Ever done this - stalled out, stuck in gear at a light?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 13,061
Likes: 12,988
From: Texas, USA
Stalling the bike in traffic happens to everyone at one time or another. You should be able to restart it while in gear with the clutch lever pulled. It sounds like the clutch lever switch is not allowing you to start the bike. The clutch lever switch is considered a safety device to prevent you from trying to start the bike while in gear without pulling the clutch lever in. It is what allows the bike to start by pulling the clutch lever in.
Also it isn't unusual for new bikes to have difficulty finding neutral. That should get easier with time.
But (for safety reasons as you found out):
1. You should have been able to start the bike with the clutch lever pulled
2. You should have been able to push the bike in gear with the clutch lever pulled
Have you changed out the clutch lever? If it is the wrong lever, it may not have the "nub" on it that engages the switch to allow you to start the bike with the clutch lever pulled in. Have you opened the left switch housing recently? When reinstalling it, you may have pinched the wire to the switch. If not, it could simply be a faulty switch. Do you have too much play in the clutch cable? Maybe it is not fully disengaging the clutch preventing the bike from starting or getting into neutral or pushing it while in gear???
Also it isn't unusual for new bikes to have difficulty finding neutral. That should get easier with time.
But (for safety reasons as you found out):
1. You should have been able to start the bike with the clutch lever pulled
2. You should have been able to push the bike in gear with the clutch lever pulled
Have you changed out the clutch lever? If it is the wrong lever, it may not have the "nub" on it that engages the switch to allow you to start the bike with the clutch lever pulled in. Have you opened the left switch housing recently? When reinstalling it, you may have pinched the wire to the switch. If not, it could simply be a faulty switch. Do you have too much play in the clutch cable? Maybe it is not fully disengaging the clutch preventing the bike from starting or getting into neutral or pushing it while in gear???
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,050
Likes: 12,326
From: Arkansas
Too much safety crap on bikes anymore. Some stupid *** lil switch goes **** up and you are stuck at some ***** house waitin for someone to bring you the part you need so you can get your bike started.
I'm surprised they don't have a switch in the seat that won't let you start the bike or put it in gear unless someone is sitting on the damn thing. Or a lock on the forks that won't let you turn them past 30 degrees unless the freakin turn signal is on.
I'm surprised they don't have a switch in the seat that won't let you start the bike or put it in gear unless someone is sitting on the damn thing. Or a lock on the forks that won't let you turn them past 30 degrees unless the freakin turn signal is on.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 13,061
Likes: 12,988
From: Texas, USA
Too much safety crap on bikes anymore. Some stupid *** lil switch goes **** up and you are stuck at some ***** house waitin for someone to bring you the part you need so you can get your bike started.
I'm surprised they don't have a switch in the seat that won't let you start the bike or put it in gear unless someone is sitting on the damn thing. Or a lock on the forks that won't let you turn them past 30 degrees unless the freakin turn signal is on.
I'm surprised they don't have a switch in the seat that won't let you start the bike or put it in gear unless someone is sitting on the damn thing. Or a lock on the forks that won't let you turn them past 30 degrees unless the freakin turn signal is on.
I would agree with your statement. But, I wouldn't recommend sitting in traffic (at a stop light) with your bike in neutral. It is safer to be in 1st with the clutch lever pulled in. If a car is approaching you from the rear and you have to evade them quickly, you are better off in gear, not sitting in neutral adjusting your *****.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 421
Likes: 4
From: Alabama
Yep, sure happened to me. I was sitting first at light in very heavy traffic recently, & leaned forward to take a look at my oil temp gauge. Helmet just tapped engine shutoff switch. I didn't realize it. Bike died, graveyard dead. I had no idea why. Hit starter button - nothing. I thought WTF????, as horns are blaring behind me. We had already sat through 3 cycles of the freakin light. Finally came to me, after plenty nasty remarks from cagers as they peeled out around me.
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 497
Likes: 4
From: Navarre, FL
Too much safety crap on bikes anymore. Some stupid *** lil switch goes **** up and you are stuck at some ***** house waitin for someone to bring you the part you need so you can get your bike started.
I'm surprised they don't have a switch in the seat that won't let you start the bike or put it in gear unless someone is sitting on the damn thing. Or a lock on the forks that won't let you turn them past 30 degrees unless the freakin turn signal is on.
I'm surprised they don't have a switch in the seat that won't let you start the bike or put it in gear unless someone is sitting on the damn thing. Or a lock on the forks that won't let you turn them past 30 degrees unless the freakin turn signal is on.
