The necessity of kill switches on older bikes..

[koolio]

While I can totally understand the reasoning for an engine kill switch just next to your right thumb on modern powerful bikes, I am still debating whether its something that should be implemented or is really necessary on older classics.

With this in mind I'm still deciding whether or not to mount the right hand switch with the kill switch or the one without to my CB450 project (early 450s didn't have them and I happen to have both types). I am a cautious rider and must say the only reason I'd not want the kill switch is the handlebars look nicer without it, also makes the bike look older, that red knob does stick out.

Considering old Brit bikes didn't have them and neither did early Japs I am still debating whether or not I should mount this or not. What do you all think?

 

[J-Rod10]

It doesn't kill the bike when it's in gear and moving anyhow. I flipped mine accidentally on my 500 the other day, just kept chugging along. I've hit it a time or two on the CBR as well, long as you're not stopped, it does nothing.

 

[koolio]

It doesn't kill the bike when it's in gear and moving anyhow. I flipped mine accidentally on my 500 the other day, just kept chugging along. I've hit it a time or two on the CBR as well, long as you're not stopped, it does nothing.

Well it did on my last modern bike? It would switch the engine off, granted at speed it doesn't stop the engine revolving but it stops it firing.

 

[J-Rod10]

Well it did on my last modern bike? It would switch the engine off, granted at speed it doesn't stop the engine revolving but it stops it firing.

It hasn't on either of the CBR's I've owned, a 2006 600, and a 2003 954.

 

[VonYinzer]

When you lay the bike down at speed, and are lying under it with gas pouring out of the tank its a nice feature to be able to easily kill the motor... Plan for the best and prepare for the worst. Its one switch.

 

[SONICJK]

Yeah think about if your clutch cable breaks in traffic, or your engine revs out of control

 

[crackerman]

Don't mount it on the bars. I put mine under my seat where I can just reach down to access it.

I wouldn't roll without one. Motor shouldn't run as the switch is killing power to the coil.

 

[Basement rat]

Leave it on the bars, paint it black.

 

[Hoofhearted]

When you lay the bike down at speed, and are lying under it with gas pouring out of the tank its a nice feature to be able to easily kill the motor... Plan for the best and prepare for the worst. Its one switch.

Will it cool the hot exhaust pipes instantly too?

I don't know how far back you are going but waaaaay back most bikes ran magnetos. A lot of the ancient wiring didn't shut off the ignition so a kill switch was a necessity.

 

[620dark]

When I was run off the road and had hot cylinder head fins branding my knee as the bike chugged over on top of me with the oil pickup sucking air, I was very glad for the kill switch. Don't fuck over future you, he'll think you're a real dick when something goes wrong.

 

[koolio]

Ok well thats 90% decided then.

My only concern is the risk of over reliance on the kill switch. By that I mean being in a situation for example where you have developed a skid and counter intuitively you should actually rev out of it but instead you panic hit the kill switch and topple over.

I mean if the bike is already over me and the ignition key is only circa 30-40cm away from either of my hands doesn't seem like the kill is necessary in that situation.

 

[beachcomber]

IF an accident situation is the main problem - wire in a dead man lead.

Yep in the good old days as Hoof says, when magnetoes were the source of ignition, you had to ground them out to cut the power. Some had a little spring clip on the Mag body - real fun in the rain with omigawdnose volts tingling through your body! Later versions had a PLASTIC end cap with a connector and a lead coming off, much more user friendly !

 

[cqyqte]

I wouldn't run without one for cosmetic reasons, as said before it's one switch and is handy for more reasons than killing (stopping) the engine. I use mine when I have the bike on the table and I am working on the electrics, in the off position I know I am not going to fry a coil by leaving it energized for too long. Since my igniton switch does not have an ACC position, I found this useful one night while stranded on the side of the road out of gas in the dark. Nice to have the lights on so peeps can see you at the side of the road, black bikes and riding gear blend into the darkness way to easily!

 

[Speedfiend]

Most old Brit bikes did have kill switches. Older mag fired bikes and even slightly newer points/coil bikes all had them.

I use a on/off push button kill switch on my old mag fired pre unit Triumph, Its not standard interrupt type switch, when you push the button it stays grounded until you push it again. It serves a couple of purposes, as a kill but also as an ignition(cause my bike doesn't have a keyed switch). It also keeps any drunk friends from starting/ joyride. "Sure dude, if you can start it, you can ride it"

'Nother reason to have one is to check how your plugs are burning. Run your bike up to 4k for a few minutes then kill it. Gives a more accurate indication of how they're burning. Also, when your doing some late night test n tune, you go blasting thru the hood, then kill the bike a block from your house and coast in. Preserves the peace with the immediate neighbors

 

[hillsy]

Don't mount it on the bars. I put mine under my seat where I can just reach down to access it.

You may as well not have one if you don't have it on the bars.


Ironically, I rode my XT500 to work every weekday for 3 years and never used the killswitch - I just used the key.

 

[koolio]

I wouldn't run without one for cosmetic reasons, as said before it's one switch and is handy for more reasons than killing (stopping) the engine. I use mine when I have the bike on the table and I am working on the electrics, in the off position I know I am not going to fry a coil by leaving it energized for too long. Since my igniton switch does not have an ACC position, I found this useful one night while stranded on the side of the road out of gas in the dark. Nice to have the lights on so peeps can see you at the side of the road, black bikes and riding gear blend into the darkness way to easily!

Ok I'm sold on it. Will implement it (and paint it black). Thanks everyone.

 

[boingk]

Don't fuck over future you, he'll think you're a real dick when something goes wrong.

Best. Quote. Ever.

Did you see 'Looper' by any chance?

- boingk

 

[620dark]

Best. Quote. Ever.

Did you see 'Looper' by any chance?

Heh, thanks. I did see "Looper", but this comes from my work. When we come across a problem that one of us caused by something we did or didn't do in the past, that's past us being a jerk. Hence, don't fuck over future you.

 

[boingk]

Nice... in my line of work (bar manager) its probably a bit less complicated.

Most of my decisions are in the 'here and now' kind of environment, especially when its busy; are we stocked, do glasses need collecting, can I help the bistro, are the staff where they need to be, does anyone need to be served... who's the babe in the leopard print?

- boingk

 

[crazypj]

If your worried about crashing and the engine still running, you have other issues.
If bike is so badly maintained that throttle could stick open, you have other issues
if you use kill switch on a regular basis, you have other issues
if your not racing, where it's a requirement......................................
Either fit a watercraft/snowmobile type lanyard or stop worrying about what might happen
Is anyone panicking about December 2012? (anyone notice there are a lot of 'if's' in this post?)