[mupp]

Arrgghhhhhh !!! I read this on one of the threads a few months ago and somehow it just didn't stick in my head.

So, went down to the garage and dragged out my Burgie to go off to work this evening. Switched on, press start..... silence.
Warning code "CHEK" flashes at me on the dash. Hmmm, quick look at sidestand, no, that's up. Perhaps one brake switch is iffy? OK, squeeze them both and press start. Silence.

I then spend 20 frustrating minutes trying to source the problem (with apologetic phone call to work - I'll be late in as my ultra reliable Burgie which already gets loads of stick from all my macho "real bike" colleagues, won't start...).
Spray WD40 all over sidestand switch. Cuss and curse. look at all visible wire connections. Can't really examine brake switch wires as I have HUGE pair of muffs over handlebars that require mirrors to be removed first. Oh well, off with mirrors, un-lace muffs, pull off....

....notice that kill switch is in off position....

 

[NormanB]

I thought you would have a wee pre-flight check card!!

 

[gruntled]

I did that on the Fourth of July. After watching the fireworks I tried to leave & couldn't get the bike started.
I was near the top of a steep hill so I tried bump-starting, no go. A cop gave me a ride over the top & to a place where my wife came to get me. I went back & took the battery out , went home & charged it & still no-go. Just when I was ready to call a tow truck I saw the kill switch.

 

[mupp]

Felt such an idiot. I never use the kill switch on the Burgie, I just use the key. Alzheimers is catching up on me :lol:
I've decided it could be two things -
My other bike is an XR400 that has no key, and I always (have to) use the kill switch to stop it. Possible brain fart last night when I parked it may have caused mix up.
Or, big heavy muffs have knocked the button as I manouvered the bike. They also obscure the obvious bright red button (I only peer inside them now and again to look at the brake fluid - perhaps I ought to make that a start up check!)
Am sending note to Suzuki to change dashboard warning code "CHEK" to "CHEK THE BLOODY KILL BUTTON DOPEY!"

 

[Jim]

Everytime I put our helmets on the handlebars when we make a quick stop, we hit the kill switch. After doing that about 5 times, and feeling dumb about it, we finally "get it"

 

[bwdbrn1]

We've all done it

What's that they drill into us in the MSF classes?

FINE-C
F = fuel...but it's already on,
I = ignition...O.K., turn the key, got that,
N = nuetral...hmmm, doesn't realy apply,
E = engine cut off...there ya' go, that's the one!
C = choke/clutch...again, doesn't realy apply to us,

So I gues we've got BISE,

B = brake lever back,
I = ignition on,
S = sidestand up
E = engine cut off

 

[NormanB]

The handlebars muffs are a definite hindrance tho' - so at least you have a plausible excuse.

 

[ChrisLucey]

Don't sweat it, guy. We've all done it at least once. Have you drained the battery yet by accident? I did that, too.

Here's a related experience I'll toss in, should someone else encounter the same odd behavior.

After engaging and then disengaging the kill switch, my husband's Burgie doesn't like to start if he uses the left brake lever while hitting the ignition switch. If he uses the right brake lever and hits the ignition (the least convenient method, unless you happen to have two right hands), the Burgie turns right over.

Only happens to him after he has uses the kill switch. Just once, then not again until the next time he uses the kill switch. (Naturally he doesn't use it often anymore.) Doesn't happen on my Burgie at all.

Strange bug, eh? Perhaps Suzuki, like Microsoft, would call it a feature. Extra safety, you know.... Anyway, if anyone has ignition trouble and you are SURE the kill switch isn't engaged, try using your right brake lever. That's the trick in at least one instance!

--Chris

 

[Eltee]

Ha! Already had a good laugh at myself cause of that kill switch. Late today after shopping and returning to the parking lot, the taillights were aglow. "Well, now what?" I queried me, then discovered my mistake. Caution: Grey mustached guys alone chuckling aloud may draw attention and cause the citizens to furrow their brow and draw their cell phone for an important 911 call. I'm glad I can laugh at me!

 

[swstiles]

Arrgghhhhhh !!!

Yep I've been there and done that to. I got the owners manual out to find out what (CHEC) meant and found the problem>

 

[billmeek]

I got the owners manual out to find out what (CHEC) meant

Check you side-stand, check your kill switch ...

 

[avgibson]

Just read this post today, but it cracks me up! My three year old daughter did that to me when she sat on my burgman one time. She also hit the hazards and the highbeams!!!

 

[Wally]

Same thing happened to me a month ago, but it wasn't caused by a 3 year old, it was caused by a 30 year old who was checking out my scooter. Took me 10 minutes to figure out the problem, since I never use the kill switch.

Wally

 

[NormanB]

Hi Wally

Great avatar :thumbright:

 

[chuck807]

I have to admit to doing that too! Only mine was when I went to visit my motorcycle mechanic friend at his shop.... he was closed for lunch so I get back on the bike and try to start it but got the "CHEC" light. Made phone call to work that my bike's broken but at least its at the mechanic's shop. 20 minutes later I figured it out just as my friend was pulling in... I never did figure out how I tripped that switch.

 

[flintbobbi]

Don't sweat it, guy. We've all done it at least once. Have you drained the battery yet by accident? I did that, too.

I turned the key just a little too far to lock the steering column as I went in one day to work. Left work pretty late - wouldn't turnover or show any dash lights. Sure enough - dead battery. Had to get a jump from a tow service. No problems since because I'm extra careful as I turn the key to lock the column. It's incredibly difficult to see if I turn it too far as the only way to know is that the taillights come on, and in the bright Phoenix sunlight most morning, that's near impossible unless you flip them on and off.

flint