Do not shift when engine off?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
starting with the 07s, there is now a clutch interlock safety switch. if the bike is in gear, it will not even turn over, let alone start, unless you have the clutch pulled in.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis, IN
I'm pretty sure that Abate taught us to leave the bike in gear when you turn it off and leave it. They said that would keep the bike from rolling.
As far as starting the bike, I've bee told by my HD mechanic that I should start it in neutral so less stress is put on the starter rather than start in gear with clutch in. So I guess if I leave it in gear when I turn it off, I need to change to neutral when the motor is off when I get ready to start it.
As far as starting the bike, I've bee told by my HD mechanic that I should start it in neutral so less stress is put on the starter rather than start in gear with clutch in. So I guess if I leave it in gear when I turn it off, I need to change to neutral when the motor is off when I get ready to start it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,051
Likes: 50
From: Florence, MT (Bitterroot Valley)
Yea, now the MOCO has to protect us from ourselves. If you don't know you have the bike in N or should have the clutch in to start....you shouldn't be sittin' on a motorcycle.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
From: Toledo, OH
Probably not because it seems like you did it once. I don't think you do that every time you park the bike. When you get a bunch of parts in a basket and assemble them you have to shift things around to get it into neutral but you do not do that time after time every time you park or you do not understand much about machinery. Rocking the bike is correct but it is not the same as leaving the freekin thing in neutral like it is designed to be.
Club Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,481
Likes: 4
From: Georgia
People will run with a casual statement and goof something up royal sometimes. Then, you're the bad guy to them. 
Last edited by BigGdawg; Jan 28, 2009 at 05:31 AM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
MSF teaches FINE-C, standing for
Fuel,
Ignition
Neutral
Engine Cut Off Swith
Choke/Clutch
Always doing a "FINE-C" when starting a cycle helps prevent the unexpected, and saves the embarassment riders have suffered when a bike lurches, or doesn't start because someone flipped their kill switch.
With fuel injection, of course, it is no longer necessary to turn on the fuel, or worry about a choke.
Fuel,
Ignition
Neutral
Engine Cut Off Swith
Choke/Clutch
Always doing a "FINE-C" when starting a cycle helps prevent the unexpected, and saves the embarassment riders have suffered when a bike lurches, or doesn't start because someone flipped their kill switch.
With fuel injection, of course, it is no longer necessary to turn on the fuel, or worry about a choke.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,536
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
I'm another one that shifts into neutral before shutting down when parking in the garage or on a flat surface, and on the flip side leave it in first if it's not on level ground, then a slight rock forward or aft and place it in heutral for start up. No tranny issues to date (knock on wood)