Triumphrat

InParkSlope · 08-09-2005

I've got into the habit especially with a pillion of hitting the kill switch at long red lights (data-tool alarm means i have to turn it back on electrics but not hitting start immediately -- to stop the alarm arming after 30 seconds) . I do this for heat and noise, it is just nicer to sit there in silence and with a cool breeze.

But I'm wondering if this is doing nasty things to the engine. It always starts instantly. But maybe heat soak is doing something bad? Although I'm this is typically at 5-8 bars of heat showing on the temp reading, not more..

dolson · 08-10-2005

This is one of those often debated technical operating procedures.
I think if you look in your owner's manual that it states NOT to use the kill switch to normally shut off the engine. It does state this in the earlier versions.

I believe shutting the engine off with the kill switch immediately grounds out the ignition system not allowing the ECU to go through it's normal shut down procedures.

Don

vanpraag · 08-10-2005

I've heard bad things can happen by using the kill switch in other than an emergency but, for the engine itself, starting an engine is one of the hardest moments in an engines life. I.E. Lack of oil flowing to the important stuff. When an engine gets shut down, there isn't any flow and the vital parts that require it now don't have it and when the engine restarts, there will be a brief moment that those components will have a lack of lubrication. All this and the extra wear and tear on your starter and battery. Personaly, I would just go for neutral and wait.

jefferskn · 08-10-2005

Hmm, this is an interesting topic. For some reason I use the Kill Switch to shut the bike of at least 80% of the time and then turn the key off. I have had lots of bikes over the years and usually use the kill switch. Maybe because I grew up on dirtbikes and there was no key. All I know is that I have never had any sort of problems related to turning bike off with the kill switch versus the ignition key.

dolson · 08-10-2005

One thing to consider is that these bikes are totally dependent upon the ECU and It's computational powers exceeds that of most of the cars out there. I would liken it to hot booting a desktop.
Also, these aren't the old popper mosquito killers, but a very modern engine.

One other thing to consider is the very vulnerable position that the practice of shutting off the engine at a red light leaves you.

I was at a light on the inside lane. In the outside lane, ahead of me was a very RED mini-van, soccer mom and all. In my mirror, I could see a white P/U coming in the outside lane that appeared a bit fast and maneuvered my bike as far inside as I could. My front tire was alongside the car in front of me. You guessed it, the white P/U rammed right into the back of the RED mini-van. No brakes or anything, just WHAM!, 30mph hit.

So, if the cagers can't see a RED mini-van with it's brake lights on, what makes you think they will see you?

I am, always, in first gear, clutch in, and watching the mirrors at intersections with a way out and pointed in that direction. So even if I miss something, or there is a concertina type of rear-end, and I do get hit from the back, at least I'll get bunted into a clear area instead of what I'm behind, like a truck.

So, my take on this is, either technically or from a safety stand point, this is not a good idea.

JMHO

Don

zore · 08-10-2005

I remember way back when I was just a small child. My mother would yell down the street for me to come to dinner. So I'd hop on my bicycle and peddle as fast as I could, then once I would hit the driveway, I'd hope off the bicycle and let it ghost ride a bit and fall in over in the driveway just as I was walking into the front door.

Unfortunately, this is a habit that I've been unable to break myself of and it seems my Sprint just isn't as resilient to being thrown to the ground like my Huffy was back in the day.

. I have however, never used the kill switch to shut off my bike.

jefftarlton · 08-11-2005

I usually kill my bike at lights, especially in the summer. It can't be good for the engine to run 215F.
I watch my mirrors and wait for a car to stop behind me before I put a bike in neutral or kill the engine. Watching the mirrors probably saved my life at a construction zone a dozen years ago.
I never use the switch, always the key.

pushr0d · 08-11-2005

I'm not sure of the year/model breakout, but I've been told the '99-'04 models (SAGEM EFI) should not be routinely turned off with the kill switch, but it doesn't matter with the '05 (Keihin EFI) system.

InParkSlope · 08-11-2005

the dealer told me that using the kill switch was just fine. But then again, they could be guessing.

I never do it while vulnerable. I'm taking city lights, where you're in front of a line of cars, and the reds stretch behind and in front for ages..

The engine always kicks into life within one turn of the starter, it doesn't "feel" stressful to me, but I suppose it could be..

DaveM · 08-11-2005

Well unlike zore I always leaned my treadly pedly against the wall being the goody two shoes that I once was.

But like zore I never use my kill switch unless I've crashed and my bikes revving it's head off and I can still get to it.

davem