stuck starter switch/kill switch

[Wapping]

Always a bad sign when a dealer holds a non service part in stock, means that it is prone to regular failure

However it's remarkably welcome news if you need one in a hurry, as you want to bimble your awesome steed around the mountains, or even hustle it to Tesco's car park to banter with likeminded souls.

 

[Engineer]

To be fair though It was only 'Lord Snooty' and 'The Grey One' (and he was just tired) who think it is a capital offence.

I think it is wrong too, convert or die!

 

[GS_or_bust]

If you turn your bike off by using the kill switch and then turn the ignition off you are taking two actions where one would do! The ignition switch will shut down all circuits in a way expected by the on board computers. The kill switch does not do the same thing, neither does the side stand switch. Both will leave certain circuits on. You have to turn that key at some point so why not just use it to stop the bike in the first place.

It looks like the switches are poor quality on these bikes, our local dealer is saying he has changed a lot of them. Hopefully the replacements are better quality. The concept of a rocker switch as kill/starter removes a whole world of fun, most of us will have cursed the bike not starting only to find we have flicked the kill switch by mistake.

Despite the best efforts of BMW assist to screw things up our guest has had a new switch fitted without drama, I hope the rest of his trip goes well.

John

When stopped at traffic lights or in traffic, sometimes I will use the kill switch to turn the engine off because it is right there by my thumb. When it's time to go then a stab of the thumb and off I go.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

When touring, loaded up with a pillion, killing the engine in 1st gear with both hands on the bars is a safer position for me to anticipate the pillions demount

 

[WindyChuffer]

If you turn your bike off by using the kill switch and then turn the ignition off you are taking two actions where one would do! The ignition switch will shut down all circuits in a way expected by the on board computers. The kill switch does not do the same thing, neither does the side stand switch. Both will leave certain circuits on. You have to turn that key at some point so why not just use it to stop the bike in the first place.
John

Just let it go. You won't win. So the key turns other things off that the kill switch doesn't. So what. The only risk is of a flat battery. If it mattered how you killed the engine, it would say so in the manual. End of.

Personally, I always dump the clutch. But since reading this thread I have been using the kill switch just for kicks. And if it breaks, out comes a hammer. Or a rock. Or an illegal immigrant. Smash the fu**ker up and twist wires together. BMW's problem to fix later. Not something I'd call recovery over.

 

[Melch]

And if it breaks, out comes a hammer. Or a rock. Or an illegal immigrant. Smash the fu**ker up and twist wires together. BMW's problem to fix later. Not something I'd call recovery over.

Don't you come in here with your common sense, can do attitude! You'll not be making any friends in here like that.

 

[Andy_E]

BMW's problem to fix later. Not something I'd call recovery over.

To be fair to Fluffmeister it does take a lot more brute force than you'd think to free up the switch enough to get it to operate. Mine went at home and I was just about to go out for an afternoon ride. I live a couple of miles from the dealer so after a quick Google I decided it was worth risking the BFI approach, if I'd been on tour somewhere overseas I might have played it safe and called recovery.

Having said that my last GS developed a problem in Germany which did justify recovery - what a complete f**k-up that turned into courtesy of ADAC's agent so I wouldn't have much faith in being recovered in any case!

PS - I normally use the kill switch to turn off the engine so that'll be me burning in hell for all eternity then!

 

[scooter paul]

For no other reason to reply to this thread other than it's a funny story way back in the 1970's I had a Honda XL 250 Motorsport. I once turned it off using the kill switch. When I came to start it again it would not start. I pushed and I pushed but it still wouldn't start 'till eventually, nearly dead, I realised the switch was still off. Honest to God, I've never, ever used a kill switch again!

Paul

 

[Wapping]

Five pages of bickering over something as simple as a kill switch.


In the meantime, the hero of the piece has had the switch repaired by a dealership, continued his holiday and might even be home by now, his awesome steed stabled safely.

 

[oblertone]

For no other reason to reply to this thread other than it's a funny story way back in the 1970's I had a Honda XL 250 Motorsport. I once turned it off using the kill switch. When I came to start it again it would not start. I pushed and I pushed but it still wouldn't start 'till eventually, nearly dead, I realised the switch was still off. Honest to God, I've never, ever used a kill switch again!

Paul

Almost identical tale but on a 250 'wet dream', pushed it 2 miles before I noticed the switch

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Almost identical tale but on a 250 'wet dream', pushed it 2 miles before I noticed the switch

Easily done - bumped it down a quarter mile hill and pushed it back up before I discovered the reason

 

[The Grey One]

Easily done - bumped it down a quarter mile hill and pushed it back up before I discovered the reason

I think most of us will have done it in one way or another, at least the rocker type of kill switch used on the newer bikes makes it almost impossible.

John

 

[Fluffmeister]

Nope Herr Wapping , I'm munching a Calzone at Lake Como..... What's an awesome steed? I own a shopping bike.

Sent using random stabs with bratwurst like fingers...

 

[Magwych]

I avoid the kill switch/ignition jey turmoil altogether by leaving it in gear and extending the side stand.
Will I go to hell now ?
I confess that I do then turn the bike off so that I can put the key in my pocket.

Sent from my GT-S7710 using Tapatalk

 

[andylel]

I avoid the kill switch/ignition jey turmoil altogether by leaving it in gear and extending the side stand.
Will I go to hell now ?
I confess that I do then turn the bike off so that I can put the key in my pocket.

+1 Learned this at an off road school and it makes so much sense. The bike rarely sees neutral now (except in conditions where it is safer not to be in gear) .... and has never rolled of it's side stand .... on no, that's another thread.

 

[fazerbill]

I think we should KILL this thread now

 

[Magwych]

Let's just switch the subject.
What would happen if I took all the labels off the switches?
If we can keep the thread going until October we could start throwing insults too.

Sent from my GT-S7710 using Tapatalk

 

[WindyChuffer]

I think we should KILL this thread now

No. You cannot possibly do that as it's not an emergency.

 

[Jumblemo]

I thought the switch was a rocker type and is also the starter button so unless you never start the bike you must use the switch every time you ride

Yes. Spot on. The kill switch is also the starter. So it is designed to be operated on a frequent basis. Failure is unfortunate, but nothing to do with improper or excessive use. It's simply failed, and that's nothing to do with user error. It will be replaced under warranty.

And despite Snooty and others the kill switch is an acceptable and valid way to switch off your engine on a regular basis. Ignore their squeaks of protest. Use the kill switch or ignition as you prefer.

 

[dave hendy]

BMW aren't known for switch problems..........................much!