My new bike buzz killed
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 174
Likes: 1
From: Bend, Oregon
I'm only skeptical because you rode 46 miles without noticing there was an issue? You say it stalled in gear with the clutch in, yet didnt think it was a reason to stop by the dealer with a complaint? If I picked up my brand new bike and it died everytime I stopped, I would have been back day 1.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,666
Likes: 3
From: Styxville
My mates give me cr@p about being a "belts and braces man" because I put the bike in neutral AND pull in the clutch before hitting the starter.
But more than once a neutral light has lied to me.
But more than once a neutral light has lied to me.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 10
From: Suffolk, England
I suspect so too.
The owner's manual says "Shift transmission to neutral before starting engine to prevent accidental movement, which could result in death or serious injury".
That pretty much covers the dealer.
It does sound like the clutch is poorly adjusted though. Now, whether that is an owner adjustment or whether its a fault is something to argue the toss over with the dealer.
Rather than saying that the bike was started in gear with the clutch in and it jerked forward on the starter, it might be better to say the bike was started in neutral and it jerked forward when put into gear with the clutch in. That then would be something caused by the poor adjustment of the clutch rather than the owner ignoring the manual's starting instructions.
The owner's manual says "Shift transmission to neutral before starting engine to prevent accidental movement, which could result in death or serious injury".
That pretty much covers the dealer.
It does sound like the clutch is poorly adjusted though. Now, whether that is an owner adjustment or whether its a fault is something to argue the toss over with the dealer.
Rather than saying that the bike was started in gear with the clutch in and it jerked forward on the starter, it might be better to say the bike was started in neutral and it jerked forward when put into gear with the clutch in. That then would be something caused by the poor adjustment of the clutch rather than the owner ignoring the manual's starting instructions.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 282
Likes: 2
From: Dubai, UAE
A car pulled in front of me during the first week of my then brand new Sportster too, also did some damage. $hit happens, it's just you & the bike still getting to know each other. Think of it as a blessing - it's no longer just 'a' new bike, it's 'your' new bike with some scars & a story to tell already.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 171
Likes: 2
From: Local
Never start my bike without the green (new to me) light, habit from 20+ years of riding kickstarts, am curious though after reading through this thread, benefits of pulling clutch lever on start up in neutral?
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 5
From: Coweta, Oklahoma
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,666
Likes: 3
From: Styxville
Like I said, it's a belt and braces thing, a double safety check. I find with the sloppy linkage on my RK, the neutral light can be on but the gears still engaged, just every once in a long while. Mostly its just a habit I got into from riding a BMW Airhead with a busted neutral switch for years.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 184
Likes: 2
From: Illinois
I learned on kickstart only Harleys.
You have to have the clutch engaged to link the transmission to the engine to turn it over with the kicker. So it also always has to be in neutral.
My personal advice - take it or leave it - is always put it in neutral before shutting the engine off. Period.
Then there is no mistake when starting the next time. Always start in neutral. Period.
The only rare exception would be parking on a steep hill - but even then, I have had bikes with sketchy compression still drift backwards. Other than that there is no reason to start in gear and rely on the clutch slipping (disengaged) to allow the engine to turn over.
You have to have the clutch engaged to link the transmission to the engine to turn it over with the kicker. So it also always has to be in neutral.
My personal advice - take it or leave it - is always put it in neutral before shutting the engine off. Period.
Then there is no mistake when starting the next time. Always start in neutral. Period.
The only rare exception would be parking on a steep hill - but even then, I have had bikes with sketchy compression still drift backwards. Other than that there is no reason to start in gear and rely on the clutch slipping (disengaged) to allow the engine to turn over.