May have a problem

[the Ferret]

true, true

[GoldOxide_imp]

Sounds about right. Maybe a good cleaning will take care of it. The switch. Cause we know the bike ain’t getting a cleaning!!!

[max]

All makes sense, guess you did not notice the fuelpump wining up during the bump start....
All the red switch does normally is switch the " run " relay and the " start " relay when the engine is started, they are both small relays under the seat.
Because of the low current draw we tend to call this a dry contact as opposed to a wet contact which carries more current and bites through corrosion a bit easier.
This diagram may help to explain what we mean;




Combination of moisture and fine dust, a bit of exercise would clear it out as you have done Ferret, i think the actual switch is separate and inside the handle from memory but i could be wrong here.
Older kill switches ( 1970's ) were more exposed but the contacts swiped by rotating the switch thus cleaning the surfaces every time they were used, modern switches don't have this cleaning effect and you are not the first case, just good observation on your part.
The fuel pump is a very good test for this switch like you mentioned.