BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

Gents - A buddy told me today to never use the kill switch to shut off your engine.  That this is equivalent to pulling the power cord on a computer without gracefully shutting down.  You should instead turn off the key, or press the button (if keyless).  Kill switch is for emergency use only.


I say that is hooey, and it doesn't hurt anything.  What do you think?  How do you prefer to shut off your bike?

One of the service tests by dealer is to shut bike down by kill switch, key or push button and sidestand. Cannot envision a issue using any of the three

I think it doesn't hurt anything, on my Harley it was keyless and the only way to switch it off was with the kill switch, nothing went wrong. Saying that I always use the key on the RT, simply because if I use the kill switch, I forget to take the key out    and kept leaving the ignition on.

Never heard of that one, I always kill the engine by kicking the sidestand out as I always leave the bike in gear 

...

Benchmark wrote: Never heard of that one, I always kill the engine by kicking the sidestand out as I always leave the bike in gear 

Yep, agree with this method which stops the bike creeping and you got to put the sidestand down to get off anyway.
Kill switch is emergency use only.

BMjoe64 wrote:
Yep, agree with this method which stops the bike creeping and you got to put the sidestand down to get off anyway.
Kill switch is emergency use only.

Kill switch is not just for emergency use, no problem using it. Killing the engine by kicking the side stand out, is not exactly good practice. But as everything else, its your bike, you can do what you want. What does the manual say about switching the engine off, I know it says switch off engine before deploying the side stand. 

Casbar wrote:
Kill switch is not just for emergency use, no problem using it. Killing the engine by kicking the side stand out, is not exactly good practice. But as everything else, its your bike, you can do what you want. What does the manual say about switching the engine off, I know it says switch off engine before deploying the side stand. 

Good point, if all else fails, read the manual!
 
Emergency on/off switch (kill switch)
The engine can be switched off easily and quickly using the emergency on/off switch.
WARNING - Operation of the emergency ON/OFF switch when riding. Danger of falling due to blocking of rear wheel. Do not operate the emergency ON/OFF switch when riding.

Parking your motorcycle
Side stand:
Switch off engine.
Fold out side stand and park motorcycle.
If the slope of the road permits, turn the handlebars to the left.
On slopes point the motorcycle uphill and engage 1st gear.
ATTENTION - Poor ground conditions in area of stand. Component damage caused by tipping over. Always check that the ground under the stand is level and firm.
ATTENTION - Loading of the side stand with additional weight. Component damage cause by tipping over. Do not sit on the motorcycle when it is parked on the side stands.

timminator wrote:
Good point, if all else fails, read the manual!
 
Emergency on/off switch (kill switch)
The engine can be switched off easily and quickly using the emergency on/off switch.
WARNING - Operation of the emergency ON/OFF switch when riding. Danger of falling due to blocking of rear wheel. Do not operate the emergency ON/OFF switch when riding.

And your point is? So its called the Kill switch, does it say "under no circumstances use this to switch the engine off" Nope, you will do no harm using the kill switch to switch the engine off. The only issue you may have, if it breaks and stops you starting the engine. Same as the other switches that stop you starting in gear etc

Casbar wrote:
And your point is? So its called the Kill switch, does it say "under no circumstances use this to switch the engine off" Nope, you will do no harm using the kill switch to switch the engine off. The only issue you may have, if it breaks and stops you starting the engine. Same as the other switches that stop you starting in gear etc

Not trying to make a point, I'm following your advice and looking at the manual.  This is the exact text from the manual.  As I read it, no harm whatsoever in using the kill switch.  It says it's a quick and easy way to switch off the engine.  Cheers.

Sorry, I thought you were saying it should only be used in Emergecy - I apologise    As a point of note, its a EU requirement the switch is called a kill switch.


On the Harley it was called an engine stop start switch  8)

Don't really see the point of using the kill switch to turn off.  It just doubles your effort to stop everything . And of course there is always the small chance of forgetting to remove the key, and with keyless the bike would still be able to be ridden away when you walked away.

When carrying a pillion, if you like to switch the engine off before he or she dismounts, using the kill switch allows you to keep both hands on the handlebars.

DaygloDavid wrote: When carrying a pillion, if you like to switch the engine off before he or she dismounts, using the kill switch allows you to keep both hands on the handlebars.

Agreed, to me this is a valid argument FOR using the kill switch.  I guess kicking out the sidestand (while in gear) would also also both hands on.

Agreed, to me this is a valid argument FOR using the kill switch. I guess kicking out the sidestand (while in gear) would also also both hands on.

Umm, but only one foot.