How to turn a motorcycle off?

When I took the MSF Beginners' class a few years ago, I was taught that the proper way to turn a motorcycle off was 4 steps: neutral, stop switch, key, petcock.

Recently I was on some random website that implied that the "engine stop" switch was more of an emergency kill switch, and I thought to myself, "hmm?"

So I turned to my bike's Owner's Manual which says:

"PARKING

After stopping the motorcycle, shift the transmission into neutral, turn the fuel valve OFF, turn the ignition switch OFF and remove the key."

Furthermore, it says:

"Engine Stop Switch

The three position engine stop switch is next to the throttle grip. in RUN the engine will operate. In either OFF position, the engine will not operate.

This switch is intended primarily as a safety or emergency switch and should normally be kept in RUN."

So, what's the proper way to shut down a motorcycle?

I always bought into the idea that you hit the run/kill switch next to your hand so it was easy to find when things weren't going so well. It also made sure that you were exercising the switch and always making sure it worked properly.

I only turned off the petcock if I wasn't gonna be riding in the near future. Most the time I didn't put it in Neutral either.

Roll to stop, turn key to off position.

I only used the kill switch if I needed to. I didn't do it out of habit because I wouldn't remember it the next time and kill the battery trying to start it...same goes for the petcock.

I think the petcock issues was much more important on a carbed bike than a fuel injected one.

I may or may not take the bike out of gear, but I'll use the kill switch to shut the bike off, then turn the key off once I'm off the bike and it's on the center stand. I like building the muscle memory of snapping the switch off with my thumb just in case I have to do it in an emergency someday. The petcock is of more concern on a full gravity system as opposed to a vacuum feed, but I'll usually use it anyway.

I use the run switch.

The only down side is I often forget to turn off the key switch.

I put the kickstand down in gear. Turn off the key. There is no petcock.

If you have ever left a heavy bike in neutral on a slight downhill incline you have also probably had to pick it up. Apparently... the bastages roll.

I usually leave it in gear, kill switch, ignition key, no petcock to worry about.

I usually hit the kill switch or swing out the kickstand to kill the bike, leave it in gear, and hopefully pull the key. The key is hidden under the fairing on my bike, so its possible that I have walked away with the key in the ignition, headlight on, battery draining. DOH!

I should install a chime that sounds when the key in on but the bike is off. I forget to turn off the ignition a lot.

I rarely use the kill switch. I use the key because then I know the damn thing is off. The one time I didn't killed the battery. Would have been a problem except it's 6 volt, so no Jumpstart for me.

I leave it in gear. I've seen bike start rolling and collapse kickstands from not being in gear.

Tell it that the saddlebags do, in fact, make its ass look big. That is a sure turnoff.

Car porn, it works every time.

Oh yeah; leave it in gear. Why you'd want it in neutral and then turn it off so you don't have gear indication doesn't make sense.

T.J. wrote: Tell it that the saddlebags do, in fact, make its ass look big. That is a sure turnoff.

Toyman01 wrote: Car porn, it works every time.

I was waiting for the Playboy "turn-offs" joke. For my bike it's meanies and people who don't put the seat down.

I usually hit the kill switch with my thumb as I coast into my parking spot. usually clutch is pulled and in gear.

Always turn it off with the key. Then you don't forget to turn the ignition off and come back to a dead battery.

I don't even know if the kill switch works on a couple of my bikes.

My matchless has no key or switch. You have to reach down and ground the magneto using the button on the cover.

I never use the kill switch, and my key is under the tank. I always put it in neutral because I push the bike in and out of the back yard. I also like coasting in, in neutral with the motor off (kind of like in The World According to Garp, weird reference I know).

As far as the "best" way to do it? (on a carbed bike) Fuel cutoff, Neutral (if you like), Ignition. So, I agree with the manual. Heck, you can hit the fuel cutoff 30 seconds before you stop if you want, that will help draw the bowl down a bit.

I always leave them in 1st and use the kill switch then lock the steering....

Whatever the situation calls for. Parked in my garage? Petcock if equipped, then neutral, then kill switch, then key if equipped. Exercise all these things to make sure they work. Most of my bikes will not crank over if the kill switch is in the off position.

I used to always use the kill switch but then a friend told me to use the key. Apparently because it is less of a shock to the engine? Seems more inconvenient. It is a KLR650 so not like anything will really affect it anyway.

Yea, there are stories of bikes never starting again, or suffering electrical damage from the kill switch. I suspect urban legends myself.

I shut down with the kill switch because my hands are on the controls and i don't have to let go. For me, using the kill switch is a control and safety thing.

After the engine is dead, and after testing its in gear, ad usually after i drop it onto its kickstand, i turn the ignition switch off.

In my garage, it is neutral, key off, switch still on. This makes it one click easier to move out and start. In the wild, 1st gear, kill switch, locked forks. Bandit goes on the center stand but it's the only one that has one, Ninja, RC 390, Ducati all have no petcocks or center stands. The only non-vac petcock is on the Twin Star and I don't ride that one very much.

Tell it that it has fat ankles?

I always used the kill switch, and never fussed with the petcock. I'm sure I'm doing it wrong but I've never had a problem doing it that way.

The petcock depends on which bike. The Twin Star doesn't seem to have a leakage problem. My old Seca turbo would leak constantly if it was left on, which destroyed all manner of expensive seals and bits. But I usually use both the switch and the key. Then again, I let a buddy of mine drive one of my cars at an autocross and he got in and was ready to set off and asked, "You put it in gear AND set the handbrake?" Eh. I guess I did.