A motorcycle is one of the most convenient and fun modes of transportation, but also a dangerous one. If you own a bike, there is a good chance you’ll face a situation where you need to switch off the engine immediately.
If you enjoy watching MotoGP, you might have seen plenty of cases where the bike slips or catches fire. Nobody wants their motorcycle’s engine to keep running in such situations — it could add to the disaster. This is where a motorcycle kill switch comes in handy.
It is a safety feature installed on a motorcycle that helps switch off the engine instantly. Keep reading to learn more about how it works, its types, its importance, and how it should be handled or installed.
What Is a Motorcycle Kill Switch?
A motorcycle kill switch is an emergency switch that immediately switches off the motorcycle engine to avoid damage. It’s typically red and located on the right side of the handlebar of a motorcycle.
The main idea of this switch is to allow the bikers to instantly switch off the engine without taking their hands off the handle.
You can find plenty of examples where a biker needs to cut off the engine quickly. For instance, if an accident occurs and the engine keeps running, a slight rev can add to the danger.
If you are in the mood for a thrill and throttle your bike to the extent that it heats up too high, this creates a dangerous situation. In such cases, you need to cut off the bike’s power supply to avoid a spark that could light your bike on fire.
Types of Kill Switch
With the growth of innovation and technology, the safety of biking has advanced a lot over the years. Today, you can find two types of kill switches on a motorcycle, an automatic and a manual kill switch.
Automatic Kill Switch
This intelligent switch can be a lifesaver in many situations. With an automatic kill switch, you don’t need to switch off the engine yourself. This innovation works to detect danger. As soon as the bike slips or heats up to a critical temperature, the motorcycle shuts down automatically to avoid disaster.
Manual Kill Switch
The manual kill switch is operated by the biker themself. If the biker feels a need to cut off the power supply to the motorcycle, they can press the kill switch and the bike will shut down instantly.
Working Principles of a Kill Switch
One can explain a kill switch’s working principle in simple words as a process of cutting the power supply to the engine to shut it down.
The actual process is a bit more technical. A kill switch is connected with two wires — one goes to the ignition coil and the other to the ground.
When you press the kill switch, a connection is established between both wires, which grounds the coil and cuts off the electric supply to the spark plugs. The moment spark plugs lose the electric supply, they stop sparking, which shuts down the engine.
The main focus of this switch is to cut off the power supply, which disables the spark plugs and shuts down the bike as a whole. Knowing how a kill switch works and when to use it can save your life or the lives of others on the road.
Importance of a Kill Switch
Now that we know about a motorcycle kill switch and its basic working principles, this begs the question — what makes a kill switch so important? At what point in our biking journey do we need this after all?
Accidents or Mishaps
Imagine you are riding a bike at high speed and suddenly feel your bike is heating up and you need to switch it off immediately. Or if you get into an accident where your bike slips and the engine keeps running.
These situations can be fatal if the engine stays on, so it is preferred to shut down the engine instantly to avoid a disastrous situation. The kill switch does this by cutting the electric supply to the ignition coil and shutting your bike down.
Engine Failures
A motorcycle is a machine, and machines are prone to issues or defects. Faulty brakes, bald tires, or electrical problems can all result in a dangerous situation. These issues can be due to manufacturing faults or misuse by the user.
For instance, if you are riding a motorcycle and suddenly feel like the throttle is stuck and the bike won’t slow down or your brake is not working, the kill switch can help you stop safely. If your bike’s braking system fails, the kill switch will help you avoid a nasty accident.
Health Emergencies
Like machines, we humans can have faults, too. Spring is a lovely time of year to ride a bike, but the pollen is also at large around this time. It can be problematic for those who are allergic to pollen as you inhale a lot of it during a ride in the spring.
Long bike rides can cause fatigue, resulting in a reduction in your reaction time. Plus, riding can be a strain on the body, leading to pain in the arm, shoulder, or back. Muscle spasms are also possible, which can be fatal during a ride.
You might need to switch off the engine instantly to get yourself to safety in these situations, or if you are not in a position to do it, any stranger around you can reach out for the kill switch to get you out of danger.
Fun and Adventures
Motorcycles are one of the most fun modes of transport. They are also used for extreme sports and stunts. Some stunts like wheelies or stoppies are common among bikers.
If you are new to motorbiking and interested in learning about wheelies — the easiest and first stunt every biker starts with — this beginner’s guide to wheelies can be helpful. Just be sure to exercise care while riding.
All these adventures come with risks and are fun only if carried out safely. In these stunts and adventures, the kill switch plays a crucial role. If you feel like the action is getting out of your hand and you will lose control, the kill switch can rescue you.
While riding motorcycles is a great way to cut loose and blow off some steam, it is vital that you operate your machine with great care. There’s no fun to be had from a trip to the hospital or morgue. Luckily, a kill switch can help keep you and other motorists safe.
Handling and Care of the Kill Switch
Many bikers use the kill switch to switch off their bike routinely. It is a pretty straightforward way to turn off your bike because you don’t need to lift your hand and reach for the key. The kill switch is within easy reach — just raise your thumb, hit the button, and the bike shuts down.
Easy, right?
But is it safe? Does it affect your motorcycle’s engine? It is one of the most asked questions about a motorcycle’s kill switch.
The shape and color of the kill switch make it look hazardous, like some sort of dangerous button. The name also sounds like it could kill your engine completely. These things make one think before using it to switch off the bike.
The kill switch works the same way as the turning key on your ignition. It simply cuts off the current supply to the ignition coil, so it is not as harmful to your bike’s engine as it sounds.
Still, as a precaution, some motorcycle manufacturers and experts advise not to make a habit of using the kill switch to shut down the bike. But why?
There is a straightforward explanation about why to avoid this habit. If you use the kill switch to turn off the engine, there is a high risk that you might forget to turn off the ignition, too. This could lead to a flat, dead battery, which is one of the most annoying things to have to deal with. Nobody wants that.
Hence, you should only use the kill switch to shut off the bike if there is an emergency.
Ending Note
Whether automatic or manual, a motorcycle kill switch can be a lifesaver in life-threatening situations, from accidents to machine failures where you must immediately cut off the power supply.
The habit of using the kill switch to shut down your bike is not recommended. To extend the life of your motorcycle’s engine, only use it in an emergency. More than anything, remember to ride safely.
