Battery?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
That's what I thought. Still trying to figure out how starting a bike with the clutch in is dangerous...I know I can put the bike in neutral and start it without issue but...That doesn't address the problem. That's more of a dealer answer...I have had several Harleys and have not had an issue starting them in gear. A buddy has the exact same bike as me and has no problem with it kicking back ever. There is a root cause somewhere..
Clutch may drag when cold and starting bike can jerk forward and then you let go of the clutch and all hell breaks loose (I have seen this happen)
Clutch cable can break at the crucial moment and bike won't necessarily stall if starter is engaged (this has happened to me)
Your hand might give way for any number of reasons and you end up on the floor looking a bit of a dick in front of all the people you were hoping to impress
Safer to start bike in neutral anyway so if throttle is stuck or whatever you can deal with it without trying to avoid old ladies with shopping in their hands, cars, trucks and assorted traffic....many reasons really.
Last edited by Spanners39; Sep 2, 2013 at 04:46 PM.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,416
Likes: 88
From: San Quirino, Italy
It can be dangerous for the following reasons:
Clutch may drag when cold and starting bike can jerk forward and then you let go of the clutch and all hell breaks loose (I have seen this happen)
Clutch cable can break at the crucial moment and bike won't necessarily stall if starter is engaged (this has happened to me)
Your hand might give way for any number of reasons and you end up on the floor looking a bit of a dick in front of all the people you were hoping to impress
Safer to start bike in neutral anyway so if throttle is stuck or whatever you can deal with it without trying to avoid old ladies with shopping in their hands, cars, trucks and assorted traffic....many reasons really.
Clutch may drag when cold and starting bike can jerk forward and then you let go of the clutch and all hell breaks loose (I have seen this happen)
Clutch cable can break at the crucial moment and bike won't necessarily stall if starter is engaged (this has happened to me)
Your hand might give way for any number of reasons and you end up on the floor looking a bit of a dick in front of all the people you were hoping to impress
Safer to start bike in neutral anyway so if throttle is stuck or whatever you can deal with it without trying to avoid old ladies with shopping in their hands, cars, trucks and assorted traffic....many reasons really.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
I would reckon its a combo of slight clutch drag and the fact that the bike runs very lean (as do all EFI TC's) its on the verge when hot and it won't take much to make it kick back....even slight clutch drag, that you might not notice from day to day, could cause it.....that's my theory anyway based on what I know of the newer bikes.
If it doesn't ever happen when starting in neutral then it can't really be anything else and starting in neutral would be the cure....and a cheap one at that!
If it doesn't ever happen when starting in neutral then it can't really be anything else and starting in neutral would be the cure....and a cheap one at that!
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,416
Likes: 88
From: San Quirino, Italy
I would reckon its a combo of slight clutch drag and the fact that the bike runs very lean (as do all EFI TC's) its on the verge when hot and it won't take much to make it kick back....even slight clutch drag, that you might not notice from day to day, could cause it.....that's my theory anyway based on what I know of the newer bikes.
If it doesn't ever happen when starting in neutral then it can't really be anything else and starting in neutral would be the cure....and a cheap one at that!
If it doesn't ever happen when starting in neutral then it can't really be anything else and starting in neutral would be the cure....and a cheap one at that!
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 856
Likes: 6
From: Charlotte County FL
If its like mine it does not roll as easily with the clutch pulled in while in gear as it does when it's in neutral.... so starting it in gear there's some clutch drag on the starter that can cause kickback, that would would not happen if the bike is in neutral... your clutch could be adjusted on the tight side which makes this worse...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
Even with a tuner you sometimes can't get them to run as rich on idle as a carby bike would. I run a 48 idle jet, some run a 51... most tuners won't get you as rich as that so it could still be part of the issue.
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