Why is there no sidestand switch??
Thanks, Rakthi for a simple answer to a simple question.
I gotta tell you guys... after 35+ years of riding, I have enjoyed a kinship with other riders. That kinship came from a common love of motorcycles. I have owned many bikes in my life... sport bikes, touring bikes, cruisers, lots of dirt bikes, etc... I have also participated in many online forums such as this associated with those bikes. Almost without exception, my experience has always been that strangers with a similar interest were merely friends I had not met yet. As I said before, this is my first Harley. Part of the reason I bought this bike was that I believed the camaraderie was even stronger in the Harley community than in the general motorcycle community. I'm starting to believe I couldn't have been more wrong.
I asked a simple question here about how I could modify my bike. I also made an observation that I was surprised that our hyper-litigious society hasn't forced Harley to implement this simple safety device. I did not call for legislation like some of you pinheads say I did. I did not suggest that the manufacturer change anything. I didn't say anyone else should have this mod on their bikes. I didn't insult anyone by asking for help. What I got in return was a bunch of knee-jerk reactions from people who are scared to death that someone's interest in something different somehow detracted from their own interest. I got over-the-top defensiveness when there was nothing to be defensive about. And most of all, I got more condescending bullshit in this one thread than I have in all the other bike forums I have ever participated in... combined! This narrow minded "think like me or you are an a$$hole" mentality has shown itself on more threads than just this one. Frankly... I am amazed.
I don't regret buying my bike. I really like it. It is different than any bike I have ever owned and it is a ton of fun to ride. But if this is indicative of the Harley community.... I am sorely disappointed.
I'm sure that the response to this post will be a whole string of insults that imply I am not mature enough, smart enough, manly enough or responsible enough to own a bike... despite my many years of riding. Fine. I still want to believe that most Harley riders are good people with good intentions. However, what I have seen here and on other threads has painted a picture that I would have never believed had I not seen it for myself.
I gotta tell you guys... after 35+ years of riding, I have enjoyed a kinship with other riders. That kinship came from a common love of motorcycles. I have owned many bikes in my life... sport bikes, touring bikes, cruisers, lots of dirt bikes, etc... I have also participated in many online forums such as this associated with those bikes. Almost without exception, my experience has always been that strangers with a similar interest were merely friends I had not met yet. As I said before, this is my first Harley. Part of the reason I bought this bike was that I believed the camaraderie was even stronger in the Harley community than in the general motorcycle community. I'm starting to believe I couldn't have been more wrong.
I asked a simple question here about how I could modify my bike. I also made an observation that I was surprised that our hyper-litigious society hasn't forced Harley to implement this simple safety device. I did not call for legislation like some of you pinheads say I did. I did not suggest that the manufacturer change anything. I didn't say anyone else should have this mod on their bikes. I didn't insult anyone by asking for help. What I got in return was a bunch of knee-jerk reactions from people who are scared to death that someone's interest in something different somehow detracted from their own interest. I got over-the-top defensiveness when there was nothing to be defensive about. And most of all, I got more condescending bullshit in this one thread than I have in all the other bike forums I have ever participated in... combined! This narrow minded "think like me or you are an a$$hole" mentality has shown itself on more threads than just this one. Frankly... I am amazed.
I don't regret buying my bike. I really like it. It is different than any bike I have ever owned and it is a ton of fun to ride. But if this is indicative of the Harley community.... I am sorely disappointed.
I'm sure that the response to this post will be a whole string of insults that imply I am not mature enough, smart enough, manly enough or responsible enough to own a bike... despite my many years of riding. Fine. I still want to believe that most Harley riders are good people with good intentions. However, what I have seen here and on other threads has painted a picture that I would have never believed had I not seen it for myself.
I live in India where a lot of people ride motorcycles and most bikes don't come with a jiffy safety switch here. I also see a lot of people fall of cause of not being there ... So, if it makes you feel safe you should get one installed. I'm not sure of the part number but I'm quite sure you get them.
Also, I don't think yourself or any one should call you stupid just cause you forgot the the jiffy stand. People forget stuff. And most of the guys on this forum are really cool and very helpful, so don't form an opinion cause of this post
Last edited by kudige; May 24, 2012 at 07:47 AM.
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 8
From: Powder Springs, GA
My biggest fear is the spring breaking and the stand just bouncing around (this does happen quite a bit). If there was a kill swich this would immediately kill the bike and then cause a huge problem esspcially in a turn. BUT at the same time the stand poses a problem itself. Bottom line is bikes are dangerous. Take care of your bikes and maintain them properly and they will take care of you. If your spring breaks and the stand causes you to go flying then it was your time. If you forget to pull your stand up before take off then you are a bonehead. I know because I have been a bonehead before
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 94
From: Belgium
My biggest fear is the spring breaking and the stand just bouncing around (this does happen quite a bit). If there was a kill swich this would immediately kill the bike and then cause a huge problem esspcially in a turn. BUT at the same time the stand poses a problem itself. Bottom line is bikes are dangerous. Take care of your bikes and maintain them properly and they will take care of you. If your spring breaks and the stand causes you to go flying then it was your time. If you forget to pull your stand up before take off then you are a bonehead. I know because I have been a bonehead before
Fear not, the bike will not shut down in mid turn ...
From the owner's manual - Page 50
"If the jiffy stands falls out of the fully retracted position while riding at speeds greater than 10 mph (15 km/h), then the jiffy stand interlock system will maintain engine operation and alert the rider about this by illuminating the indicators (flash twice) and scroll the message "SidE StAnd" across the odometer. The message will remain until the system detects the jiffy stand is in the fully retracted position again. The rider may continue to operate the vehicle while in this mode."
And about being a bone head ... on my Duc I took of 3 times in as many months without removing the disc lock ... you would think I'd remember after having to replace warped discs and broken mirrors and indicators ...
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 8
From: Powder Springs, GA
"If the jiffy stands falls out of the fully retracted position while riding at speeds greater than 10 mph (15 km/h), then the jiffy stand interlock system will maintain engine operation and alert the rider about this by illuminating the indicators (flash twice) and scroll the message "SidE StAnd" across the odometer. The message will remain until the system detects the jiffy stand is in the fully retracted position again. The rider may continue to operate the vehicle while in this mode."
Cruiser
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Central Pa
Yes, because safety and protecting yourself is always about being tough and whether or not you drive a vespa...
Sorry to say this, but once you begin name calling and feel the need to bring manliness and toughness into a debate, you lose all credibility...and ultimately lose the debate.
Some of the toughest people I know still put a seatbelt on when they get into a car, or put lockouts and tags on machinery while working on them, ...not becasue they are pussies or less than a real man as so many of you seem to be hung up on...but because they refuse to die a senseless death due to real stupidity.
This sheep (as someone put it) would like to spend a few more days on this planet. Occasionally I forget stuff, ...as does %100 of the worlds population...could be my keys, could be my wallet, could even forget to turn lights out or lock doors once in a while. But for piece of my own feeble mind, I would not mind having the switch on my bike for that one in a million chance that I may forget to raise it and not know until it was to late.
If anyone would care to re-read the OP in this thread, you will notice that no where in the post does he say that legislation SHOULD be enacted or that everyone SHOULD have this safety lockout on their bike. He just wonders why HD would not put one on or make it available to those who wish to have it just to protect their own ***.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 5,120
From: SW Ohio
There is no clutch clutch interlock switch on my 2011 road king. I don't care what you say. Remember, you don't know what you don't know. It came that way from the factory.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
For what it is worth, the police didn't have any idea why I had wrecked. The car following me said they saw sparks coming from my bike. When I was able to inspect the bike, the bottom of the stand had some major grindage, like it had been on a grinding wheel for a bit. I have to wonder how many accidents are caused by this but never get documented.