Remote start ?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,975
Likes: 5,214
From: Michigan
Of all the things that I would like to have on my bikes (or trike), automatic trans, mechanical reverse, adjustable windshields and handlebars, a larger fuel tank, or a designated place for my fuel cap, a remote starter would rate dead last!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,326
Likes: 56,888
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
Bug it would at least made the list to be dead last, right?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 44,795
Likes: 29,731
From: PNW
As someone who had a few vehicles with remote start, I would ask - why would you want that on a bike? For a passenger vehicle here in the frozen tundra we do it so that the car interior gets warm while we finish our coffee inside, so we won't freeze our asses off. I can't imagine any benefit on a bike.
And the aftermarket ones can mess with your electrical system. If you have a Canbus bike that could also factor, but I don't know.
And the aftermarket ones can mess with your electrical system. If you have a Canbus bike that could also factor, but I don't know.
Ive had remote start on my last few vehicles and since I live in an area where we dont live with freezing weather I have rarely used them. I could definetly see the benifit for someone in the north so the vehicle could warm the interior/defrost windows etc... but dont see the use for it on a bike. Hell hit the start switch and by the time you get your helmet on and seated its warmed up and ready to go
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 766
From: north Carolina
Love the remote start on my wife's car. It's very useful having a baby and the car sits outside so it gets pretty cold in there. We start it up about 10 minutes before leaving so we aren't putting the baby in a cold car. Can't see a use for one on my bike though. When I go ride I typically start the bike and it idles while I'm putting on my jacket and helmet then off I go.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,975
Likes: 5,214
From: Michigan
I was "gifted" a remote starter for my '03 Chevy Dura-Max diesel by some well meaning relatives.
The unit didn't allow time for the "glow plugs" to heat up properly before trying to start the engine in cold weather when i was parked outside of the garage.
Once when I was up in Canada snowmobiling I had parked he truck for a few days and there was several inches of snow on the truck after we returned from a multi-day trip so I open the door, started the engine and got out the snow brush to clean the snow of of the truck.
I then went to get back into the truck only to find that the "system" and locked me out of my truck.....with the engine running!
Thankfully, ON-Star was able to unlock my door and allowed me access to the truck.
The incident that ended my "remote starter" was one day I was up on the second floor watching TV and I kept hearing a strange noise and I thought perhaps the wife was cooking something in the kitchen. I called down to her but she didn't answer (she was in the basement) so I went down to the kitchen to check on the noise and there was noting on the stove or in the microwave over.
I then opened the door that accesses the attached garage and there my diesel was, inside of the garage WITH the engine idling!!!
The following say I took the truck back to the installer and told them to take ALL of the remote start system off and return my truck to its normal settings. They charged me $ 50 bucks but it was well worth every penny.
The unit didn't allow time for the "glow plugs" to heat up properly before trying to start the engine in cold weather when i was parked outside of the garage.
Once when I was up in Canada snowmobiling I had parked he truck for a few days and there was several inches of snow on the truck after we returned from a multi-day trip so I open the door, started the engine and got out the snow brush to clean the snow of of the truck.
I then went to get back into the truck only to find that the "system" and locked me out of my truck.....with the engine running!
Thankfully, ON-Star was able to unlock my door and allowed me access to the truck.
The incident that ended my "remote starter" was one day I was up on the second floor watching TV and I kept hearing a strange noise and I thought perhaps the wife was cooking something in the kitchen. I called down to her but she didn't answer (she was in the basement) so I went down to the kitchen to check on the noise and there was noting on the stove or in the microwave over.
I then opened the door that accesses the attached garage and there my diesel was, inside of the garage WITH the engine idling!!!
The following say I took the truck back to the installer and told them to take ALL of the remote start system off and return my truck to its normal settings. They charged me $ 50 bucks but it was well worth every penny.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 3,814
Likes: 1,968
From: Lake of the Ozarks
I've had a couple autos that had remote start when I bought them. It gets pretty cold here in January and pretty hot in August so it was sometimes handy for pre-heating/cooling. It's not something I would go to the trouble of installing.
One of my bikes has an aftermarket alarm that has remote starting options but I never park in neutral and couldn't see any point or benefit in hooking up that feature.
edit: As for the harley "kickstand", I've yet to see one fail, replaced a lot of springs but the stand itself is the best I've seen on any bike. I had a buddy who was working on his bike in the shed and as he was sitting in the floor he reached up and bumped his starter. It was in gear, it started and ran half through the back wall but was still on the stand. lol
One of my bikes has an aftermarket alarm that has remote starting options but I never park in neutral and couldn't see any point or benefit in hooking up that feature.
edit: As for the harley "kickstand", I've yet to see one fail, replaced a lot of springs but the stand itself is the best I've seen on any bike. I had a buddy who was working on his bike in the shed and as he was sitting in the floor he reached up and bumped his starter. It was in gear, it started and ran half through the back wall but was still on the stand. lol
Last edited by TroubleHead Fred; Dec 4, 2021 at 11:54 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 333
Likes: 66
From: South Florida
You would have to modify the bike and add some kind of parking brake system. You couldn't start the bike while its in gear and leaving it parked in neutral is a horrible idea. So if you came up with the brake the rest would be pretty simple.
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