Poll: How do you shut down your Rocket?

How do you shut down your Rocket?

  • Turn key to off

    Votes: 58 61.1%

  • Engine kill switch

    Votes: 18 18.9%

  • Kickstand down while in gear

    Votes: 19 20.0%
  • Total voters
    95
Sidestand only, for all bikes, because I once got off a bike before putting the sidestand down. I also give it a kick forward after it is down to make sure it is all the way down. The only time I even touch the kill switch is by accident.
 
Ugarte said:
Sidestand only, for all bikes, because I once got off a bike before putting the sidestand down. I also give it a kick forward after it is down to make sure it is all the way down. The only time I even touch the kill switch is by accident.
Click to expand...
I think that is a good safety routine, especially if you are forgetful, but it won't stop (shut down) a Harley (you said all bikes) and they don't really go forward much from what I remember. They are designed to spring back if you ride away with it down. If you look at a Harley you will see it seems like it is not forward enough, kind of straight down, but it is locked in. No failed switch to leave you on the side of the road I suppose.
Right to left: kill switch, key, jiffy stand, kill switch, key, jiffy stand... no problems
 
I would still use the same routine with a Harley, kickstand down first then turn key. The kill switch would not be touched.
 
Last edited:
scot in exile said:
For 70000miles I have used the side stand in fact I use the side stand on all my bikes, plus if you use the side stand you are not one of them idiots who gets off the bike then the bike falls over
Click to expand...
I did that once with a Bonneville.
 
Putting the kickstand down on my Enfield will not stop the engine, so that doesn't always work.

The problem I would have with using the kill switch, or the kickstand, on any other similar system, is that I would walk away from the bike with the ignition still turned on. This seems to be a concern with Triumph also, at least that is what I read between the lines in the manual. Despite the fact that the MSF course teaches one to use the kill switch, I never have.
 
I use sidestand or key if I'm allowing the bike to idling whilst in neutral. If you read that little 'tips on how to ride your Triumph' book that comes from the factory, it says not to use the kill switch for ECU reasons.
 
I don't remember older Triumphs (60's, early 70's) with kickstand switches. Neither my '83 HD. Stop, put it in neutral, turn the key off. I never park the R3 pointing downhill.
 
I cannot see any reason to put the bike in neutral, you run the risk of it rolling off the stand if you are parked even slightly downhill. When I park downhill I keep it in first gear, put the kickstand down to kill the engine, then let the bike roll forward against the gear, then turn the key. Never had a problem with a bike rolling off the kickstand parking down hill.
 
For the first few years of the Rocket many had idle problems and no one could figure out why. There were many ideas put forward and most of them involved how to switch off the beast. using the kill switch or side stand was said to mess with the ECU. None of these things seemed to make a difference and it was some time before the mystery turned out to be the primary throttle position sensor. Nowadays whenever someone has a problem with high or inconsistent idle the answer of "adjust or replace the TPS with a new one having the blue innards" is the quick and usually correct reply. I'm still on the original TPS but carry a new blue one on trips just in case. Having said that I usually use the key but on occasion I'll use the sidestand or kill switch depending on the situation with no problems. 90,000 kms to date.
 
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