My 1500 Classic stranded me for the 1st time today

[Hawk 95-01]

Well I've had my 01' 1500 Classic just over a year, as of the 1st week of July. And have enjoyed 6000+ miles of trouble free enjoyment. Since purchased, replaced battery, tires once and oil changes, Oh and some chrome of course. She is just shy of 13K miles

Then today came out after work and tried to start the bike and nothing! OK OK let me elaborate. I come out of work and I can't find my keys?? Pull everything out of the pockets and No Keys? Where could they be?? Hmm I wonder?? Ahhh yes there they are in the bike, and yes in the on position . I always use the off switch to shut off the motor. First time in 3 1/2 years of riding I left the keys in and on. Just glad it was at work and not at a public lot somewhere, or I probably would be scanning the classifieds for looking another bike. Anyway with the head lights and spotlights on it drained the battery dead. I was the last one out and had to lock up today so no one to give me a jump? Called my son and he came and bailed dad out. Got is started and rode it home and put it on the charger and all is well .

Oh well I can't lay this on the bike. Its definetly operator error . LOL

So here's the question, Do you turn your bike off with the key or the kill switch on the handlebar??

[RichLockyer]

Keep a close eye on that battery... if it's over 2-3 years old (should be a date code on it), go ahead and replace it now.
Running it dead could have reduced it's capacity by 20%.

Yuasa YTX20CH-BS.


I kill my engine with the ignition unless I plan to leave it in gear when parked on a hill... then I use the kickstand.

[drivenrhythm]

They kept stressing in the MSF course to kill the bike with the switch instead of the key. The idea was a good one...if you're down you can hit the kill switch immediately if you're in the habit of doing so.

With my bike, and the 900 before it, if it goes down it kills itself. I use the key when I shut down. Sometimes I even take it with me.

I never listened very well in class anyway

[ecave]

I generally use the kill switch, bike in gear, then use the aftermarket switch to turn the bike off on the "dash panel". Then lock the ignition.
Even though it is in plain sight, I have left it on for a couple minutes once before. Thankfully I remembered before it killed the battery.

[OrlandoArbie]

Like ecave, I've hit the kill switch, pulled the key, but left the ignition in the ON position. Fortunately, it was only for a few minutes. In my 5th grade classroom, I call that kind of thing a double head slap! Sometimes getting educated can be expensive...

[Vulcan900]

Either the stand or the kill switch, just depends on the situation. I have used the key a couple of times to kill the lights when pulling into the driveway late at night.

[anrfknm]

I use the kill switch and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked off with the key left on in my Harley.

[Wicked96SS]

I generally use the kickstand... I leave it in gear almost always when parked. I have no real reason for this other than that is what I do. I like leaving it in gear when I park as kinda like a parking brake.

I should use the kill switch more, as last year as a joke, a co-working flipped the kill switch, and it took me about 10 minutes to figure out why I couldn't start my bike!

[Chad_Clearwater]

I've always used the key. When I started riding there were no kill switches or kickstand cut-outs. Despite that I too have left the key in the ignition more than once.

IMO kickstand switches are of the devil! Heck, riding off with the kickstand down is a right of passage!

[keithert]

I'm approaching 1 year and 6000 miles of ownership of my current 01 1500. I hope I don't have the same issue! I always turn the bike off with the key switch.

[Jerrysea]

I always use the key. If its on a hill I will then kick it into gear. My son rode my wife's bike. She went to start it and it would not. I went and found he had left it in 1st gear and hit the kill switch.

[agentfox1942]

According to the MOM, for my 1600 Classic, it states to use the ignition key and not the switch. I've always wondered about this. Especially in the early days when I would almost hit that switch instead of the hi-beams. Argh

[Hawk 95-01]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

Keep a close eye on that battery... if it's over 2-3 years old (should be a date code on it), go ahead and replace it now.
Running it dead could have reduced it's capacity by 20%.

Yuasa YTX20CH-BS.


I kill my engine with the ignition unless I plan to leave it in gear when parked on a hill... then I use the kickstand.

Yeah Rich, a guy at work told me the same thing about the battery life. I just put the battery in last year so I should be alright this year. I'll see how its doing in the spring.

[Hawk 95-01]

Originally Posted by drivenrhythm

They kept stressing in the MSF course to kill the bike with the switch instead of the key. The idea was a good one...if you're down you can hit the kill switch immediately if you're in the habit of doing so.

With my bike, and the 900 before it, if it goes down it kills itself. I use the key when I shut down. Sometimes I even take it with me.

I never listened very well in class anyway

Yeah, I got the same message at the MSF course. I rode for a year before I took the course and always shut down with the key. After the course I did start using the switch. I always leave the bike in gear unless I'm washing it.

I never tried the dropping the kickstand like Rich does, thats another way to shut the bike down in gear. And with the ignition location on the 1500 Classic you have to use your clutch hand to turn ignition on /off or remove the key. On my 750 I could use my right hand.

[Hawk 95-01]

Originally Posted by agentfox1942

According to the MOM, for my 1600 Classic, it states to use the ignition key and not the switch. I've always wondered about this. Especially in the early days when I would almost hit that switch instead of the hi-beams. Argh

Funny you mention hitting the wrong switch. I went on vacation and we took our 4-wheelers. I have a 2000 Honda Forman 450 ES. On the honda the starter button is on the left bar (don't know why they did that) Well after a few days of riding that, I came home, and blew the horn a few times at start-up trying to start the bike before I got re adjusted.

I enjoy hitting the trails on the 4-wheeler but you've got to haul them so far just to ride them(another reason I got a bike). My father-in-law had 15 acers, we would leave them there and go down for the weekend and ride. But moved back in town. I don't use it that much now but I can't bring myself to sell it. I use it in the winter to plow snow too. The LEO's don't bother you too much for that.

[idmtchris]

Never ever use the emergency kill switch unless it is an emergency.

[Hawk 95-01]

Ooops duplicate post

[Hawk 95-01]

Originally Posted by idmtchris

Never ever use the emergency kill switch unless it is an emergency.

You are talking about the switch on the right bar? If so any particular reason not to shut down the bike with that switch?? I didn't buy my bike new and do not have an owners manual. Just wondering?

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by Hawk 95-01

You are talking about the switch on the right bar? If so any particular reason not to shut down the bike with that switch??

Ya... you'll forget to turn the key off and kill your battery

[idmtchris]

Originally Posted by Hawk 95-01

You are talking about the switch on the right bar? If so any particular reason not to shut down the bike with that switch?? I didn't buy my bike new and do not have an owners manual. Just wondering?

It will prevent you from killing your battery. It will not harm the bike using but there is a reason it is Red and called an emergency kill switch.