[Guest]

This is an old trick but one well worth remembering.

EVERY time you park your bike, take a second to give it a little tug backward to ensure that your stand is locked down. It seems common sense, but I have seen and heard too many stories of guys pulling up dropping the stand and hoping off. As soon as they start to walk away WHAM! a beautiful bike now scratched and dented, laying on the ground looking pathetic. Don't let it happen to you! Make it common practice to tug it back before you get off.
:!:

 

[Uncle Bob]

And unless you're parking on perfectly level ground have the front end higher than the back, this will keep the stand from folding up should the bike move slightly.

 

[Guest]

I dropped a friends bike in my girlfriend's driveway this way when I was in high school. It happens a lot, so take the extra two seconds.

 

[Guest]

dropping the stand and hoping off.

Freudian slip? :lol:

 

[Dwayne Hicks]

The other day I went to visit a friend. Parked the bike outside her house, and when I left, I forgot to lift the stand. I rode for about 3 miles. Each corner I took was a right hand turn. About 3 miles down the road, I took a left turn, heard a sickening clunk and wobbled a bit. I then realised it was the side stand. It hasn't happened since... :shock:

Regards
Dwayne Hicks

 

[Uncle Bob]

That's why most new bikes have a feature that kills the engine if you're in gear with the stand down.

 

[Guest]

My sidestand is kind of stiff at the pivot, so it is now procedure to knock it forward with the toe of my left boot. Gives new meaning to 'kick' stand!

Just a note, always leave the bike parked in gear, especially if you have to leave it pointed nose-downhill.

 

[Jonathan]

That's why most new bikes have a feature that kills the engine if you're in gear with the stand down.

Exactly. The bikes that I have riden, have a very sensitive stand-safety mechanism. One slight movement down, the engine will be shut down. Nice feature.

 

[Dwayne Hicks]

That is handy! Something else I need to remember - take the keys out of the ignition when walking away from the bike. I was in work the other morning, went into my pocket for my wallet, which is next to my keys that weren't there. Had a panic attack, went outside, checked the bike and luckily they, and it were still there.. :shock:

Dwayne

 

[Louis]

Do you turn off the engine with the emergency switch? That's probably you forget about your keys...

 

[Dwayne Hicks]

Yes, I do - little red switch on the right handlebar. Do the keys work in the same way?

Regards
Dwayne

 

[Louis]

Yes and no. I've learned to flip the emergency switch but there always the risk of forgetting to forget to put the key on OFF which leaves the headlight on and drains your battery.

Using the key prevents that but you do have to remember to use your emergency shutoff once in a while to ensure its working properly.

 

[Jonathan]

I have always been told that using your emergency switch was bad for the bike, but I have yet found out the reason why, other than forgetting that your key is still turned on and it will kill your battery.

 

[Uncle Bob]

Wether you stop your bike with:

Emergency cut-off switch witch ensures that you don't have to reach too far and risk losing your balance or accidentaly releasing the clutch and or the brakes and looking stupid in front of onlookers.

The key which insures that you will not forget it and run down your battery and/or make it easy to steal.

The kickstand which will insure that you stop it in gear, the motorcycle equivalent of a parking brake and that you will not get off without the stand in place.

All three methods cut the eletrical power to the engine and there is no "one better" mechanical way to stop the engine.

 

[Jonathan]

Thanks. We all knew this information. Just some feel that using the emergency switch, can cause damage to the bike and that was the reason for the question. I wasnt asking for a list of each method on how to kill the bike.

 

[Guest]

my kickstand safety cut off is very touchy. if the switch and the kickstand contact at all while the bike is in gear, the bike will cut off

Trip

 

[Uncle Bob]

Just putting forth the info for people who might be interested.

 

[Guest]

what did you mean, uncle bob?

But yes, i'm no doubt for this feature!

 

[Uncle Bob]

Thanks. We all knew this information. Just some feel that using the emergency switch, can cause damage to the bike and that was the reason for the question. I wasnt asking for a list of each method on how to kill the bike.

Sorry i was responding to this post by John.

 

[Jonathan]

Just putting forth the info for people who might be interested.

Its cool. As I read back over the post, it seemed that I was not in such a good mood. I didnt mean any disrepect or anything there Uncle Bob. We still cool? :?