SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Need light left on alarm
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1210708376

Message started by newrider55 on 05/13/08 at 12:52:55

Title: Need light left on alarm
Post by newrider55 on 05/13/08 at 12:52:55

Hi all,

My wife did it again. Left the lights on and drained the battery. 1st time it was at home just plued in the battery tender. This time she left it on at work and the battery is DEAD. We have two problems.

1. To get the bike home..I don't think even trying to run with the bike will start it. Only Eight mile push. No truck or trailer. would anyone recommend towing the bike with another?

2. Is there a way to install some kind of audible alarm for when the lights are on but the bike is not running?

Thanks.

Tony

Title: Re: Need light left on alarm
Post by T Mack 1 on 05/13/08 at 13:07:45

How did she turn it off ?????? By the handle bar kill switch.... if so, put a piece of tape on the handlebar switch so she remembers to use the key instead. The tape will still allow the kill switch to work in an emergency, but acts as a nice visual cue until she gets into the habit of only using the switch.

As to how to get the bike home... 1) a tow service , 2) find a freind with a utility trailer and offer him a nice dinner if they help(or a case of beer) ;D. 3) Jump start it, but that requires some careful work getting the cables on.

Title: Re: Need light left on alarm
Post by Bear_Rider on 05/13/08 at 13:12:50

My wife just got me one of those long coil "key tender" contraptions. One end is hooked to my belt, and the other to the key. It reminds me when I get off the bike to take the key out.

It's hard to walk away from the bike when you're still tethered to it. ;D

Title: Re: Need light left on alarm
Post by demin on 05/13/08 at 13:25:42

She probably turned it to the PARK position

Title: Re: Need light left on alarm
Post by FreeSpirit on 05/13/08 at 13:27:24

Can you Borrow a battery charger and charge it up??

Title: Re: Need light left on alarm
Post by newrider55 on 05/13/08 at 17:53:07

She didn't even turn the key when she got to work. Just turned off the kill switch and went inside. Luckie one of her co-workers had a battery tender and hooked it up for two hours. Still couldn't get her to turn over. But I was able to get her to start by running and popping the clutch and rode her home.

Thanks to all.

Tony

Title: Re: Need light left on alarm
Post by bill67 on 05/13/08 at 18:36:42

Maybe a lot of people do but I never use the kill switch.

Title: Re: Need light left on alarm
Post by verslagen1 on 05/13/08 at 21:32:28

I always use the kill and the key. Switched it to park a couple of times, but never left it on, forgotten key.

I have a tank bag that I have a retractable tether on the key. The bag comes with me where ever I go.

Title: Re: Need light left on alarm
Post by joebothehobo on 05/13/08 at 23:22:25

Not really all that relevant, but once after a low-side, the key turned to park, pulled out 2mm, and then bent, so i couldnt get it to turn back to on or off to ride it home or turn off the lights. I, like you, didnt want to leave the lights on to drain the battery. I had to find something (in the dark) that was less shocking to unplug than the battery terminals so that i could leave it parked overnight while i got a new key made. That was fun, lemme tell you.

Title: Re: Need light left on alarm
Post by vroom1776 on 05/14/08 at 03:40:29

Title: Re: Need light left on alarm
Post by bill67 on 05/14/08 at 04:21:23

Maybe something I've missed over the years, but why would you use the kill switch .

Title: Re: Need light left on alarm
Post by T Mack 1 on 05/14/08 at 08:21:55

676C69693332050 wrote:

Maybe something I've missed over the years, but why would you use the kill switch .

Because it turns off the bike.... and the dealers all show you that it does it (mainly for safety).

242F3D38232E2F387F7F4A0 wrote:

She didn't even turn the key when she got to work. Just turned off the kill switch and went inside. ............

Tony

Nice small piece of tape (colored Duct tape?) on the kill switch as a training aid is probably the cheapest thing you can do...... After it's a habit to use the key, then take the tape off and clean the left-over adhesive with WD-40.

Title: Re: Need light left on alarm
Post by bill67 on 05/14/08 at 08:57:18

I know what the kill switch does but there is hardly any reason to use it. Unless you tip the bike over when the motor was running.

Title: Re: Need light left on alarm
Post by drharveys on 05/14/08 at 09:18:26

686366663C3D0A0 wrote:

I know what the kill switch does but there is hardly any reason to use it. Unless you tip the bike over when the motor was running.

Some riders prefer to use the kill switch. Three main reasons:

1 Convenience -- it's right on the handlebar
2 Familiarity -- they're used to using it and will remember it in an emergency
3 Reliability -- so they're sure it's working properly

Others would rather use the key so they don't accidentally leave it in the bike!

Title: Re: Need light left on alarm
Post by T Mack 1 on 05/14/08 at 09:23:36

464D48481213240 wrote:

I know what the kill switch does but there is hardly any reason to use it. Unless you tip the bike over when the motor was running.

...or the clutch cable breaks as you're heading up to a red light ... or you smell/see smoke coming from the bike .... or you reach down to use the key and it breaks off in your hand ... or ... or...

An old timer once told me to always have two ways to turn-off your bike.

Bill67.... I agree that I almost never use it......

Title: Re: Need light left on alarm
Post by YonuhAdisi on 05/14/08 at 09:31:06

I actually use the kill switch almost exclusively to turn off the bike, and I only once or twice forgot the key.

Title: Re: Need light left on alarm
Post by Gary On A Savage on 05/14/08 at 09:50:44

I ALWAYS use the kill switch, on every bike that has one. For me it's safer to get the engine off than to accidently pop the clutch or something such. Always seems easier to think with the engine off than running.

AND I have left the lights on and the key in it (on all 3 bikes I've owned) and gone dead a few times. So I got in the habit of locking the forks when I left the bike (at least when I wasn't putting it in the garage) so I would at least have to pull the key out to lock it. That helps me not forget the key and walking around the front of the bike gives me a chance to notice the light.

It's all about developing personal habits that work for you and your bike. Pilots develop a check list for EVERYTHING! Why? So the stuff that needs to get done does get done and in the right order.

Title: Re: Need light left on alarm
Post by sjaskow on 05/14/08 at 11:36:31

I was taught in the OH BRC (Ohio's version of the MSF) to turn of the bike using the kill switch. They call it FINE-C where I is the ignition and E is the engine cut-off switch: http://www.msf-usa.org/index_new.cfm?pagename=RiderCourse%20Interactive%20Tour&content=4204FEC2-A0CC-53D5-6454758F10F78A07&referer=Motorcycle%20Basics

The Fuel part was kind of hard to remember to do since I had to remember to actually turn it off/on since their bike had a manual petcork.

Title: Re: Need light left on alarm
Post by Max_Morley on 05/14/08 at 11:43:01

If you want to disable the European/Asian? parking light bit I think there is a post in the tech section on which wire to cut off the ignition switch. At least then if you roll the key the wrong way and pull it, the light won't kill the battery while your gone. Wonder how the European riders get theirs started when they have left the light on for hours? I had a Mercedes while there with the German light setup and you could turn the park lights on on the street side only when you parked over the curb and on the sidewalk on the narrow streets. Max