Kill Switch & Ignition Key Assembly

Kill switch assembly costs between Rs 200-400 for most bikes. The ignition key assembly costs Rs 350-600 for most bikes. If you go for replacing entire lock set then it costs more.

Now, both are mechanical parts. Which one do you think you would be happier to replace after some time??? Add to this, if kill switch goes bad, you don't need to replace it immediately but if the lock goes bad you have to get it done immediately for security reasons. Even if the ignition key assembly lasts about 2 times longer than the kill switch I would use the kill switch for various reasons I am convinced about.

I Usually switch-off my bike,when i have to wait for anymore than 10-15sec's. This was after reading somewhere that, to start up the engine, the amount of fuel consumed is roughly equivalent to 3-5 sec's of fuel consumed while the engine is idling.

I switch off my bike when there is more than 20 sec for the signal to turn green. I start it when there is 5 sec left.

If there is no timer at the signal, I estimate the approximate time required for the signal to turn green and start my bike according to that.

I remember the pattern in which the 4 signals operate at a cross road. This makes it easier for me to judge how long will I have to wait at a particular signal.

Environmental issues aside, I think the most important reason not to switch off the engine immediately in a traffic signnal is that the engine is running but there is zero cooling, the only cooling or heat dissipation offered is by the oil circulating in the engine, and this is at the point when all the parts have expanded microscopically. When the engine is switched off the oil stops circulating fine, no damage done, but then when you are frantically trying to start her up to move in traffic you need to wait before the oil starts circulating again, which is usually not done because of the honking from behind or sheer ignorance. This is where most damage is done. So cant really say if its good or bad if you switch off the engine in a signal.

I second that.

I have been riding in thick bangalore traffic for over 15 years and with a self starter Unicorn for about 1.5 years now and with kick-starter bike for about 12 years. I feel that starting up the bike with the thumb starter takes about 5 secs of idling fuel and definitely takes lesser fuel than the kick starter (in warm engine conditions). I do not have any figures to prove this though.

I think, if u feel u need to idle for more than 5 secs, u could switch off the bike and start it up just when 2nd bike/car in front starts to move, never mind the green signal coz it might take 20-30 secs for the traffic immediately around u to start moving even after the green signal comes on. That way, there is a second or two for the oil to splash around inside the engine, and the mileage is great. In thick Bangalore traffic, I get about 58-59kmpl regularly on my Unicorn, and the starter is in great condition, considering that I use it about 30+ times everyday. Steady/smooth riding style (including stopping and taking off) is equally necessary to maintain good engine condition and low wastage of fuel.

Prajwal

One point i would like to state. If the bike engine is warm/hot/at operating levels, then just a thumb of the starter will be necessary to start it. Generally you will waste more fuel, if you start and then blip the throttle a number of times.

can these kill swicthes be fixed on the pulsar 180 ug2

My reason of switching off the bike at signals is different. I switch off the bike usually if the signal is more than 15 seconds to get some peace of mind. It decreases the noise to some extent which is greatly needed after driving in the tiring traffic under the hot sun. Also if the waiting at the signal is more than 30 seconds i remove my helmet to let some air flow and cool down my head.

ok guys this may be a little OT but it doesn't deserve a separate thread .
so here it is.. in a traffic signal if we had to switch off the engine then is it ok if we do so with the bike in first gear? Many people told me to shift to neutral in this situation..
Now why i want to keep my bike in first gear is that its easy too start the bike and move forward instead of shifting to first gear from neutral and then moving.. and i could even let go off the brake when im in the first gear..
I use a Yamaha fz (1down 4 up gear system).. so i would rather prefer to park my bike in gear than in neutral..so is this practise harmless?or otherwise?

40 sec+ i switch off
some bit in saving air

everyone... the main idea behind switching off ur engine is to save fuel...in carburetted bikes the fuel is drawn through the carburettor by the suction offered by the engine and when u are at idle in signals or wherever, and eith a carburetted bike, the entire suction of the engine is applied indirectly on the fuel as the airflow is very less... so the bike is running on a very rich mixture when in idle.. and starting the bike with an electric starter DOES NOT consume more fuel as the fuel is supplied by the pilot jet and not any special jet for starting the bike, unless u use the choke in which case the fuel consumed will be obviously more... in FI bikes, there is no extra consumption of fuel as the amount of fuel injected is controlled by the ECU of the FI system. so it is ALWAYS GOOD to switch off ur engines at idle, be it in a signal or otherwise.

From what I know, when an engine is started up, it runs on a richer mixture for the first few seconds before resuming the usual mixture. Due to this, there is more fuel consumed than when it was in idle through the red signal period.
I generally follow the idea of switching off, if the signal is more than 60seconds. It makes sense to switch it off then.

Regards,
Vignesh

i always switch of my bike at signals if i feel tat i hav to wait for a long time or atleast 40 sec.

Apart from saving the environment it is a good practice to improve the fuel efficiency of your bike. I would rather use that extra fuel to ride than waste it in idling on a signal. I usually switch off my bike if I have to wait for more than 10 seconds

Personally speaking, I always switch off my engine using kill switch if I'v to wait for more then 30 seconds. I have no idea about the fuel saved by doing that but I'm concerned by two other things:
1) In a city like mumbai, we find traffic signals every 5-10 min & my wait on such signals often stretch upto minutes so I switch off & on my engine for atleast 10 times during my 15 km journey which takes about an hour. My friends say constant switch on/off would damage engine in long run.. Any similar opinions?
2) As someone said earlier, even i prefer killing the engine while my bike is in 1st gear so that i can rest my hands off the handle. But the bike manual says never kill the engine when bike is in gear. Often I'm too lazy to kill the engine in neutral & then shift in gear. Please share your views.