A buddy had a V-Star years ago. It would not start in gear even with clutch pulled in or the jiffy stand down.

 

No,I believe he is saying that H-D's have always been able to be started in gear,regardlessthe position of the clutch lever,until they wised up in '07. Thats when they included asafety switch, in behind the clutch lever, that only lets thebike start ingear if the clutch is pulled in. A safety feature (along with a sidestand safety switch) that most Jap bikes have had forwell over 20 years.
At first I thought the switch was tied into the nuetral switch because my '07 Street Glide can be started in neutral with the clutch out. Not so sure about that anymore because my buddy (RIP May '07) hadan '07 Ultra Shriner Edition and it would not start at all, even in neutral, unless the clutch was in.

 

A friend of mine saw someone with a new Sportster do this a few years ago. He was showing it off to some friends in a parking lot. Without climbing on standing beside it he hit the starter buttom to let them hear it. It took off about 15 feet into the side of a building cause the motor actually started.

I've never done this but I have at times hit the starter and the bike lurched because I either left it in gear or someone clicked it into gear while parked.

Always confirm it's in neutral before cranking or do what I do and pull in the clutch anyway. My Suzuki won't crank unless I pull the clutch lever in anyway so it's become a habit with me on any bike.

 

The dealer told me to get use to pulling in the clutch every time I start it,even when the neutel light is on,cause just because the lights on doesnt meen it in neutrel. I learned to do just that, cause I started mine in gear. ONCE

 

My dealer told me back in '06 that Harley's did not come with any of the safety switch BS because Harley owners should already know how to ride. Pull in that clutch before you hit the button! It's easier on the starter too.

 

What if your first bike is a Harley ??? Thats the ? I would have posed to that rocket scientist. That was his answer because he didn't want to tell you that the MoCo is too cheap to put on something that simple. Plus when you accidently start it in gear, you have to buy all the parts from him.

 

yeah, its all a giant conspiracy. the moco has this great plan just to set you up for failure so you will have to come back to them to buy more parts.

i actually prefer the 'simplicity' of not having all that junk. i have never ridden a bike that had that stuff (until my 07) and i never had any problems. i have always looked to make sure the 'n' is lit, and i pull the clutch before i hit the start button.

 

What kind of idiot would pay 20K for their first bike not knowing how to ride or how it operates? It might be news to you but motorcycles did not always come with idiot lights, safety switches, and headlights that cannot be turned off. If you want your first bike to be a Harley buy a Sportster ride the hell out of it and trade up. The majority of people drop, spill, or get hit on their first bike and it's people who aren't aware of things like this that makes us live in a country where you have to be warned not to drink the windshield washer fluid or thta coffee may be hot.