...I have been hit by the ol' "my bike wont start...wtf...oh wait...I used the kill switch to shut it off" routine. :-X :-[
After fumbling with my bike for a couple of minutes in the parking lot of my gym, I finally realized it. [bang] I just started using the kill switch to shut it off because my new tank bag makes it annoying to reach for the key.
Oh well, at least I am man enough to admit it.
Confession complete. [drink]
when i demo'd the 696 the previous rider used the kill switch... i looked like a complete retard in front of about 4 people including the owner of the shop (who reached over and switched it on)
You are not alone.. ! ;D It happened to me as well, but I was riding and some how I turned the switch off at a red light, :-[ cars behind me honking and for the life of me I could not think what the hell had happened to my bike, I had to roll it out of the way, just to notice the switch once I had called my brother, God and few more saints to come and help me out..!! :-\
I've always been in the habit of using the kill switch to shutoff the bike. As a result, if I happen to brush it with a glove to whatnot when riding, it's fairly instinctual to look there for a fix.
Tends to minimize the awkward hangups.
I've never used the one on my current bike, and I've had it for like five years. There was one time on a previous bike I had where a shop did the 600 mile service for me and turned the switch, and I had absolutely no idea how to start it. Like you, I spent about 5 minutes looking like an idiot in the parking lot of the shop until someone came over and showed me how stupid I was.
I've done this more times than I can count..... [roll]
Quote from: Juan on May 21, 2008, 08:31:26 AM
You are not alone.. ! ;D It happened to me as well, but I was riding and some how I turned the switch off at a red light, :-[ cars behind me honking and for the life of me I could not think what the hell had happened to my bike, I had to roll it out of the way, just to notice the switch once I had called my brother, God and few more saints to come and help me out..!! :-\
I did almost the same thing, a week after getting my bike. I ended up pushing around the corner and sitting on the curb for a few minutes with my head in my hands thinking I'd bought a lemon. It was almost worth it for the relief I felt when I figured it out.
I've definitely had the oh shit moment when it didn't start. But I think after doing it once or twice you learn to check the kill switch before panicking TOO much.
ha! I just remembered what started my habit of always using the kill switch.
My first bike was a 79 honda CB400. I bought it right when I graduated high school. Rode it for about a week, and then left town for the summer. Came back ten weeks later, and it wouldn't start.
I always thought I was pretty mechanically inclined, and I figured the carbs were just gummed up from old gas, so I took them off, cleaned 'em, rebuilt 'em, polished 'em, and put them back on. Still didn't start.
Replaced air filters
Replaced fuel filters
Replaced spark plugs
Replaced battery
nothing!
So I took it to the a local independent motorcycle shop in a truck, dropped it off, said "this thing won't start, it ran fine three months ago, now nothing." He's like, it'll be about a week before we can look at it.
Calls me a week later, "man, I don't know what was going on, but we just started it with the gas that was in it, and it's running great."
I went up there, watched him turn the petcock to run, flip the cutoff switch (neither of which I had done), and fire the bike right up.
I felt like a complete dumbass.
Quote from: DucPete on May 21, 2008, 10:49:08 AM
I've definitely had the oh shit moment when it didn't start. But I think after doing it once or twice you learn to check the kill switch before panicking TOO much.
Yeah, I hadn't gotten to the panic point YET, but I was pissed that everything seemed fine and it just wouldn't do anything. It felt pretty good when I realized it was just the kill switch 8)
Quote from: Adam in MO on May 21, 2008, 10:53:53 AM
I went up there, watched him turn the petcock to run, flip the cutoff switch (neither of which I had done), and fire the bike right up.
I felt like a complete dumbass.
I'm curious Adam, did they charge you anything for the "fix?"
I had a minor panic today when my starter motor wouldn't turn (I'd been reading a thread about seized starters earlier today so my starter paranoia was set to 'high').
...then I remembered I'd deliberately left the bike in gear when I parked it, so it was saving the bike from ploughing into a wall.
I hate getting out-smarted by machines.
[roll]
uh huh... i have a garage now. with an opener. i feel grownup. i use the kill switch when i roll into the garage. and so far, half the time i forget about it when i try to start it.
spey-shul, that's what the wife says...
[roll]
Quote from: Adam in MO on May 21, 2008, 09:37:04 AM
I've always been in the habit of using the kill switch to shutoff the bike. As a result, if I happen to brush it with a glove to whatnot when riding, it's fairly instinctual to look there for a fix.
Tends to minimize the awkward hangups.
I always use the kill switch to turn off the bike, but I flip it back to on right away. I've done this too quickly and she's roared back to life on me!
Did it saturday for the first time. Sitting in front of Speed's and some cute blond I hadn't seen before. [bang] Ultimately figured out what I'd done after she talked me into bringing the bike around back to let the shop take a look. I never use the darn kill switch and I had when I stopped for some reason. Well, I admitted the brain fart in front of her and 2 mechanics and left a bit humbled. [laugh]
Quote from: OddBall on May 21, 2008, 01:12:32 PM
Did it saturday for the first time. Sitting in front of Speed's and some cute blond I hadn't seen before.
She's been there the last 2 times I was down there. Haven't got her name yet but you're right she's very cute.
Quote from: Snips on May 21, 2008, 11:47:22 AM
...then I remembered I'd deliberately left the bike in gear when I parked it, so it was saving the bike from ploughing into a wall.
Just don't try and start it in gear when you're standing next to it and thought it was in neutral....
-Ask me how I know.... [roll]
(I always thought it would be f'in hilarious if someone made one of those "listen to my exhaust" YouTube videos and accidentally did this... [laugh] )
Quote from: MikeZ on May 21, 2008, 01:17:26 PM
She's been there the last 2 times I was down there. Haven't got her name yet but you're right she's very cute.
The cute blonde will get ya every time. [roll]
I did this a couple weeks ago. I work construction and I decided to ride my bike because of gas prices and the distance. I was on my way home way out in the sticks and all of the sudden my bike shuts down going about sixty. I got pulled over to the side and sat there trying to start the thing for a couple minutes. I was thinking about trying to call someone to come get me but I was so farout that I figured that no one would come. Staring at my clipons in anger I noticed my kill switch sitting there all red and happy and flipped down. I hopped back on my bike [moto] and felt like a retard out in the middle of the country. [roll]
I was always taught not to turn off the bike with the kill switch, supposedly it's bad in some way. Could be bunk, but I've never been caught by the kill switch problem, hehe.
On a similar note, I was working on an old Speed Triple one day. For some reason the neutral light wouldn't come on. I tested the wiring, nothing. I tore apart the guage cluster and replaced the bulb, still nothing. Then after about an hour I realized that on those Speed Triples the neutral light doesn't stay on when the kill switch is off. Whoops. It could be worse... On Rocket IIIs the starter is wired through the headlamp bulbs, so if a bulb burns out of the fuse blows for the lights, it won't start. Had to explain that to every owner to prevent problems...
When I took the MSF, they told us to use the key to turn the bike off - not the kill switch. The only reason is to prevent you leaving the bike off while the lights are on and killing your battery.
In my MSF class, they taught us to turn off the key, kill switch, fuel valve thingy in that order. I never use the kill switch and don't have a fuel valve thingy on the duc. I still occasionally leave a turn signal on for awhile before I remember to turn it off. I hate that. I avoid using them for that reason.
i usually just put the kick stand down while still in gear. im a rebel
This happened to me a few years ago. Although it wasn't entirely my fault. I let a friend start up my Triumph 955i Daytona so he could hear the new exhaust and when he shut it off he used the kill switch.
The embarrassing part was I spent almost a half hour trying to figure out what the problem was. The really embarressing part was I didn't have a tool kit with me and I borrowed tools from a Harley guy (big surprise he had tools with him right?) and had the whole bike apart trying to figure out what the problem was. [bang]
Quote from: Monstermash on May 21, 2008, 06:02:27 PM
This happened to me a few years ago. Although it wasn't entirely my fault. I let a friend start up my Triumph 955i Daytona so he could hear the new exhaust and when he shut it off he used the kill switch.
The embarrassing part was I spent almost a half hour trying to figure out what the problem was. The really embarressing part was I didn't have a tool kit with me and I borrowed tools from a Harley guy (big surprise he had tools with him right?) and had the whole bike apart trying to figure out what the problem was. [bang]
I find it terribly ironic that you're banging on the Harley guy for being prepared (having tools) while you couldn't find you're own kill switch.....
Quote from: Alex on May 21, 2008, 10:04:47 AM
I've never used the one on my current bike, and I've had it for like five years. There was one time on a previous bike I had where a shop did the 600 mile service for me and turned the switch, and I had absolutely no idea how to start it. Like you, I spent about 5 minutes looking like an idiot in the parking lot of the shop until someone came over and showed me how stupid I was.
Awkward :-[
I've done the same thing myself Outside a dealership is probably the most embarrassing place to do this. :-\
Quote from: someguy on May 21, 2008, 06:07:34 PM
I find it terribly ironic that you're banging on the Harley guy for being prepared (having tools) while you couldn't find you're own kill switch.....
It's not that I couldn't find the switch. I didn't know my friend used it to kill the engine when he shut it off. I NEVER use the kill switch, EVER!
I wouldn't say the Harley guy was
prepared. To me, being prepared means that you have the tools
in case something should break, rather than
knowing something will break. [laugh]
I usually use the kill switch when hitting my driveway and just coast into the garage. A little less noise for my nice neighbors to make up for the 630AM starts on early rides! Plus, less fumes in the garage...not to mention the incredible gas savings! : )
I then turn the lights off via key, position the bike and then fork lock it before removing the key. I use the disc brake lock on it at home as well as kind of a habit thing and for extra protection from thieves (even though I feel safe where I live the allure of a Ducati is a strong thing!
I like having all that on there in case my kid or anyone else ever had the crazy idea to sneak (or take) the bike out. Because I do it that way I never look stupids in front of blondes!! ;D
Kill switch? My bike has a kill switch?
JM
Quote from: the_Journeyman on May 22, 2008, 07:36:58 AM
Kill switch? My bike has a kill switch?
JM
Use it for launching stinger missiles [laugh]
I thought it was for getting rid of the slow car in front of you
Quote from: Serenitynow on May 22, 2008, 05:06:12 AM
Because I do it that way I never look stupids in front of blondes!! ;D
Hey, someone has to make them laugh. [laugh] [moto]
Quote from: mbalmer on May 21, 2008, 11:11:54 AM
I'm curious Adam, did they charge you anything for the "fix?"
nah, they were cool. I played dumb, jumped on it, started it myself. Said "huh, that's wierd, what do I owe you"
reply: "well, we didn't really do anything"
I gave him a twenty and went on my merry way.
Quote from: aaronb on May 21, 2008, 05:35:29 PM
i usually just put the kick stand down while still in gear. im a rebel
That's what i do.
Quote from: aaronb on May 21, 2008, 05:35:29 PM
i usually just put the kick stand down while still in gear. im a rebel
yes, sometimes i do as well... but then you come back and thumb the starter and wonder why it won't turn over... eventually you check the kill-switch and damn it is not the problem... i start to sweat a bit and then realise what a dork i am.