Side Stand Switch Bypass

I removed the side stand switch today. It's definitely a good safety feature (as is the clutch switch) but it just doesn't fit for a pure rally bike that I have planned for the KLR650. Generally, one wouldn't expect any problems. On the trail though, wire damage, mud and crud in the mechanism and you're stranded trying to figure out why the bike doesn't work. All that is to say, I couldn't recommend doing it on one's normal ride.

So, below is the side stand switch that's under the plastic cover on a Gen 2 side stand bracket. Essentially, it cuts the engine if the side stand is down when the motorcycle is put in gear.

The switch's dual wire lead runs up the main frame to a connector.

While there are a number of ways to bypass the switch, I simply cut the lead and crimped the two wires together and then reinstalled the connector. That completes the bypass.

Of course the switch was saved should I want to put the bike into normal service in the future or sell it...both of which are doubtful.

Now, as mentioned above, there is also a clutch switch located in the left handle switch box that prevents the motorcycle from being started while the clutch is out. Many rally participants bypass that switch as well. However, in my view, that switch is not susceptible to the types of influences that the sidestand switch is susceptible to (damage, mud, crud), so I don't see a reason to by pass it. While those that do the clutch bypass generally agree with my thinking, they believe the risk of an outright malfunction of the switch makes the bypass a legit mod. Okay.