I have a bad habit of leaving the key in the bike in the on position when I stop.  I just hit the engine stop and get off.  Of course, the battery is flat in an hour.  Is there a battery saver kit for this bike?

*** UPDATE ***

So...there is no battery saver kit to anyone's knowledge?  

I have learned a lot the hard way.  For the moment, I put my key on a spring loaded clip.  I clip it to my pants, then pull the key down to the ignition.  When I get off, I have to turn off the key and take it with me or I get stuck. Very funny when it happens, but I haven't forgotten to take the key out.  I am designing a transistor and relay system for cutting power when the kill switch is used.  It will reset by keying to park then back to run.

Thanks to everyone.  I will post my battery saver schematic when I have tested it.  (not sure how soon that will be.)

I never touch the kill switch.  It is always in the on position.  I always use the key switch to energize or de-energize the ignition system.  Actually, I don't see any need to even have a kill switch, except that it might be a handy way to kill the bike in case of a wreck or some kind of engine runaway (stuck throttle?).

Is there any other good use for the kill switch?

That's exactly what the kill switch is for, safety. You can kill the engine without having to take your hands off the bars.

When I bobbed mine, I eliminated the kill switch, key on, hit the starter. You will never forget your key if you use it for the on/off. If you don't want to make any modifications, then stop using the kill switch when you're done riding.

Cavi Mike wrote on 08/13/12 at 17:07:22:


Spot-on Mike! The instructors at the MSF Rider Ed course I took last year pounded that into our brains constantly. There WILL be times when you have to react so quickly you'll fumble trying to get to the ignition key. Especially one that is under the seat or on the side of the frame neck. With the grip mounted kill switch you always have that safety easily at hand. If it saves your arse just once.............well,you get the picture.

Since you should leave your bike in gear to avoid an accidental forward roll off the kickstand. I ALWAYS stop in first gear and let the kick switch kill it, then I reach down and take the key out. It's just habit. I drained the battery twice in the first couple of months until it got to be routine. That was in 2010.

verslagen1 wrote on 08/13/12 at 20:18:53:

That would work as well,  but unless you use a resistor network or some other means to get it set to a certain voltage level for the trigger point, you would have to use a High Voltage relay and put it on the generator side.

Key on, Key off. Thats what its for.
You never leave your key in the bike and you don't kill the battery. Leave the emergency switch for emergencies.

And i wouldn't kill it with the kick switch. Wear n tear on the gears you don't need.