[rickbert]

Just curious:



Do you guys make sure you are in neutral when you push the bike forward off of the center stand so that it does not slam to a stop because it's in gear ?? Every time I've pushed it off the center stand in gear and it does that I think to myself "damn I should have put it in neutral".



Or do you feel that causes any harm to the tranny when you do that ?

 

[bandit]

Just curious:



Do you guys make sure you are in neutral when you push the bike forward off of the center stand so that it does not slam to a stop because it's in gear ?? Every time I've pushed it off the center stand in gear and it does that I think to myself "damn I should have put it in neutral".



Or do you feel that causes any harm to the tranny when you do that ?

always in neutral rick,just second nature.

mind you,it doesnt go on the main stand except for maintenance,its just so [email protected] heavy

 

[Ronster]

I always stop the bike in neutral.... how do you roll the bike up on the center stand if it is not in neutral ?



Holding the clutch lever in while lifting the bike ??? I am not that coordinated.

 

[rickbert]

I always stop the bike in neutral.... how do you roll the bike up on the center stand if it is not in neutral ?



Holding the clutch lever in while lifting the bike ??? I am not that coordinated.

I would say that I've put it on the center stand while in gear several times because when I pushed it off the center stand to go for a ride it was in gear and slammed to the stop I was mentioning. (I can't see any reason why I would have put it in gear after I had it on the stand so it had to already be in gear before I backed it up onto the stand).



I say this because normally when I turn the key off the bike is in first gear as I'm pulling into the garage.



I'd go out right now and test to see if you can put it on the center stand while in gear WITHOUT pulling the clutch lever....but my engine is out....but I'm sure you can.

 

[Shep]

I always change into neutral at any stop and check the neutral light is on when I turn the ignition on on the centre stand.Cx500s are easier to get on the stand than GL500s.18" rear wheels help as well.



HTH

 

[Randall-in-Mpls]

I put the Maggot on the center stand in gear every day. Twice a day, actually. The stand lifts the rear wheel off the ground, so there's no resistance from the drive train. (If you need a running start, you're not doing it right.)



I have taken it off the stand in gear, but again, it doesn't need to roll much, if at all, so there's not much pressure on the drive train. I usually have the brake in my hand when I do it.



That said, I usually start the bike on the stand to warm a little for the minute that it takes to put on my helmet and gloves, so I've already shifted to neutral before taking it down.



R

 

[DakotaMK]

In the motorcycle safety class, we learned FINE-C, the "N" meaning make sure you are in neutral.... so when I park the bike, I am just in the habit of putting the bike in neutral now. When I take the bike off the center stand, I'm in neutral, and I usually park mine on the center stand because I'm paranoid about the lean of the bike... lol... when in reality I KNOW it's not going to tip at the angle it's parked.....





just a little OCD

 

[jasonh]

In the motorcycle safety class, we learned FINE-C, the "N" meaning make sure you are in neutral.... so when I park the bike, I am just in the habit of putting the bike in neutral now. When I take the bike off the center stand, I'm in neutral, and I usually park mine on the center stand because I'm paranoid about the lean of the bike... lol... when in reality I KNOW it's not going to tip at the angle it's parked.....





just a little OCD

FINE-C is more for starting. While we were taught that as well, we were also told it is wise to leave the bike in 1st when parking so there is less chance of it rolling and falling.



I personally park in 1st every time, then put it into neutral before I start it. So no worry about it when I'm rolling off the stand. (or just pull the clutch, lol)



No need to have it in neutral to get it on the center stand, as you don't need to roll the bike to get it up. (foot on the center stand, grab the left handle with your left, grab the grab bar with your right. Put your weight on the stand and pull up on the grab bar, it'll pop right up)

 

[rickbert]

I personally park in 1st every time, then put it into neutral before I start it. So no worry about it when I'm rolling off the stand. (or just pull the clutch, lol)

Ditto

 

[DakotaMK]

FINE-C is more for starting. While we were taught that as well, we were also told it is wise to leave the bike in 1st when parking so there is less chance of it rolling and falling.

I know it's more for starting, but I'm already thinking ahead to my next ride/ drive when I park. Like I said... a little OCD about things- for example, if my car is PULLED into my driveway, it's because the boyfriend was driving it- I always back in the driveway because I know that with traffic and pedestrians in the morning, I prefer to pull to the end of the driveway and look both way and continue pulling out, instead of backing out, etc. (We were taught to put it in neutral when parking our bikes as well) so it makes sense to me- because if you have to be in neutral for starting procedures, parking it should be the same.



I kept my motorcycle safety book from class, and re-found it recently while getting some things from my parents house. I'm seriously thinking of keeping it with the rest of my motorcycle stuff so I can review it from time to time.... and since I have my own bike now and have gotten used to it (my MSC was the first experience driving anything shifting/ clutch, etc...) I might even take the class again to reaffirm good habits and improve my skills. Maybe after that take the next level class- we'll see.



Anyway, obviously we all have different ways of doing it, and I don't think those ways have cause any issues for anybody, from what it sounds like- so maybe just what you're comfortable with.

 

[Blindstitch]

I never do it with the bike running. I roll it forward with myself on the bike and then start it up. So Yes in neutral.



Ever crack the throttle while rocking the bike off the stand? Not happening to me.

 

[jasonh]

I know it's more for starting, but I'm already thinking ahead to my next ride/ drive when I park. Like I said... a little OCD about things- for example, if my car is PULLED into my driveway, it's because the boyfriend was driving it- I always back in the driveway because I know that with traffic and pedestrians in the morning, I prefer to pull to the end of the driveway and look both way and continue pulling out, instead of backing out, etc. (We were taught to put it in neutral when parking our bikes as well) so it makes sense to me- because if you have to be in neutral for starting procedures, parking it should be the same.



I kept my motorcycle safety book from class, and re-found it recently while getting some things from my parents house. I'm seriously thinking of keeping it with the rest of my motorcycle stuff so I can review it from time to time.... and since I have my own bike now and have gotten used to it (my MSC was the first experience driving anything shifting/ clutch, etc...) I might even take the class again to reaffirm good habits and improve my skills. Maybe after that take the next level class- we'll see.



Anyway, obviously we all have different ways of doing it, and I don't think those ways have cause any issues for anybody, from what it sounds like- so maybe just what you're comfortable with.

I guess I'm a little OCD too, just the other way. I had a mustang with an e-brake that didn't work very well (my first car with a manual) and one morning I came out to find it rolled about 5 feet forward and had its nose in the wall. Since then, I park all my manual vehicles in 1st (the Jeep's e-brake is now no longer working, so it's good I do that).







I'm probably gonna go back and take the advanced rider course next summer.

 

[Gene McCall]

I always park in neutral, always start in neutral, never use the center stand unless I need to do something to the bike or it is going to be parked a long time. Actually center stands are a relatively "new" item. When I started riding in 1952 no one had them. When I stop at a light I always drop into neutral and rest my hands. Cage drivers are so slow to react you have plenty of time to catch 1st, after your light turns green! I always count gears, its just automatic. Again, when I started riding neutral lights were in the distant future, so the best way to know where neutral was, was to count. Now they have indicators to tell you what gear you are in, next they will add bluetooth so the indicator can tell you verbally!

Gene

 

[jayhanig]

I always stop the bike in neutral.... how do you roll the bike up on the center stand if it is not in neutral ?



Holding the clutch lever in while lifting the bike ??? I am not that coordinated.

And yet that's exactly what I do: hold the clutch in whenever I mess with either kickstand. I use the center stand every time I fill up with gas. I normally park the bike in neutral but I start it with the clutch depressed even when in neutral... just in case.



At traffic lights, I use a depressed clutch to keep me from going anywhere while the transmission stays in 1st gear. I keep a steady eye on my rear view mirror until there is at least one car stopped directly behind me. If it looks like he's not going to stop, all I have to do is hit the gas and scoot.... assuming I have somewhere to go.

 

[lucky]

me i put it in neutral when i park and when i put it on the center stand its in neutral

 

[rickbert]

At traffic lights, I use a depressed clutch to keep me from going anywhere while the transmission stays in 1st gear. I keep a steady eye on my rear view mirror until there is at least one car stopped directly behind me. If it looks like he's not going to stop, all I have to do is hit the gas and scoot.... assuming I have somewhere to go.

Jay....exactly !

 

[kingston73]

I always put it into neutral when I park, just habit and don't even think about it now.  I also almost always put it up on the center stand, only if I stop at the store for a quick something do I leave it on the side stand.  Around my area there aren't a whole lot of hills I have to park on, so no worries about it rolling back.  

 

[Shep]

I always put it into neutral when I park, just habit and don't even think about it now.  I also almost always put it up on the center stand, only if I stop at the store for a quick something do I leave it on the side stand.  Around my area there aren't a whole lot of hills I have to park on, so no worries about it rolling back.  

Ditto.Also with the weight of the bikes and the age of the metal in the side stands I prefer to play safe and like you use the side stand for a,"Quicky" stop/shopping.If I stop on a hill I make sure I stop facing uphill if possible.

 

[ScrapMetal]

Center stand: neutral

Side stand: in gear



As with Stitch, I'm on the bike when it comes off the center stand.

 

[Crshndbrn]

always in neutral rick,just second nature.

mind you,it doesnt go on the main stand except for maintenance,its just so [email protected] heavy

It's all in how you do it, I'm 140pds. soaking wet and I can throw my gl650I on the centerstand with all bags, trunk etc. full and packed for a roadtrip.