Does it really matter how I turn off the bike?

My wife has had four H-D and I have had three. All had a "kill" switch and an ignition switch. All could be shut down by either. Does it make a difference to the bike? No. On EFI bikes the fuel pump is controlled by the "kill" switch. So, if you want to turn on the ignition without turning on the fuel pump, turn off the "kill" switch. Also, as some posters have pointed out (too many pages, too many posts), using the "kill" switch to shut off the bike invites forgetting to turn off the ignition (and headlights, taillights, etc.). I see this happen all the time.
 
I always use the ignition switch to turn off my MC. EXCEPT when I park on an incline and want to leave it in gear; kinda hard to reach the ignition switch with one hand on the front brake and the other on the clutch.
But then after using the kill switch, I look like an idiot when I get on my bike and try starting it and it takes about a minute to figure out what's wrong because I forgot to reset the kill switch.
 
You statement has some errors in it, at least for 04 and later probably at least. The OFF/RUN switch on the handle bar in the OFF position turns off the circuits for the ignition (spark),starting (starter) and fuel pump. Only thing will work is light circuit relay and such. No engine components.
Harley does say in their manual to use it to turn off engine at all times and follows in the same sentence especially in an emergency. I personally think its a safety issue. Does anyone know how long this switch has been there on a Harley? Was it there back before safety was a concern? HA??. Lawyers want your butt on seat and hand on bars when starting and stopping. None of this in gear, on jiffy stand, standing around sucking that 6th cold one down and reaching over and hitting the starter. I have seen a few people do that. I had a Yamaha V-Star that had a stand lockout switch. Was a darn good idea.
 
I use the switch......it's right there on the handlebar......and I turn off the big switch...and generally lock it when I leave the bike....don't see an issue with two switches....don't see any problems if you don't use it either.....
 
Best answer yet. Try turning off your bike using the ignition switch when parking on an upslope. Yes it can be done this way, but there's a reason the kill switch is on the right handlebar grip by the front brake lever and not on the left handlebar grip by the clutch....

But by all means, use whichever method blows your skirt up....
 
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