Bad memory and battery chargers

[Father Ribs]

Did it again today...I'm one of those damn ADHD people who forgets things as soon as I learn them. Woke up for work and realized I left my key in the bike again and the battery is dead. In the last 15 months it's happened about five times, even though I try to be fanatical about not forgetting to remove the key.

I thought about using one of those keys on an extending lanyard like you'd see seccurity guards and custodial staff using, but I worry about breaking off the key when standing up. Perhaps putting my house key on the same ring, but it wouldn't help me at work or kid's sporting events where it's happened about half the time.

I also have been looking for a portable battery charger but can't seperate the chaff from the wheat. Any suggestions where I could find a portable charger I can keep in my bags?

[B440]

use the key to turn off the bike instead of the kill switch

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted

use the key to turn off the bike instead of the kill switch

If its injected, that not a great idea.

[gadget]

Develop a ritual of either putting something into or taking something out from under your seat which would require that you use your key?

[carsick]

Wirelessly posted



If its injected, that not a great idea.

Please elaborate. I don't disagree, but would like to know why not for FI?

[OreoGaborio]

If its injected, that not a great idea.

In the case of my Tuono, the guys on the Aprilia forum routinely recommend using the key instead of the switch as the switch can become faulty if used extensively. I myself had issues about a year after I got it because I didn't know this. Had to pull the switch apart, clean it, grease it, put it back together. Use the key every time to shut it off and haven't had any issues since.

[oVTo]

Wirelessly posted

If its injected, that not a great idea.

In the Controls and Features section of my RC51 (FI) manual, it says the engine stop switch "should normally remain in the RUN position even when the engine is OFF." In the How to Stop the Engine section, it says, "To stop the engine, shift to neutral and turn the ignition switch OFF. The engine stop switch should normally remain in the RUN position even when the engine is OFF." Those a Honda's upper-case letters, not mine.

The reason they give is if the engine stop switch is off and the ignition is on, the lights will stay and the battery will discharge. That makes sense. But I don't agree with them about shifting into neutral before shutting down, so maybe using the key is not the best idea either. I'm definitely interested in learning why it's using the key is a bad idea for FI bikes.

[Pigman]

There is a reason for Kill switches............as stated above and just tuning the key to the off position is cuttin the Ignition power ect off and is NOT GOOD.


I would find a Key board or some special place that you take the key out and Hang it up, therefore its out, off and in a safe place to find again...

[Kurlon]

There is a reason for Kill switches............as stated above and just tuning the key to the off position is cuttin the Ignition power ect off and is NOT GOOD.

Yeah, it's a federally mandated secondary means of engine cut for use when the primary method (key switch) either doesn't work, or is unsafe to hit (not a good time to take hand fully off the bars).

What harm is there from cutting power to the ignition? It's designed for it.

[NobodySpecific]

There is a reason for Kill switches............as stated above and just tuning the key to the off position is cuttin the Ignition power ect off and is NOT GOOD.


I would find a Key board or some special place that you take the key out and Hang it up, therefore its out, off and in a safe place to find again...

Simply saying that doesn't make it true though. I never use my killswitch and I have had a sum total of zero problems over the course of about 50,000 miles of riding and about 100,000 miles of driving in the car. Do you have any actual evidence? Can you name one actual bad thing that can or has happened as a result of using the key? Considering that many manufacturers recommend simply using the key, I don't find any credibility in this theory. The killswitch is for emergencies where you need to immediately disable the engine (hence it being so close to your thumb).

[SprintPoser]

It is also recommended by Triumph to use the key, and all their bikes are fuel injection now. I've put over 80,000 miles on my Triumphs this way and the only time I had starting problems (with my Sprint RS) was when I started using the kill switch.

On my new bike, turning the key off kills the motor and lights, but there's activity going on after the key is off. The stepper motors close the throttle butterflies (sounds kind of like a fax machine) and the immobilizer circuit becomes active. As I've never used the kill switch I don't know for sure, but I suspect the kill switch doesn't turn of the lights. I'll stick with my 12 year old habit. It works for me.

[nhbubba]

Interesting debate.

I am conditioned by my first motorcycle, a late 70's Honda CB. That bike was killing batteries and my father couldn't figure out why. Turns out if you left the kill switch on with the ignition off, the bike was still drawing power. We never figured out what or why, we just started using the kill switch. IIRC we had a similar problem with my mother's early 80's 'wing.

I have never had a kill switch wear out.

[oVTo]

The MSF standard is engine cutoff switch, then ignition, then fuel (if needed). But MSF also emphasizes reading the manual for bike specific information, and my manual clearly says the kill switch is for emergency use and should be left in RUN position otherwise.

It's location - on top of the right handlebar and reachable with the right thumb might be an important clue.

The only example I can think of for a seasoned rider using it in an emergency would be a mechanical failure causing a stuck throttle. In most emergencies, I think you want the engine running just in case using some throttle becomes the solution to the emergency.

But new riders will occasionally over rev the engine with the clutch squeezed and panic. This happens most frequently during a quick stop in training. I'm guessing the same is true out for them on the road. Sometimes they'll sit there with the engine whining like crazy, and occasionally they'll pop the clutch. IF they remember to use the kill switch, just reaching for the switch may cause them to roll off the throttle, solving the problem. Or, of someone experienced is nearby, they might hit the switch. I suspect most MSF RCs have shut off a student's bike using the kill switch at least a few times.

[oVTo]

But getting back on topic - by portable charger, do you mean something like this, except smaller? Wouldn't it be easier to just bump start the bike?

[slammp]

Rent the movie "The Notebook" and take notes...

[jasnmar]

Park at the top of a hill.

It doesn't take much to jump a bike, so about any of the portable jump starters should work. Problem with all of them, however, is that they need to be recharged. If you are forgetful enough to not take your key out of the ignition, are you also forgetful enough to not recharge this thing?

For me (and I'm CDO about keys (that's like OCD, but in the proper alphabetical order)) anytime I'm not parking any vehicle at home I check at least 2 times to make sure that the key's are in my pocket. Car / Truck keys go in my left front pocket, or are in my hand. Bike keys go in my right jacket pocket. Everytime. I put them there. Then I check that they are there before walking away. Every time.

[gadget]

I'm CDO about keys (that's like OCD, but in the proper alphabetical order))

[nhbubba]

FYI: These things are an example of the worst of the worst HF crap. I have one, it barely works. Avoid. Fortunately for me I do not rely on it often.


I keep my keys with me not because I am worried of draining the battery, but because I am paranoid about someone stealing my prized V-Strom. I know its statistically improbable. But paranoia is what it is.

[B440]

The only time I would use the kill switch is these scenarios - can't find neutral, stuck throttle, need hand covering front brake. Mix two of those together.

[oVTo]

FYI: These things are an example of the worst of the worst HF crap. I have one, it barely works. Avoid. Fortunately for me I do not rely on it often.


I keep my keys with me not because I am worried of draining the battery, but because I am paranoid about someone stealing my prized V-Strom. I know its statistically improbable. But paranoia is what it is.

Yeah, I was just using the picture as an example to see if that's the type of thing he was looking at - definitely NOT a recommendation!

[TheIglu]

I've used the kill switch on every bike I own since I started riding, FI or not. Never had an issue. Don't plan to change now.

It's more religion than reason.

[Billy]

Interesting debate..... I always leave the killswitch in the on position. When I'm done using the bike, I just turn the ignition off and remove the key. I've never had a problem with this method and have been doing this for the past 7 years. Only time I use the killswitch is if I'm on an incline and I need to hold the front brake I'll flip the killswitch. I wonder what my owners manual says to do.....

[McBiggity]

It all depends on what type of oil you are using.

[shortbus]

I think MSF uses kill switch first because in class they don't get in front of the bike until students use the killswitch to shut it off, maybe MSF is just concerned with instructor safety?

Personally I think you're all wrong... I use my kickstand :p

[gamorg02]

i always turn my bikes off by putting the kickstand down. If the kickstand doesn't kill the bike its 50/50 on the switch/key.