My new bike buzz killed
I had a sportster once, a 1999 Custom and I hit the starter while it was in gear and it started to go forward. I am very lucky I released the starter and it did not start or it would have left without me.
I always park the bike in neutral, and always start the bike in neutral.
It is just a habit. I was just taught it was the correct way to start a bike.
Sorry for your problem, and I hope they take care of you and you'll be happy.
When I had my sporty, the left mirror broke off while riding and the turn signal which was bolted to the bottom, swung down and put a nice dent in my tank.
Harley replaced the gas tank under warranty, no painting, a whole new tank. They were good to me, and were happy to fix my bike the correct way.
Good Luck.
I always park the bike in neutral, and always start the bike in neutral.
It is just a habit. I was just taught it was the correct way to start a bike.
Sorry for your problem, and I hope they take care of you and you'll be happy.
When I had my sporty, the left mirror broke off while riding and the turn signal which was bolted to the bottom, swung down and put a nice dent in my tank.
Harley replaced the gas tank under warranty, no painting, a whole new tank. They were good to me, and were happy to fix my bike the correct way.
Good Luck.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 203
Likes: 7
From: Arizona
Too little too late but to the OP. I attempted to edit my post admitting to misreading the first post acknowledging the clutch malfunction.....I guess I didn't hit the save button soon enough. I'm actually viewing this from an iPhone. Good luck with the repairs
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,026
Likes: 474
Sorry to hear about your mishap. Mine lurches too when I pull in the clutch when its cold. Only happened a couple of times. Now I always make it a practice to double check that I'm in neutral before firing up. Had it happen in 1st gear too with the clutch all the way in and the bike started in gear when it shouldn't have. Had to start in gear because it wouldn't go back into neutral that time. Readjusted the clutch and no problems since.
It could of been a lot worst, at least your gas tank didn't get crushed before falling into the wife's car. Read that in a previous post yesterday. Poor guy just got done washing the bike in the driveway, put the hose away while the bike was running and the combination of vibration wet incline caused the bike to slide off the stand and roll down the driveway into his wife's parked car.
I know the buzz kill feeling your experiencing all to well, It sucks when stuff you always wanted causes you nothing but grief!
Went through it with jobs, street-rods and women!
I hope the dealer straightens everything out for you and you get feeling good about your bike again.
It could of been a lot worst, at least your gas tank didn't get crushed before falling into the wife's car. Read that in a previous post yesterday. Poor guy just got done washing the bike in the driveway, put the hose away while the bike was running and the combination of vibration wet incline caused the bike to slide off the stand and roll down the driveway into his wife's parked car.
I know the buzz kill feeling your experiencing all to well, It sucks when stuff you always wanted causes you nothing but grief!
Went through it with jobs, street-rods and women!
I hope the dealer straightens everything out for you and you get feeling good about your bike again.
Last edited by Chicago Ken; Dec 3, 2013 at 09:51 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,145
Likes: 2,957
From: New York
Just To Make Sure
My neighbor is 70 years old and has been riding Harleys forever. He currently has an Ultra with 75,000 miles on it (rebuilt motor). Here is his starting procedure EVERY TIME:
1- Ignition on
2- Neutral (indicated by neutral light)
3- Squeeze front brake hard with right hand
4- Reach over with left hand and push starter button
He has learned from experience not to trust the neutral light.
1- Ignition on
2- Neutral (indicated by neutral light)
3- Squeeze front brake hard with right hand
4- Reach over with left hand and push starter button
He has learned from experience not to trust the neutral light.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
You ought to make them give you a brand new Bike if it is a defect. Hell, you only have 46 miles. Technically if your an honest person, then when you sell it and your asked if the bike ever went down you have to be Honest and answer yes. Now your looking at more than just fixing dents and scratches. Your Bike has depreciated because it now has a History of having been in an accident. Would you want to buy a Bike that has gone down? Would you pay full resale value knowing that? I wouldn't pay full price.
I Went into the garage
Sat on my new 2014 Hd-1 custom built Street Bob with only 46 mikes on it.I still had the forks turned and on the kick stand.I Engaged the clutch, went to start it and the bike jump out...The bike and I went down hard.
It Broke my front brake lever, scratch and dented my muffler and scratched my mirror.
I Called the dealer and asked if was covered by the warranty. They said to bring it in so they could check to see if the issue was caused by me or a malfunction of the bike before they would say it would or wouldn't be covered. At any rate the bike is in the garage and the clutch will not engage. So HD is picking it up Thursday since I cant even start it. I'm going to video tape the guy trying to move the bike to document that indeed the clutch will not engage.
Sat on my new 2014 Hd-1 custom built Street Bob with only 46 mikes on it.I still had the forks turned and on the kick stand.I Engaged the clutch, went to start it and the bike jump out...The bike and I went down hard.
It Broke my front brake lever, scratch and dented my muffler and scratched my mirror.
I Called the dealer and asked if was covered by the warranty. They said to bring it in so they could check to see if the issue was caused by me or a malfunction of the bike before they would say it would or wouldn't be covered. At any rate the bike is in the garage and the clutch will not engage. So HD is picking it up Thursday since I cant even start it. I'm going to video tape the guy trying to move the bike to document that indeed the clutch will not engage.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 548
Likes: 1
From: Cardboard Box
I am not going to slam the OP, or say anything harsh, but I'm not sure it is the bike's fault, well, not via actual malfunction.
If you come to a complete stop in gear and holding the clutch, shut it off via the kill switch or ignition, and then drop the kick stand and walk away without the bike moving at all, it won't lurch on start. If you do the exact same, but let the bike settle back on the gears so it doesn't physically move and then start it while it's still in gear AND you're holding the clutch, it will lurch. Why? The gears are slightly engaged and the act of the motor turning over will cause a lurch. As others have said, this does appear to be more prevalent when it is cold.
It happened on my Sportster, and it has happened on my Dyna since the day I brought it home. I do 2 things to get around this... 1, I put it in neutral when I start it, or 2, I make damned sure I am sitting on it and planted if I have to start it in gear for some reason. Never, ever, ever trust the kick stand or the neutral light. When I think about it, the only bikes I have ever owned that didn't do this were those that had very lightweight transmissions, like my SV650 or my DRZ400SM.
The fact that the clutch is not doing anything to disengage the transmission from the motor after the crash concerns me, however it could be a result of the impact.
If you come to a complete stop in gear and holding the clutch, shut it off via the kill switch or ignition, and then drop the kick stand and walk away without the bike moving at all, it won't lurch on start. If you do the exact same, but let the bike settle back on the gears so it doesn't physically move and then start it while it's still in gear AND you're holding the clutch, it will lurch. Why? The gears are slightly engaged and the act of the motor turning over will cause a lurch. As others have said, this does appear to be more prevalent when it is cold.
It happened on my Sportster, and it has happened on my Dyna since the day I brought it home. I do 2 things to get around this... 1, I put it in neutral when I start it, or 2, I make damned sure I am sitting on it and planted if I have to start it in gear for some reason. Never, ever, ever trust the kick stand or the neutral light. When I think about it, the only bikes I have ever owned that didn't do this were those that had very lightweight transmissions, like my SV650 or my DRZ400SM.
The fact that the clutch is not doing anything to disengage the transmission from the motor after the crash concerns me, however it could be a result of the impact.
Last edited by Irish883; Dec 3, 2013 at 10:23 PM.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 52
From: Central Illinois
That's pretty much my procedure. I would add that I always pull the clutch in before starting as well.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 548
Likes: 1
From: Cardboard Box
Same, but using my example above it will still lurch a bit even if the clutch is pulled. It isn't bad if you're sitting on it and ready, but if it is still resting on the kick stand and you aren't supporting it with your feet it could easily be enough to push it off the stand.