Caution on parking your ride!!
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 37
From: Rockland County, NY
It still was an unusual malfunction. The starter engaged on its own. Not common but I've seen it happen on my father's old car when I was a kid. We watched from the window as the car fired up and drove down the road by itself. I'll never forget my father running after it and jumping inside to stop it.
ok! so here is this tad bit of information, I am the other guy (the one who owns the 2011) that was parked in this garage between said bike and the wall and I witnessed from behind the two bikes the tour pack lid being closed and dent (my brother) walking toward me when his bike started in first gear and headed toward the front wall. At this time he said o **** and ran for his bike with me trailing him hollering turn it off!! turn it off!! he got ahold of the bars and actually steered it around the front of my bike and it pinned against the wall on the other side of my bike when he turned it off, there is a partial hole in the wall where the highway peg went against the wall. also there are skid marks around the front of my bike on the concrete floor from the kickstand dragging. And I am telling you this actually happened!! We both have learned a valuable lesson about the importance of the run/off switch!! I am just glad it did not happen with other people in the garage or at the poker run we went to afterwards.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,582
From: Wisconsin, USA
That would be a great video. I can see how you got the nickname Dent. I always hit the kill switch, unless it is really dark. I shut it off with ignition switch then, to avoid hitting the starter, by mistake. Which I did a couple of times, when I first had this bike. After it is off I hit Kill switch.
I always leave in gear to prevent rolling.
I always leave in gear to prevent rolling.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Scranton, Arkansas
Yeah guys I know all the things I did wrong NOW, and yes I have a pattern I follow when I get on the bike and start it including raise kick stand (but that's another story) put it in nuetral, pull clutch lever, turn on ignition, press start button. What I did not know was that this bike and apparently all pre 2006 bikes will start in gear without the clutch lever being pulled. I also never thought about the little starter button shorting out and starting up on it's own with no one even touching it much less being on board. The ACC position and the Kill Switch have become my best friends and will be used extensively in the future.
And yes Ron the nickname fits very well, but that's also another story or should I say a bunch of stories. LOL.
And yes Ron the nickname fits very well, but that's also another story or should I say a bunch of stories. LOL.
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 15,435
Likes: 7,127
From: Beyond Fucital
Mine, will start in gear, and take off. I always turn off kill switch and ignition as well as putting it in neutral (in the garage). In gear on the street. But that's just me and my 94' fxstc
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 241
From: Highlands, NJ
You're kidding, right!
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 7
From: The Great Northwest
I never use the kill switch and almost always park in neutral.
To head out, ignition on, see green nuetral light and hit starter while standing next to bike. Bike warms up a bit while I'm put'n on helmet and gloves. Mount up and take off.
PS.. On more than one occasion I've had to tell someone that they left their headlight on...... because they used the kill switch to turn the bike off.
To head out, ignition on, see green nuetral light and hit starter while standing next to bike. Bike warms up a bit while I'm put'n on helmet and gloves. Mount up and take off.
PS.. On more than one occasion I've had to tell someone that they left their headlight on...... because they used the kill switch to turn the bike off.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,808
Likes: 285
From: Green Country Oklahoma
I could be wrong but since 2007 touring bikes won't start in gear unless clutch is depressed, if chit gona go wrong there is whole lot of it can go wrong .I always park my bike in N and kill switch on which I rarely touch unless I park on incline parking space, my wife totally opposite of me on her UC and getting on her bike annoys me.