
What happens if you hit the kill switch while riding? At the same time, there’s also no spark being created by the ignition coil, so all of the power to the plugs is gone as well. This means there’s no fuel getting pumped, so it stops running. The basic thing that happens when you hit the kill switch on your motorcycle is that all power gets cut from the motor. What happens when the Kill Switch is Activated? I know I did it when I got my motorcycle endorsement many years ago. Most riders go through their first month of riding like this because it seems logical. A big mistake is pushing the switch forward to turn the bike off. I know, this seems like a dumb one for most of us, but you wouldn’t believe how many new riders mix this up. That is to say, if the switch is pushed towards the back of the bike, the bike will start.

To determine if the kill switch of a motorcycle is activated when it is pushed towards the front of the bike. In all of these emergency situations having to take the time to locate the key, turn it off and take it out is just too slow. This is especially useful if your engine starts leaking fuel or oil because then it can be very dangerous and would need an immediate shutdown. If you have electrical problems on your motorcycle and you’re seeing sparks, a kill switch comes in handy to immediately turn off the bike, stop the spark, and prevent further damage and/or injury. Such situations may include tipping the motorcycle over onto yourself while it’s still on it’s useful to have a switch that will immediately shut the bike off to prevent further burns and injuries. There are times when a kill switch comes in handy in certain emergency situations. A kill switch helps you stay in total control of your motorcycle. Kill switches are usually within reach of the right thumb, making it easy to turn off the engine quickly.Įngineers designed motorcycles this way because if you have to take one hand off the handlebars to turn the key off, it’s possible to slip the clutch while doing so and risk jolting forward unexpectedly. It’s a simple, red button/switch that is located on the handlebars of a motorcycle. The kill switch is an emergency shut-off for the engine. It’s so much so that in some countries, every motorcycle must have a working kill switch in order to pass inspection. And in certain situations having the motorcycle’s engine on is just dangerous. A motorcycle’s engine can become dangerous if it is on when the rider has fallen off or is being towed. Motorcycles have a kill switch for safety reasons. So, in this article, we’re going to cover 7 facts that most riders don’t know about the kill switch of a motorcycle. If you accidentally hit the ignition switch or the kill switches, ensure that there is no harm caused. Since the ignition switch and kill switches have the exact opposite functions, make sure not to use them in an off position situation.

Different types of bikes like a dirt bike or modern bikes all have a fuel pump and the same circuit. The function of the stop switch is to immediately shut the motorcycle. The ignition key can activate the ignition switch and start the bike. Kill switch cuts power from the motorcycle engine and you can use the kill switch to stop the bike.


The ignition switch and kill switches are emergency switch for motorcycles. And I’m sure you, like most of us, don’t really know very much about it. Whether you’re a noobie motorcyclist or a diehard Harley-Davidson fanatic, you’ve used or at least seen the kill switch used on a motorcycle.
