and shut the machine down. Flipped the switch without ever stopping and the engine came back to life and espoused to throttle input. Did it again crossing South Dakota this year. Certainly wakes you up!:yikes:

Couldn't agree more, Pirate. Road Kill seems to have a fixation with only using the kill switch in an accident, while everyone else is listing the alternative reasons they have found a semi "automated" knowledge of its position to be of value. That's exactly why I am incorporating it in future:thumbup:.

Pete

 

[Easy Rider]

I fully expect that some of you would change your mind after you forget to turn the ignition switch off.......and run your battery down......after using the "kill" switch to stop the engine.
Of course, that also means that you forgot to take the key OUT of the ignition too. :yikes:

 

[Road-Kill]

All this gibberish about the "kill switch" has me wondering who actually reads the very important "safety card"?
Since almost everyone is in love with the "kill switch" they must also read religiously the "safety card".
Who reads the "safety card" before they press the eco button? (YOU DO READ IT .....RIGHT?)......(SEVERAL TIMES A DAY!)
Next week the simpletons will argue they check their air pressure every day! (EVERY FRIGGIN DAY!)

I'm heading out to use the "kill switch" cause.....
I might have forgotten to take my key out.
Maybe I forgot to get off my bike.
I might get kidnapped by aliens.....you people are too much.

 

[Peteoz]

All this gibberish about the "kill switch" has me wondering who actually reads the very important "safety card"?
Since almost everyone is in love with the "kill switch" they must also read religiously the "safety card".
Who reads the "safety card" before they press the eco button? (YOU DO READ IT .....RIGHT?)......(SEVERAL TIMES A DAY!)
Next week the simpletons will argue they check their air pressure every day! (EVERY FRIGGIN DAY!)

I'm heading out to use the "kill switch" cause.....
I might have forgotten to take my key out.
Maybe I forgot to get off my bike.
I might get kidnapped by aliens.....you people are too much.

It's interesting how everyone's ideas that differ from yours are "gibberish". Road Kill.....I think that pretty much says it all, apart from you obviously feeling that name calling somehow strengthens your opinion. :dontknow:

Pete

 

[TRLBLZR1]

You know... statements like this are so flat out ridiculous....for you to claim "It will not assist in anything anywhere at anytime..." when we have a person ON THIS THREAD who had just such a situation where it DID assist them.

Fine.. we get it... YOU don't want to use it.... but it DOES serve a purpose.. and no.. it's not all about 'accident reduction'. Not sure how many times we have to say that for you to understand it.

It's common sense to use it.. and you've provided ZERO reason why a person should not use it. Switch failures have been very rare.

Don't personally like to use it ... fine... but you're giving bad advice to others that is in direct conflict with what EXPERTS who train MSF make very clear... use the damn thing.

"KILL SWITCHES" are generally considered "emergency KILL switches." And yes they are there for a reason. But not to shut off your machine on a regular basis. That's what the key is for. (IMO)
Maybe I'm wrong here: But if you just hit the kill switch, the "system" is still draining the battery. ~ And that is a BAD thing. Especially if you forget. (leave key on in garage etc.)