Why is there no sidestand switch??
I'm not denying that we live in litigious society. But that's never gonna change if everyone keeps blaming their own stupidity on someone else's lack of action. Man up and take responsibility for the fact that you forgot to do your own safety check before departing on your ride. That is the responsibility of no one but yourself. Never rely on someone else to install a $2 part to save you. All this safety legislation is just making people dumber. It's because of that switch that you forgot to put it up in the first place. If you hadn't been coddled all those years with safety switches, you would have probably remembered to check your stand. Now you've got two lawsuits. One for not installing a switch, and the other for installing a switch and lulling you into a false sense of safety and ignorance when riding a bike that didn't have said switch.
It's called natural selection, and we should let it take it's course.
It's called natural selection, and we should let it take it's course.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
I'm not denying that we live in litigious society. But that's never gonna change if everyone keeps blaming their own stupidity on someone else's lack of action. Man up and take responsibility for the fact that you forgot to do your own safety check before departing on your ride. That is the responsibility of no one but yourself. Never rely on someone else to install a $2 part to save you. All this safety legislation is just making people dumber. It's because of that switch that you forgot to put it up in the first place. If you hadn't been coddled all those years with safety switches, you would have probably remembered to check your stand. Now you've got two lawsuits. One for not installing a switch, and the other for installing a switch and lulling you into a false sense of safety and ignorance when riding a bike that didn't have said switch.
It's called natural selection, and we should let it take it's course.
It's called natural selection, and we should let it take it's course.
Dude.... you so totally missed the whole point of the original post....
You know.... I am a first time Harley owner. I have been riding since I was 13. One of the things that made me want to try a Harley was the inherent camaraderie (is that a term drop also?) that comes with the brand. However, I ask a simple question about a safety switch and I get a bunch of guys poking me in the chest with insinuations that safety switches ain't manly!! Another new guy posted a thread recently about doing his own 1000 mile service and the foul mouth rants that followed were nothing short of embarrassing.
I'm starting to wonder if that camaraderie that I was looking to take part in was just an illusion.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
"You can call me an idiot for taking off with my sidestand down... and you'd probably be right. But this is a safety issue to me. I don't see how the Harley lawyers let this condition exist because it is a product liability case waiting to happen!!"
We don't need more nanny state legislation.
It's like the old timer used to tell me back in the 60's..."This ain't rocket science, son...it's a Harley..."
Put the kickstand up.
We don't need more nanny state legislation.
It's like the old timer used to tell me back in the 60's..."This ain't rocket science, son...it's a Harley..."
Put the kickstand up.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
Dude.... you so totally missed the whole point of the original post....
You know.... I am a first time Harley owner. I have been riding since I was 13. One of the things that made me want to try a Harley was the inherent camaraderie (is that a term drop also?) that comes with the brand. However, I ask a simple question about a safety switch and I get a bunch of guys poking me in the chest with insinuations that safety switches ain't manly!! Another new guy posted a thread recently about doing his own 1000 mile service and the foul mouth rants that followed were nothing short of embarrassing.
I'm starting to wonder if that camaraderie that I was looking to take part in was just an illusion.
You know.... I am a first time Harley owner. I have been riding since I was 13. One of the things that made me want to try a Harley was the inherent camaraderie (is that a term drop also?) that comes with the brand. However, I ask a simple question about a safety switch and I get a bunch of guys poking me in the chest with insinuations that safety switches ain't manly!! Another new guy posted a thread recently about doing his own 1000 mile service and the foul mouth rants that followed were nothing short of embarrassing.
I'm starting to wonder if that camaraderie that I was looking to take part in was just an illusion.
You're taking this wrong. I'm not poking fun at you for wanting a switch. Put 100 switches on your bike. It's yours, what do i care? I'm commenting on your comment about why they aren't mandatory safety equipment, and how come the lawyers haven't made Harley put them on every bike.
And if I had any knowledge of how to put one on, I'd be more than happy to help. Read back through all of my 700+ posts on here, I've provided help with everything i possibly can, and never poked fun at anyone for making their own choice (well, maybe a little good natured ribbing, but that doesn't count
). I've done more than my fair share of stupid, dumb, brainless ****, but never once did I feel the need to blame someone else for not stopping me. So if I offended you, I apologize. Wasn't my intent.
And if I had any knowledge of how to put one on, I'd be more than happy to help. Read back through all of my 700+ posts on here, I've provided help with everything i possibly can, and never poked fun at anyone for making their own choice (well, maybe a little good natured ribbing, but that doesn't count
). I've done more than my fair share of stupid, dumb, brainless ****, but never once did I feel the need to blame someone else for not stopping me. So if I offended you, I apologize. Wasn't my intent.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,109
Likes: 9
From: Connecticut
Never had a safety switch on mine, don't feel like I need it. I think if you were moving with it down and hit something, it would just push it up for you. You could probably install one yourself if you wanted to. For me, it would be in the trash can with my reflectors and horn.
And they don't have a neutral switch either. Ya just don't start it in gear. It's really not hat hard to figure out.
And they don't have a neutral switch either. Ya just don't start it in gear. It's really not hat hard to figure out.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
You're taking this wrong. I'm not poking fun at you for wanting a switch. Put 100 switches on your bike. It's yours, what do i care? I'm commenting on your comment about why they aren't mandatory safety equipment, and how come the lawyers haven't made Harley put them on every bike.
And if I had any knowledge of how to put one on, I'd be more than happy to help. Read back through all of my 700+ posts on here, I've provided help with everything i possibly can, and never poked fun at anyone for making their own choice (well, maybe a little good natured ribbing, but that doesn't count ). I've done more than my fair share of stupid, dumb, brainless ****, but never once did I feel the need to blame someone else for not stopping me. So if I offended you, I apologize. Wasn't my intent.
). I've done more than my fair share of stupid, dumb, brainless ****, but never once did I feel the need to blame someone else for not stopping me. So if I offended you, I apologize. Wasn't my intent.
Man up and take responsibility for the fact that you forgot to do your own safety check before departing on your ride. That is the responsibility of no one but yourself. Never rely on someone else to install a $2 part to save you. All this safety legislation is just making people dumber.
I have a 2012 Fatboy Lo. This is the first non-dirtbike I have ever owned with no sidestand switch. In other words, if my side stand is down and I put the bike in gear, the bike does not shut down. This made me nervous at first. I knew I was going to have a problem with it. Sure enough, it happened.
I was on a group ride. We were waiting at a pullout for another rider. I was sitting with the bike on the side stand for a while. It was uncomfortable sitting with the bike leaned over, so I stood the bike up while we waited. Sure enough, the person arrived, everyone fired up their bikes and took off. About a half mile up the road, someone pulled up next to me (at 70mph) and pointed at my left foot. When I looked down, I saw my sidestand sticking out!! Put it up quickly and continued on. This happened just before some hard left turns.
You can call me an idiot for taking off with my sidestand down... and you'd probably be right. But this is a safety issue to me. I don't see how the Harley lawyers let this condition exist because it is a product liability case waiting to happen!!
So.... has anyone installed a sidestand switch? If so, I'd love some info on how you did it.
I was on a group ride. We were waiting at a pullout for another rider. I was sitting with the bike on the side stand for a while. It was uncomfortable sitting with the bike leaned over, so I stood the bike up while we waited. Sure enough, the person arrived, everyone fired up their bikes and took off. About a half mile up the road, someone pulled up next to me (at 70mph) and pointed at my left foot. When I looked down, I saw my sidestand sticking out!! Put it up quickly and continued on. This happened just before some hard left turns.
You can call me an idiot for taking off with my sidestand down... and you'd probably be right. But this is a safety issue to me. I don't see how the Harley lawyers let this condition exist because it is a product liability case waiting to happen!!
So.... has anyone installed a sidestand switch? If so, I'd love some info on how you did it.