These kill switches are worthless - any alternatives?

[Incubus]

The kill switch on Incubus, my every day ride, is held together with Gorilla glue and hope. It is still connected, but I dare not use it. The plastic base plate is really molded glue with connections sticking through it. The kill switch on Succubus, my wanna be daily ride, was working OK, until today. As the bike was idling it suddenly quit. It would not respond to the starter button. When I jumped the solenoid it would start, but would run only as long as the jumpers over the solenoid were connected. As soon as they were disconnected it quit.

I pulled the kill switch and took it apart. It looked fine. I put it back in. No start. I disconnected the r/w wires from the kill switch and connected them both on the same post taking the kill switch out of the equation. Vroom, like there was never a problem. I installed another kill switch I had. Nothing. Jumped it, vroom.

I like having a kill switch, but these old plastic switches are getting to be too troublesome. Is there a more kill switch that will fit in the stock controller? Did any later model bikes use a kill switch that looks like our at all?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Patrick

[ManitoulinLad]

Hey Incubus: Just get the Mikesxs one, its new & fits great. I actually bought both sides (controls), filled with die-lectric grease & no problems since, even in the rain. - Dan

[CatatonicBug]

I have the old kill switch housing from mine if you want it. IIRC, the only thing wrong with it is the red stripe on the switch itself is missing. I only replaced it for cosmetic reasons.

[natemoen]

And if you got the ones from Mikes XS then you could have the nice pretty chrome ones! If one wanted to drop 100 buck to get the matching set

[Pat Kelly]

I haven't used the "kill switch on any bike I've had since 1979. I shut it off using the key. The "kill switch" on both my XS's has gone bad. I opened the switch housing(s) and connected the wires inside so I don't have to mess with them anymore.

[79XS11F]

And if you got the ones from Mikes XS then you could have the nice pretty chrome ones! If one wanted to drop 100 buck to get the matching set

No need to chrome them. Just strip the paint off and buff them up followed by clear coat. They will look as good if not better then chrome.
Rob

[natemoen]

No need to chrome them. Just strip the paint off and buff them up followed by clear coat. They will look as good if not better then chrome.
Rob

Yeah that's what I plan on doing this winter. Bet if they are broken its easier to just buy them

[DiverRay]

I think the parts from mikesxs handlebar switch assembly will fir into your original one. If not, the ONLY difference between the XS650 and XS11 was the connectors on the end of the wires. A new throttle side will probably cure a LOT of the problems with BOTH bikes.

[Incubus]

Incubus is essentially problem free, Ray. The kill switch is worthless, but it is frozen in place and works. It starts and runs literally every day.

With Succubus, however, fixing the kill switch is like fixing a broken leg on a 98-year-old man with terminal cancer. There's always another problem waiting that is probably worse than the one your dealing with now.

Patrick