Kill Switches, should you disconnect? -what is the use of it

A few years ago when I had my last bike, there was a little discussion about kill switches. My only experience of using one was years before that, when I had a little GSX250 and a bloke who I knew and a bit of a joker, pulled up next to me, on his gsx1100 at the red lights and swiched mine as the lights changed so I was left with engine off as he sped off into the sunset.

Another mate of mine used to disconect his killswitches after a tank slapper where he caught his and got thrown off.
What is the point of them, doesn't everyone switch off their engine with the key anyhow?
Should I disconnect?

Is it only there so the police can stop you riding off?

Err, the point is to switch the engine off quickly in an emergency.
They're a bit of a throwback to racing, but I've found them useful a few times in the past, though I expect it's annoying when people switch yours off.
I've had a couple of tank slappers and never hit mine.
You shouldn't used the kill switch to switch the engine off normally, it's not best for it.

I suspect that it's a good idea if the key ever got broken in an acident.

Originally Posted by Carsick

Err, the point is to switch the engine off quickly in an emergency.

Yup.


...that and backfiring.... (apparently)

[TSM]

Originally Posted by Carsick

You shouldn't used the kill switch to switch the engine off normally, it's not best for it.

Why not, does it not do the same thing as switching off the bike?

Originally Posted by muddycoffee

A few years ago when I had my last bike, there was a little discussion about kill switches. My only experience of using one was years before that, when I had a little GSX250 and a bloke who I knew and a bit of a joker, pulled up next to me, on his gsx1100 at the red lights and swiched mine as the lights changed so I was left with engine off as he sped off into the sunset.

Another mate of mine used to disconect his killswitches after a tank slapper where he caught his and got thrown off.
What is the point of them, doesn't everyone switch off their engine with the key anyhow?
Should I disconnect?

Is it only there so the police can stop you riding off?

Off topic, but my first bike was a GSX250

Originally Posted by TSM

Why not, does it not do the same thing as switching off the bike?

You'll have to ask the people who know about engines that one, I've just been told by people who should know that it isn't as good for the engine as just switching it off normally.

The only thing I can see wrong with using the kill switch is that it could wear out the rocker switch, so when you DO need it in an emergency it doesnt work.

That said, I use my kill switch all the time, I've done 22,000 miles on this bike with no problems.

The reason I use it, is that it doesnt reset the alarm, and therefore the alarm doesnt prime until the key is removed. That gives me time to park the bike, disconnect the tank bag, take of my helmet, gloves etc, without having to reset the alarm etc.

I would prefer to have mine connected and working for the time when my foot is getting chewed up by the chain after an accident :P

And in my opinion it does exactly the same as the key, it stops the engine although it doesnt turn the ignition off

I also think that the lanyard switches on grasstrack, speedway and motorcross bikes are a good idea for the same reason

Originally Posted by wheelnut

I would prefer to have mine connected and working for the time when my foot is getting chewed up by the chain after an accident :P

And in my opinion it does exactly the same as the key, it stops the engine although it doesnt turn the ignition off

I also think that the lanyard switches on grasstrack, speedway and motorcross bikes are a good idea for the same reason

I've got a Txt249 trials bike with a laynard kill switch, gets flipped pretty regularly going up bankings at 80 degrees. Nice to know the enigines dead when it rolls back down at you rear tyre first . Wouldn't like to think what would happen with wheel doin 40mph at least it's just a dull thud with static wheel.