what a plonker!

[to v or not to v]

i was out on the new bike this evening, making the most of the nice weather, and as i was heading back towards home, taking the scenic route down country lanes and enjoying every moment, the bike just died on me, in the middle of nowhere, in 3rd gear. it was like it had just run out of fuel.
my heart sank, thinking all the warnings about Italian reliability were coming home to bite me.
completely dead engine, no response what so ever when pushing the start button.
after a couple of minutes of sweat and prayer, turning the ignition off and back on trying to get the starter to work, i realised that i had somehow managed to engage the engine kill switch whilst riding along.
what a plonker!
my relief was immense.

has anyone else ever done anything daft like that, or is it just me?
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current bike Yamaha Thunderace.
Moto Guzzi V7.

[stinkwheel]

Some bikes let you turn over the starter with the kill switch off. I've come very close to flattening the battery doing that and have seen others do-so.

I do remember riding along and getting intermittant dying before an almighty backfire and it picking back up. Then, just as I was feeling relaxed, it would happen again. Eventually worked out it was my new boots. Every time I chilled out and relaxed, I was dropping my foot slightly and catching the sidestand.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Zen Dog]

Yep, did the exact same thing a year or so ago. Heading round a corner, bike dies completely, emergency stop at the side of the road. Couldn't figure out what the hell had happened until one of my mates pointed out the kill switch.

Never had it happen before or since.
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Current - '94 VFR750FR (Dead), '00 VFR800FI, 2011 CBF125 Previous - '10 Street Triple R, '92 MZ ETZ301, '05 TTR250, NSR125R, KMX125, "Honda" Win (chinese copy of an old Honda design with a C90 engine)
My bike trip around S.E. Asia 2010/2011

[Ayrton]

I put put a bike back together after an engine rebuild and a bit of painting and couldn't get the thing to start. I spent about 3 hours messing around with a multimeter trying to fix it before I tried the kill switch and it started right away

[Easy-X]

I have knocked the kill switch accidently, somehow... dunno how Probably fiddling with my helmet. Thankfully stationary at a set of lights.
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Pete.]

[WD Forte]

Some years ago I connected up a kill switch that had been out of service for yonks
A week or so later, coming out of business, the fecker would crank but not start until I eventually remembered i now had a kill switch on the bastard.
Naturally, there was a crowd there who got great amusement watching me stuggle to get the old thing to fire up.
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bikers smell of wee

[to v or not to v]

[Grumpy Grandad]

Recently watching a Youtube video with someone ''Trying'' to start an old bike with no joy.
I sat there shouting ''KILL SWITCH, try the Kill Switch''
Felt quite smug when it turned out to actually be the Kill Switch, because I know Bugger All about mechanics!

Cheers
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Life may begin at 30, but it doesn't get interesting until about 75 mph.

[WD Forte]

[panrider_uk]

Same on a trip to Goathland years ago on a Silverwing

Came back to the bike and could not get it to start.

Was on the verge of calling the AA when I notice the kill switch had been flicked.

Pretty sure some passing fecker did it for amusement.


I've had the new bike not start a couple of times.
As above need to be in neutral if the stand is down
And once (maybe twice) had to switch it off and on again!
Keyless ignition on a bike - bloody annoying.
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Current bikes: Hondas - Forza 750, ST1100 Pan European

[blurredman]

I don't have killswitches
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CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 39k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 50k.

[stinkwheel]

I once had the throttle stick open on a bike without a killswitch and with the ignition key located on the toolbox (a Suzuki T500). 90mph heading for a sharp corner. A real brown trouser moment. Amazingly, the TLS front drum brake did actually manage to pull it up and stall it out, but I was deep into the farmyard on the apex of the corner by the time it did.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[blurredman]

[TbirdX]

I was out on a TRF ride on my trusty TTR.

We stopped in a lane to let everyone regroup, I turned around in the saddle to watch the stragglers coming to join and the bike died.

We waited for the regroup and then I hit the starter...nothing.

TTR has a kickstart, so much kicking and swearing later a guy comes up and says...'Let's bump it I'll give you a push...'

Then follows the comedy bit where he pushes me up and down a muddy rutted lane trying unsuccessfully to bump start it.

Just as his lungs give out and I'm thinking about the AA, another guy comes over, flips the kill switch, it starts first stab and off we all go!!!
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VFR800X - CFMoto 450MT - TTR250

[to v or not to v]

[fw750x]

I borrowed a KH250 Kawasaki from a Mate to give another Mate a Lift down to see his Girlfriend who was Staying at a Holiday Caravan site . After about 3 Hours i was Ready to go home about 25 Miles from home and Hit the Starter Button Nothing,Tried Bump starting up and down the road Nothing. By this stage i was on the Verge of Tears and about to walk about a Mile to the Nearest Phone Box "Way before Mobile Phones" To tell my mate I cannot get the bike to Start. Some random Guy say,s to me at the Bike and asked would it not start i said no he said theres the Problem and Flicked the Kill switch "The Mate" who owned the Bike told me to Never touch it. So i never touched it Someone must have flicked the Switch when i was away from the Bike and i had not noticed .I turned on the ignition and Hit the Startre Button it Started up straight away

[BTTD]

More than once I have ridden down the road as far a float bowl of fuel before realising the fuel tap is still in the off position. The first time it took me a couple of minutes to figure it out, but subsequent events have seen me fumbling for the lever at the first cough.

[Grumpy Grandad]

My mate was glad of his kill switch when riding his Triumph bodgejob along an Army Range Road.
A bloody pheasant flew out of the bushes, hit the side of the bike and wedged itself under the tank, this in turn jammed the throttle cable, and he took off like a nailed rat!
Luckily he had his wits about him and after a quick panic attack he just hit the kill switch and coasted to a halt.
The pheasant was the worse for wear and didn't survive the encounter. He wasn't much of a cook so once he'd dug the pheasant out he just lobbed it.

Cheers
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Life may begin at 30, but it doesn't get interesting until about 75 mph.