ZL1000 Question about the side stand switch

[Stormy]

I know this may sound dumb, but can someone explain to me the purpose of the side stand switch or what function it is supposed to provide?

Whatever it is supposed to do, I think mine has been disabled at some point for whatever reason, because I can start the bike with the side stand down, in neutral only. If it is still in gear, I just pull the clutch lever in and start the bike with the side stand still down and not upright or sitting on it (not that it's a wise thing to do, and have never seen the need to do it, but I can, if I want to).

I know theoretically that it's purpose to cut the engine, but I don't understand at what point is it suppose to cut the engine.

Is it suppose to kill a running engine if the side stand is still down and you go to take off / release the clutch or is it suppose to stop the bike from being started, even if the clutch lever is pulled in and the bike is in gear, but the side stand is down?

Thanks in advance.

Mick.

 

[furchin]

Mick, if the side stand is operating properly it should kill the engine when you release the clutch lever while pulling out with the stand down. This is to prevent the idiots from hurting themselves. And upon initial startup you can start the bike with the stand down. Hope this helps you.

 

[Stormy]

oh, ok. I thought it must be something like that.

Well, mine is definately not working at all then, I drove off the other day with the side stand still down, luckily the side stand hit the kerb while taking off and it flipped up. It's not something I usually do, just one of those things that happen when your mind is on other things.

I've stuck the multi-meter on the connections and it works properly from the switch side of things, but I don't get any negative voltage readings, so the wiring must be faulty somewhere.