Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Arrrrrrrgggggghhhhhh!!!!!

At the MSF course, it was drilled into us to use the cut-off switch instead of the key to shut the engine off, so THAT'S what I've been doing for a couple years now. Yesterday, I went to work and left the key in the ignition - ON! When I came out, my poor bike was D-E-D, no juice, NADA, zippo, zilch. I tried bump starting the thing with some help from a couple friends, but our bikes don't do well with that technique (and it was hot as hades, so now I REALLY owe them.) I said swear words and called myself a few names. Luckily, a couple facility maintenance guys came by, saw my situation, and went to retrieve a battery jumper juice box. After sputtering and backfiring a few times (low juice), she settled down a bit and I was back on the road. (Did I mention how hot it was?)

From now on, I intend to use the key to shut down my bike. I may still forget and leave the thing in from time to time, but at least I won't be running down the battery!

BTW, the ONLY time my SM has let me down has been when I let IT down first.

When my wife and son took the class a couple years ago there was a few things that I didnt agree with... but using the kill switch to turn off the bike was # 1... of course my wife argued that the instructer must know what he was talking about... after 2 dead batterys in the first week she dropped that habit

Never did understand the logic in that one. My idea of kill switch use is in emergencies....bike falling over, can't reach the key.....throttle stuck wide open...that sort of thing. With the always on headlamp, sounds like a problem waiting to bite ya in the butt.
JC, glad you got the help and on the road, but what is this whining about the heat?? Sure it's hot, but it's a DRY heat!!

jj's right, of course, JB!

Been there, done that too!

That's the problem with the BAs/Speedies key location. Instead of where it SHOULD BE, up near the steering-head/headlight area...I've always gotten the idea that when those "bright boys" at Hinckley decided to build a cruiser, and they took a little "inspiration" from those other "bright boys" in Milwaukee, they DIDN'T quite "think things through" when it came to THIS particular matter, and "GO"...as those old Triumph ads of the early '70's said..."THEIR OWN WAY".

Cheers,
Dwight
(sure am glad I gots me one o' them there Battery Tender trickle chargers)

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At the MSF course, it was drilled into us to use the cut-off switch instead of the key to shut the engine off

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I have no idea why they make you do that. I always use the key. I even tell the students, while your in this course turn off your engines using the Shut Off switch, but when you get on your own bike, use your keys.

I alway kill with the switch then turn the key and remove it...just habit I guess, but I never leave the bike with out my keys

Well Mark,

Y'all being a relative newcomer to these here shores, ya Limey you(BTW, let me see that GREEN CARD o' yours, BOY!), Y'all wouldn't know that WEST o' that there big river known as the "Mississip", they teach the them Razorbacks how ta drain ALL the "juice" outta their bikes in one simple motion.

Now, YOU gentlemen on the EAST side of said river(BTW...ever read any o' Mark Twain's stuff, BOY?), are teaching them there boys the RIGHT WAY.(now...are ya LISTENIN' ta me here BOY???!!!)

Cheers,
Dwight (aka Foghorn)
(ah SAY...sometimes ah think some o' these here kids around here are 'bout as bright as a bag full o' wet weasels)

I actually do that sometimes when I stop, I hit the kill switch but then turn the key off also. Most of the time I stop put it in neutral, give it a gun or two to juice the battery and then turn the key off. That's weird though that they teach you to hit the kill switch in MC safety class. Maybe they do it so you get in the habit of doing it, so in an emergency it would be a reflex action

JC,
Like most others, I hardly ever use the kill switch. I always use the key...it helps me to remember to remove it from the bike. Sitting on the bike, it is second nature just to reach down and turn the key off. I have more problems finding the petcock when the bike starts to stutter and needs to go on reserve. Or even, when in the dark, I am trying to find the keyswitch to turn the bike on... no way to look cool doing that.... As a matter of fact, the last time my kill switch was used was when Yota slapped it while we were going down the highway at the Georgia rally... think fast... . ... ride safe... Gordon

Maybe they teach that so that some one won't make the mistake of letting go of the clutch to turn off the bike and find they left it in gear...you know the old "hands and feet inside the vehicle untill it comes to a complete stop"

In my MSF I was taught to shut down with "thumb, key, tank" or "killswitch, ignition key, fuel petcock". I just sort of repeat the mantra whenever I shut down so I make sure to do all the steps.

I'm guessing it's important for the MSF folks to teach newbies how to handle emergency stuff first since new riders are likely to find themselves in "emergency" situations moreso than experienced riders such as - "I thought rolling the right grib towards me was supposed to lose the throttle, why does the bike keep getting faster? Luckily I know where the bright red kill switch is..."

I recently took the experienced rider safety course and the instructors told us to use the kill switch when they wanted us to shut down. I asked why, they said it was because some people, thinking that they were in neutral but weren't, let out the clutch and had accidents. I agreed to use the kill switch but in fact I did not. I know when I'm in f'ing neutral and when I'm not. But, as the day progressed and I observed the level of bike handling of some of the "experienced" riders I could see that they had a point. I was amazed that some of the riders were even able to get to the class without mishap.
PS: I had the only Triumph at the class. The rest were a mishmash of jap bikes and harleys

I use the button, but only in situations where i know theres no worry if i leave the key in by accident. Such as when i'll be back on the bike within a short time and theres no option not to. Say if i stop for gas, or a fast food place, etc. Obviously you aren't gonna stop for a burger then walk homne and leave you bike there ! (at least no when sober:))

But when i stop in a place where i have the intention or option to stay off the bike for any length of time i always reach for the key. I wish triumph hadn't cut some corners on these bikes, and a ignition switch located below the seat is one of them. Stupid place to put it ! (but cost effective i'm sure.

I got on the Silver Bullet one evening to head for home after work and the bike was dead. No lights, no fire anywhere. For whatever reason I looked in the front doors of the office and saw a couple of my dipsh!t buddies laughing their dumbazzes off. Then I knew. Looked at the kill switch, flipped it, fired her up, gave my buddies the finger and headed for home. This is the only time the switch has ever been touched.

Buuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrpppppppppp !!!!!!

Our manual says to use the kill switch only for emergencies. Not for routine shutdowns.

Dave

The Triumph manual says to always shut the bike off with the key not the kill switch.
It states that the kill switch is for emergency only.
I have never used my switch at all. I always use the key.
Ride Safe

The kill switch mechanism in our (and just about all) bikes is made "with a cost factor in mind" (ie: as cheaply as possible) and will wear itself out quickly with regular use. It's an emergency switch, and it pays to use it that way.

Matt

EZ, what state do you live in that is free

The reason the MSF course teaches to use the kill switch is they want it to be a habit so you'll instinctively reach for the kill switch in an emergency.

I still do it like the manual says...

1. Close throttle

2. Select neutral

3. Put the bike on the sidestand

4. Turn key off

But I don't lock the forks, because fiddling with that key and getting it to lock is a PIA. I also saw a buddy of mine launch his bike with the fork still locked on his VTX 1300. Still won't let him live that one down.

Dwight (aka Foghorn)

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(ah SAY...sometimes ah think some o' these here kids around here are 'bout as bright as a bag full o' wet weasels)

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Actually thats probably an insult to wet weasels, and thats EXACTLY why they tell you to use the kill switch!
Some people are too stupid to use a key , and they have to aim the course at the lowest common denominator so that they dont get their ****** sued.

Here's the chance for you guys in the land of the free - ignore the training, that'll show those harley guys who the REAL rebels are - obey the manual - USE THE FRIGIN KEY !!!!

ALWAYS Remember : Those who can - do.
Those who can't - teach.

For the rest of us (especially those of us who had bikes before kill switches, indicators, electric starters and idiot lights) If your bike wont start, check if some frigin idiot has flicked off the emergency kill switch before calling for help.
Thinking about it bikes didnt used to have a key either!
THATS IT what we really need is a valve lifter

Why, ah SAY there Boy!

Y'all got some GOOD ideas over there on that li'l island o' yours. IF I didn't know any better, I'd a sworn y'all is a pretty bright bunch o' fellers!

Cheers,
Dwight (aka Foghorn)
(but jus' remember...if'n it tweren't for us..if y'all pardon the expression..."YANKEES"[oh...I can barely get THAT out] over HERE...y'all would be speakin' that there german, ya know!)

Some people, like the ones who assume that nobody would dare come down the cross street when they yacking on their toy phone while approaching a stopsign, can't grasp the idea that giving the shifter a randon kick doesn't mean it will automatically go to neutral. So of course, they just let go of the clutch without bothering to look at the light or ease the lever out a little to see if the bike starts to move.

In my opinion, they should not cater to these sort. It is just plain wrong to thwart the course of nature like that. Just look at all the blathering idiots we have to put up with now that the politicians have taken up promoting the survival of the least fit.

JC,
Boy, I'm glad I've never done anything stupid like that - other than those two times I've never mentioned here.
I found out then that our bikes cannot be bump started if the battery is totally drained. Even after using the jumper cables, it would die. We had to keep the jumper cables attached for about 5 minutes while the bike idled to get some juice in the battery.

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(but jus' remember...if'n it tweren't for us..if y'all pardon the expression..."YANKEES"[oh...I can barely get THAT out] over HERE...y'all would be speakin' that there german, ya know!)

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Yes you guys have a lot to answer for.

The guy who started Triumph was German

I remember about that war - people fighting and dieing for freedom, now we have no freedom. Christmas is now 'Winter festval' because it might upset ethnic minorities. You cant even smoke in pubs! At least Hitler wouldnt have banned smoking in pubs. He would have soon sorted out the do-gooding pains in the small donkey.

Just a small point; Hitler didnt smoke, Churchill definately did. Now the non smoking Nazis seem to rule the world. When I look at the world today I'm not sure who actually won the war.

Good, bad or it doesnt matter much... I usually use the kick-stand for my kill switch, then reach for the key.

Soren

I just let my bike sit and idle untill it overheats and shuts off. Then take out the key. That way it really doesn't matter if the battery stays charged.

I read on another site somewhere that using the kill switch actually mucks up the ignition electronics. Now I can't remember how, or whether it was for our bikes or Rockets and maybe they've got more complicated ignition circuits, but since reading that I've never used the kill switch on any bike.

Can't say that have done that yet because i havn't. I have it drilled into my head when I park my bike I double check, triple check the petcock being off and the key being off.
Both can give you headaches.

jerry

Jerry,
I don't think I've ever turned off my petcock. I think it's because I was so happy to be without Amal carbs. I started that when the bike was new. The Amals gave me many headaches long ago, but these CV carbs don't seem to give me any problems (other than me tinkering with them all the time).

I never use the kill switch and I have no problem with the key location. Habit is Habit. I pull in, hit neutral reach under my left leg and switch her off.

I always pocket my keys, too. Lifelong habit, and I don't often lose or misplace things.

For the first year or more I always used the kill switch - being my first bike and not knowing any better. I seemed to usually remember to shut off the ignition too, but after removing helmet, gloves and such, did find myself more than once walking off and leaving the key in the ignition. Still do that sometimes.

It was suggested by a riding buddy that I use the key to kill the engine, as the kill switch could easily wear out, so I have used the ignition switch ever since. Have another buddy that left his on and ran his battery down too - on his America.

Why wouldn't the ignition (key) switch wear out just as easily as the kill switch? I don't know. It probably will / certainly could.

I still occasionally leave the key in the switch, but at least I know it's off.

Skillet, Just a long time habit of closing the petcock when I park it for the day. Do a search and you will find several guys who ended up with a puddle of gasoline on the floor in the morning. Needle valve on carb leaked thru a little. That's the only thing holding back 4 gallons of gas. Been there.

Jerry

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Been there.

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Jerry, me too (recently). That's why I found a bad float needle valve so early.