SuzukiSavage.com - Need light left on alarm

newrider55

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Need light left on alarm
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

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'97 Black LS650
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T Mack 1 - FSO

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Re: Need light left on alarm
Reply #1 - 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) Grin

. 3) Jump start it, but that requires some careful work getting the cables on.

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Bear_Rider Senior Member Offline Posts: 289	Re: Need light left on alarm Reply #2 - 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.
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Demin Serious Thumper Offline We need more chlorine in the gene pool Posts: 2435 Warren,Ohio Gender:	Re: Need light left on alarm Reply #3 - 05/13/08 at 13:25:42 She probably turned it to the PARK position
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FreeSpirit Serious Thumper Offline Joy is my Compass ! Posts: 3823 North Georgia Gender:	Re: Need light left on alarm Reply #4 - 05/13/08 at 13:27:24 Can you Borrow a battery charger and charge it up??
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newrider55 YaBB Newbies Offline New rider and loving it. Posts: 45 Climax, MI Gender:	Re: Need light left on alarm Reply #5 - 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
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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: Need light left on alarm Reply #6 - 05/13/08 at 18:36:42 Maybe a lot of people do but I never use the kill switch.
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28886 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Need light left on alarm Reply #7 - 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.
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joebothehobo

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Re: Need light left on alarm
Reply #8 - 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.

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vroom1776 Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 2110 Gender:	Re: Need light left on alarm Reply #9 - 05/14/08 at 03:40:29 .
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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: Need light left on alarm Reply #10 - 05/14/08 at 04:21:23 Maybe something I've missed over the years, but why would you use the kill switch .
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T Mack 1 - FSO

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Re: Need light left on alarm
Reply #11 - 05/14/08 at 08:21:55

bill67 wrote on 05/14/08 at 04:21:23:

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).

newrider55 wrote 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. ............

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.

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Engineers design things, Technicians make them work.
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30% of being mechanical is confidence/30% is knowing to go slow when needed/30% is looking repeatedly at what you have/10% is dumb luck Wink

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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: Need light left on alarm Reply #12 - 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.
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drharveys - FSO

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Re: Need light left on alarm
Reply #13 - 05/14/08 at 09:18:26

bill67 wrote 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.

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!

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T Mack 1 - FSO

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sold 2001 LS650 for
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Re: Need light left on alarm
Reply #14 - 05/14/08 at 09:23:36

bill67 wrote 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.

...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......

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Engineers design things, Technicians make them work.
---
30% of being mechanical is confidence/30% is knowing to go slow when needed/30% is looking repeatedly at what you have/10% is dumb luck Wink

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