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[kb]

Today i took advantage of Demo day @Ocean State Harley Davidson. I have been waiting to ride a new Road Glide Ultra. After mounting the bike a staff member came around to make sure that everyone understood functions controls blah blah blah.Then a Harley rep not dealership did the same but this guy tells me that if you turn off the ignition and not the kill switch great damage will be done to the bikes computer. I don't know if he is right or wrong do you?

[charles05663]

From what I understand if you use the kill switch, the computer "remembers" the RPMs of when you shut it down.  This causes the idle RPMs to increase overtime.

Using the ignition switch, does not cause the computer to retain RPM settings.

[kb]

will it do damage over time?

[charles05663]

What I recall is that after flipping the ignition switch to kill the bike, it resets the idle.

[grc]

Sounds like you had a rookie rep, assuming he really was from H-D.  I can think of absolutely nothing that would be damaged by using the ignition switch versus the kill switch.  Harley has had that recommendation in their owner manuals for more years than I've ridden their bikes, long before they had the current Delphi ECM's btw, and it had nothing to do with damaging anything.

Let me ask you a question.  Do you use the kill switch or the ignition switch on your current bike whenever you shut down?  How about in your car or truck?  Oh, that's right, cars and trucks don't have a kill switch.  Wonder why all those ECM's don't get fried?


Jerry

[Screamin]

I don't buy it. Seems I heard it once before and I didn't buy it then. I often use the ign. switch to shut down and have suffered no ill affects.

[grc]

The ECM saves idle setting info each time it powers down, whether you use the kill switch first or just the ignition switch.  Where that subject came up was with the early electronic throttle bikes, where if you didn't let the throttle return to idle  before switching off, the bike would idle high when you next started it.  I and others recommended at the time that people take their hand off the grip and turn the bike off with the ignition switch, to avoid accidentally holding the throttle open.

I very rarely use the kill switch, and have never had a single problem related to that fact.  It exists for one reason only, safety.  With the ignition switch on many bikes located in spots that aren't that easily accessible in an emergency situation without removing your hands from the controls, it made sense to have a kill switch on the bars.  It has always been my opinion that Harley recommended shutting down with that switch just to get people used to using it, so when an emergency occurred it would be easier for the rider to quickly react. 


Jerry

[sadunbar]

Today i took advantage of Demo day @Ocean State Harley Davidson. I have been waiting to ride a new Road Glide Ultra. After mounting the bike a staff member came around to make sure that everyone understood functions controls blah blah blah.Then a Harley rep not dealership did the same but this guy tells me that if you turn off the ignition and not the kill switch great damage will be done to the bikes computer. I don't know if he is right or wrong do you?

nope...not true.

[Devil Dog]

Our bikes have a kill switch???

[duranh]

The only way it could possibly damage the bike is if you are on a hill and release the front brake to use the ignition switch and roll backwards into a car, thus damaging your rear fender. 

[spydglide]

Our bikes have a kill switch???

They have more than one.  I activated one when I just wrecked my SEEG and it laid over past a certain angle on it's side.  Good thing too, 'cause I couldn't get up to get over to it if it had still been running like my older bikes would have been.   Ahhh, modern conveniences.   har.  spyder

[grc]

Our bikes have a kill switch???

    Yes, and it isn't designed to actually kill the bike, just wound it a bit.   

The switch that's the subject of this thread is officially called the  RUN/STOP switch, and you'll find it on the right handlebar switch housing next to the start button.  These things have been standard on motorcycles for so many years now that I can't remember if I ever owned a bike that didn't have one.

The one that spyder mentioned is a newer addition, meant to do exactly what it did in his case, shut down the power when the bike tips past a certain angle.  It's controlled by a bank angle sensor, and it's operation is automatic with no user input required.


Jerry

[kb]

I almost use my ignition switch and never had a problem that I was aware of. Just wanted to check. What a great group of guys.Thanks for the info. Kb

[ultrafxr]

I always use the run/stop switch to shut down the engine.  I just think it is better to be able to do so with both hands on the handlebars.  I normally park in gear and like to keep my right hand on the brake.  This permits me to hold the clutch and the brake while I shut the engine down. Don't know when I got into that habit.  It is just the way I have always done it.

[fatboybern]

ahhhh that makes me mad did you slap him cause really some people should not speak cause when they open there mouth nothing but bs comes out killing the bike with the switch on the bars only grounds the coil keeps the ecm powered up shutting the switch off does all the same and more no diff than automotive or anything else out there i am a tradesman in auto and in heavy trades believe me harley did not invent the ecm