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Kill Switch vs. Fumble-Fingered Hank

HankD

New member
Decided to play some hooky from my work and go on a nice morning ride while the weather is nice. I tried out my super-duper new winter gloves...a little bulky but very warm. Fumble-Fingered Hank accidentally hits the kill switch while reaching for the cruise control button....on the freeway! :yikes: Luckily I wasn't in a heavy traffic area and could pull over to the shoulder without an incident.

Fess-up. Am I the only one this has happened to? :banghead: I blame it on the gloves, naturally.

Hank
 
Happened to me quite a few times. At hiway speed clutch stays engaged. Turn kill switch back to run, open the throttle, reset cruise control, and keep on truckin'. No big deal at all!
 
Happened to me quite a few times. At hiway speed clutch stays engaged. Turn kill switch back to run, open the throttle, reset cruise control, and keep on truckin'. No big deal at all!

Oh wow! I didn't know that. That's what makes this forum great. With a Spyder SE6, I thought you had to stop to restart. I'll try to remember that if my fumble-fingers return. Thanks much!
 
There you have it...

Glad it was a minor incident but now you know you just need to switch back and keep going...:ohyea:but a scary way to learn no doubt.....:yikes:
 
We....

I will admit that something similar did occur to me.
2 days after getting our Spyder: It was twilight and I was heading home after a few hours of ryding this brand new machine. I was at a stoplight and needed to adjust the tightness of the strap of my glove when the Spyder just went and died for no apparent reason! Earlier that day, I had trouble getting the Spyder started, but finally remembered to put my foot on the brake and got it fired up. That was not working this time...I ended up pushing the Spyder off to the side of the road and grudgingly broke out the Manual.... A couple of minutes into my investigation, saw a picture of the kill switch and thought to myself... "NO F^*$^*ing WAY"!
But...YES way! There I was..... "That Guy"!
Here's to Misery Loving Company!
:cheers:
~Bud~
 
Glad it was a minor incident but now you know you just need to switch back and keep going...:ohyea:but a scary way to learn no doubt.....:yikes:

Yes, it was rather unpleasant. This is my first semi-auto cycle, I don't know why I had it in my head that I had to stop. Lesson learned.

I wonder if there is a lower-limit speed where it wouldn't work (20 mph, 30 mph...etc)?
 
Yes, it was rather unpleasant. This is my first semi-auto cycle, I don't know why I had it in my head that I had to stop. Lesson learned.

I wonder if there is a lower-limit speed where it wouldn't work (20 mph, 30 mph...etc)?
I think my heart skipped a couple of beats the first time it happened to me! Took me a few seconds to figure out what went wrong.

There obviously is a lower limit speed but I don't know what it is. Also I don't know, and have wondered, what happens with downshifting. I guess with the engine and trans turning and the ignition on it probably downshifts like usual, but I don't think I've experienced it. Did yours down shift as you pulled over and stopped?
 
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If you have spent any time in the saddle this will happen. Had it happen on our Iron Butt about 650 miles in at 75 miles per hour. Two spyders following me and as I am stretching out I hit the Kill switch. Panic for 5 seconds, looked at kill switch, reset it, back to 75 miles per hour. Once you do it once it really is no big deal. I would suggest that everybody take their Spyder out to a safe area and intentionally hit the kill switch. This will let you know what you will experience, and how the Spyder will handle in the event you accidentally, or in a crisis need to hit the kill switch. Again once you experience it, it is No Big Deal! But it gets your attention the first time!:yes:
 
I haven't hit it YET while moving but i have bumped it a number of times before I started a ride while loading or unloading or hanging my helmet on the handle bars, but sooner than later its bound to happen. Sounds like an OH S*&^T moment!
 
I had it happen several times also.:banghead: Luckily I was on city streets when it happened. Always thought about drilling a hole through it and put a tooth pick thru it like motorcycle racers do.
 
I think my heart skipped a couple of beats the first time it happened to me! Took me a few seconds to figure out what went wrong.

There obviously is a lower limit speed but I don't know what it is. Also I don't know, and have wondered, what happens with downshifting. I guess with the engine and trans turning and the ignition on it probably downshifts like usual, but I don't think I've experienced it. Did yours down shift as you pulled over and stopped?

I dunno...I had a few things on my mind at that particular moment :roflblack:
 
I had it happen several times also.:banghead: Luckily I was on city streets when it happened.
I think one would be safer having it happen at highway speeds on the open road. Less likely to have someone run into you rather than when you suddenly slow down with no brake light showing on a crowded city street. On a city street you likely will not be in top gear and the engine compression will have greater braking effect.
 
I've had it happen twice. First time was at slow speed after pulling out of a gas station. Was reaching out to do something and bumped it with a gloved hand. Was coming to a stop sign and when I saw what I had done, just flicked the switch back on and restarted it. Second time was at highway speed heading home from Red Rocks. Didn't know about opening the throttle way open so as I slowed to around 35 tried to restart and it did. I think I will go out and intentionally do it at speed; need the practice to prevent an "aw s***t."
 
I haven't hit it YET while moving but i have bumped it a number of times before I started a ride while loading or unloading or hanging my helmet on the handle bars, but sooner than later its bound to happen. Sounds like an OH S*&^T moment!
It can still be an "OH S*&^T moment" if you're like me and have an age related memory problem and it's been 6 months since the last time it happened!! :roflblack:
 
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Okay, so at least it's good to know I'm not the only fumbler in the Forum.

I think I too shall do a practice "oopsey" at freeway speed and at lower speeds..... just to get the muscle memory on restarting.
 
Yep, there you are doing about 70+ mph on a 3 lane interstate, go to hit the CC switch, and the engine suddenly dies. While you are panicking, you also remember those 5 18 wheelers behind you and .......:shocked::shocked::shocked::shocked:!
 
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