Why is there no sidestand switch??
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,044
Likes: 145
From: Lawrenceville,GA/Rome,Italy
Wow.... what an amazing bunch of responses here. The testosterone is thick enough to cut with a knife!
Just a few comments:
1. Like I said... I was sitting on the bike for about 20 minutes before taking off. It is my usual routine when I get on the bike to lift the sidestand. I was trying to be a bit humble, but I am not a complete fu#*ing idiot.
2. If honestly answered, I'd bet more than half of the harley riders out there have taken off with the sidestand down.
3. The macho attitude of "people need to be held responsible for their actions" is pretty lame. With that attitude, why have safety guards on skill saws? Why have safety harnesses in elevated workplaces? Why have safety goggles or steel toed boots?
4. You guys may bitch about our litigious society... but it is the one we live in. In case you haven't noticed, your bike and your manual is full of little lawyer driven safety statements.
5. Product liability lawsuits are real. Imagine if a guy took off with his sidestand down and got into a serious accident. All he would have to show is that the product was not altered from the factory, the sidestand caused the accident and there is a safer alternative available. That's the standard for product liability. Imagine some slickster lawyer in front of a jury arguing for his paraplegic client that a $2 switch would have easily prevented his injury, but the profit hungry corporation didn't care about his safety. I know it would be total bullshit, but the right jury would award a ****-ton of money in that case.
So.... macho ego aside... has anyone been successful in installing the sidestand switch?? Personally, I'd like to have one.
Just a few comments:
1. Like I said... I was sitting on the bike for about 20 minutes before taking off. It is my usual routine when I get on the bike to lift the sidestand. I was trying to be a bit humble, but I am not a complete fu#*ing idiot.
2. If honestly answered, I'd bet more than half of the harley riders out there have taken off with the sidestand down.
3. The macho attitude of "people need to be held responsible for their actions" is pretty lame. With that attitude, why have safety guards on skill saws? Why have safety harnesses in elevated workplaces? Why have safety goggles or steel toed boots?
4. You guys may bitch about our litigious society... but it is the one we live in. In case you haven't noticed, your bike and your manual is full of little lawyer driven safety statements.
5. Product liability lawsuits are real. Imagine if a guy took off with his sidestand down and got into a serious accident. All he would have to show is that the product was not altered from the factory, the sidestand caused the accident and there is a safer alternative available. That's the standard for product liability. Imagine some slickster lawyer in front of a jury arguing for his paraplegic client that a $2 switch would have easily prevented his injury, but the profit hungry corporation didn't care about his safety. I know it would be total bullshit, but the right jury would award a ****-ton of money in that case.
So.... macho ego aside... has anyone been successful in installing the sidestand switch?? Personally, I'd like to have one.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,044
Likes: 145
From: Lawrenceville,GA/Rome,Italy
I agree 100%,once I took off with the disc lock installed and broke a bone in my foot.Thank God it was a Yamaha scooter and not my Ultra.Now I'm using a Xena disc lock with alarm,just in case....
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 8
From: Powder Springs, GA
I put a warning sticker on the back of my wife’s head so I will stop getting her pregnant.
But seriously I am personally against any type of kill switch other than the one on the bars that I control. Just like others said it is something else that can go wrong. With that being said even the handle bar switch or ignition switch can go wrong but that is the risk we take as riders. But for me I would take as much off as I can. Case in point the stupid vacuum petcocks. Put on there to shut off fuel flow UNLESS the motor is running to pull vacuum. The reason is safety and I get that. However I developed a vacuum leak and it left me stranded. I had to limp the bike home at a very slow speed for about 25 miles and that was a very dangerous ride. When I got on the throttle there was not enough gas and well you do the math. I bypassed that stupid invention and now she flows great. HOWEVER it is MY responsibility as a rider to make sure I shut off my fuel. Not a big deal though. I know it will not fail unless the petcock goes bad.
If you want a switch then put one on. Buy you one and let us know how it goes. I am sure there is someone on here that will find it useful.
But seriously I am personally against any type of kill switch other than the one on the bars that I control. Just like others said it is something else that can go wrong. With that being said even the handle bar switch or ignition switch can go wrong but that is the risk we take as riders. But for me I would take as much off as I can. Case in point the stupid vacuum petcocks. Put on there to shut off fuel flow UNLESS the motor is running to pull vacuum. The reason is safety and I get that. However I developed a vacuum leak and it left me stranded. I had to limp the bike home at a very slow speed for about 25 miles and that was a very dangerous ride. When I got on the throttle there was not enough gas and well you do the math. I bypassed that stupid invention and now she flows great. HOWEVER it is MY responsibility as a rider to make sure I shut off my fuel. Not a big deal though. I know it will not fail unless the petcock goes bad.
If you want a switch then put one on. Buy you one and let us know how it goes. I am sure there is someone on here that will find it useful.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Central Pa
Why make a di˘k out of a guy because he would like a safety switch on the jiffy stand. I have ridden off on more than one occasion with it down...yea yea yea, I know, I am stupid and undeserving of living and breathing your precious air or even riding the sacred Harley...but anyone who says they haven't ridden off with it down is full of $hit!!! If the option was available I would have it on my bike, just for my own piece of mind.
Ahhhh...but then there is the "more stuff to go wrong" argument....gimme a break, the risk of even one accident caused by a lowered stand out weighs that lamea$$ comment....even if the person was one of the pussified, non-manly, stupid, dumb a$$ morons who shouldn't be riding a Harley because he is not smart enough to raise it up
Do I think legislation should be used to force the MoCo to add one..Fu*k no!!!! But us sissies wouldn't mind seeing an option for it. You don't feel the need for one on your bike, fine don't put one on, but to make an a$$ out of someone who raises the question is quite close minded IMO
Ahhhh...but then there is the "more stuff to go wrong" argument....gimme a break, the risk of even one accident caused by a lowered stand out weighs that lamea$$ comment....even if the person was one of the pussified, non-manly, stupid, dumb a$$ morons who shouldn't be riding a Harley because he is not smart enough to raise it up
Do I think legislation should be used to force the MoCo to add one..Fu*k no!!!! But us sissies wouldn't mind seeing an option for it. You don't feel the need for one on your bike, fine don't put one on, but to make an a$$ out of someone who raises the question is quite close minded IMO
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