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Discussion Parked bike - Neutral or first gear ?

Discussion in 'The Pub' started by kiffsta, Jan 18, 2021.

When you park your bike ...

  1. Leave it in neutral

    5 vote(s)
    50.0%
  2. slap it into first so it won’t roll away

    5 vote(s)
    50.0%
  1. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    @James Mclaren dropped by to show me latest mc22 purchase , it was a non runner when he picked it up , after unloading it off his Ute ii hit the button and it started straight up and sounded sweet as

    James’s partner had a quick spin on it and parked it up at the front of the shop. Later in the day, a couple of mates dropped by and hadn’t ever heard a 4 cylinder 250 so I was like here hold my water


    I hit the starter and nothing , it wouldnt go, I was in front of the bike and held the clutch lever in and tried again, Nothing.

    I asked my mate to kick the side stand up, hit the button and it started ... yay so I let the clutch out and it lurched forward punched me in the gut before stalling, it took the absolute wind out of me, we all had a laugh , mental note to self, check if it is neutral before starting a bike. Also probably best not to stand in front of it.

    You may now laugh at my expense ,
    But it got me thinking , do you leave your bike in gear or in neutral when turned off ?

    AA8C59E0-12D5-4F0A-902D-2EAB71626338.jpeg
     
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  2. James Mclaren

    James Mclaren Active Member Contributing Member

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    Hope @kiffsta gives this thing plenty of jandal at the birthday

    glad I could help out

    due to injury this is the best outcome

    hope everyone has a ball
     
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  3. JohnRcbr

    JohnRcbr Active Member

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    I live in a hilly area and park in 1st gear when the ground is not flat. Also always start bike when seated with clutch pulled in. Still regret selling my little GSXR.
     
  4. ShaneP

    ShaneP Well-Known Member

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    Neutral. If it is steep, then I'll go first gear.

    The other question is kill switch on the right switchgear: is that how you turn a bike off? I've seen people turn the bike off by the Killswitch, and then forget the key is still on, headlight flattening the battery.
     
  5. Frankster

    Frankster Grey Pride...Adventure before Dementia Staff Member Premium Member Ride and Events Crew

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    Flat ground: Neutral, turn all lights off, ignition in steering lock position, kill switch off and fuel tap to off. If the bike isn't going anywhere in a while, I'll turn the fuel tap off and run the engine for another minute to drain the bowls.
     
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  6. 2valve

    2valve Well-Known Member

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    I don't think it's funny at all Kiffsta , getting taken out. Just show's you how easy thing's can happen even with all of your knowledge with bike's.

    For me , i prefer to leave it in neutral when all possible when parked , so the gearbox isn't under load. But if had to park on a step hill , i'd then use the gutter as a stopper.

    I've alway's thought it wasn't good to leave the gearbox loaded up while parked. With my 5 speed manual ute , i've alway's applied the hand brake and then slip it into neutral. But where i live , the carpark's are pretty well flat anyway.
     
  7. ShaneP

    ShaneP Well-Known Member

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    I always leave a car in gear, even on the flat. Quite the opposite to bikes.
     
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  8. Jo Verhelst

    Jo Verhelst Forty2 Contributing Member

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    with bikes I put 'm in neutral, killswitch off, lights off, fueltap closed. With cars take out key and don't bother about a thing :)
     
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  9. flea

    flea Well-Known Member Premium Member Contributing Member

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    always in gear except in trailer or ute and turn key off rather than kill switch .. been life long habit
     
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    Last edited: Jan 25, 2021
  10. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    I like to leave in neutral when possible. Always in neutral when being carried on vehicle. I see the 'kill switch' as an emergency thing and normally use key to turn off.
     
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  11. ShaneP

    ShaneP Well-Known Member

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    Should we throw steering lock into this discussion? I get caught with that one at work, people park their bike outside the yard and when I go to push them in, I find the steering is locked and I have to go get the key.
     
  12. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    Kill switch permanently on ... everything done with the key .... always in neutral

    I dont park on hills , ride in the rain , ride in snow or on dirt or on a full moon

    I dont have a fuel tap and I dont bother letting the bike run to drain the throttle bodies :prankster:
     
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  13. KiwiMat

    KiwiMat Well-Known Member

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    Neutral in my Garage.
    First parked anywhere else, people will sit on your bike when your not there, i have seen this happen, less chance of them pushing it over when they get on it.
     
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