Starting in Gear as Opposed to Setting in Neutral

[Big B]

i leave my bike in gear when parked, and start it in neutral most of the time. since it's in gear, i turn the key on, step down on the shifter (while still off the bike) to put it in neutral, and start the bike to let it warm up while i'm putting on my helmet, jacket, gloves, ect. when i shut it down i let the kickstand kill switch turn the engine off while it's still in gear, then turn the key off, that's it. (no petcock, bike has efi). now that's my personal preference and what works well with my bike, obviously won't work well with everybody. the trick is to get into the habit of doing the same thing every time, but also not to take anything for granted. make sure the bike is in neutral, make sure the kill switch is set to run, make sure your petcock is open, make sure you've got the clutch in. get into those habits and whatever startup procedure works for you and your bike should be fine.

[storysunfolding]

I ride year round on a range of bikes from a 1974 cb 360 to a 2006 Vstrom 650. In the winter the oil thickens and if you're in first with the clutch pulled- it still lurches forward a little and puts added strain on the starter. I'm guessing due to an induced change in viscosity due to the cold. If anyone's ridden a ninja 250, you know that even in summer, if it sits for a few days you can't roll it in first with the clutch squeezed.

On every bike I've owned/ridden they all start well from nuetral in all conditions... so I stick with that YMMV

Oh and Lionlady was dead on about FINE-C and Thumb Key Valve. It's part of a diagram in the book. Was the message delivered as well as it could have been? Maybe not but now we can all ask her

"What did you learn from this thread?"

[ofblong]

and how many times have some of you left it in second gear when you left it in gear?

[Skier]

and how many times have some of you left it in second gear when you left it in gear?

Not once.

[Tower18CHI]

and how many times have some of you left it in second gear when you left it in gear?

None, but I did shift to second at a stop when I thought I went to neutral, and proceeded to drop the clutch (thought I was in neutral, the light even went on for the second my eyes were looking at it), and had a nice lurch/stall right in front of post-game crowds in front of Wrigley Field. Smooth move.

[HYPERR]

and had a nice lurch/stall right in front of post-game crowds in front of Wrigley Field. Smooth move.

Like they say, the odds of doing something embarrasing on a bike is directly proportional to the size of the audience.

[RhadamYgg]

and how many times have some of you left it in second gear when you left it in gear?

None, but I did shift to second at a stop when I thought I went to neutral, and proceeded to drop the clutch (thought I was in neutral, the light even went on for the second my eyes were looking at it), and had a nice lurch/stall right in front of post-game crowds in front of Wrigley Field. Smooth move.

You know, I really hate it when I do something like that. Today, I took my bike to the dealer for the 3100 miles maintenance... And I'm in front of the garage door, thinking about some other damned thing... And I dump the clutch standing on the bike. So, lurch and stall. Nobody saw it so I blew it off.... But that doesn't mean I didn't feel like an idiot. I haven't done that in a while.

Did get in to talking to the MSF instructors after a session and dump the clutch like that a couple of times, though.

Felt dumb then, too, but that time I had a witness.

RhadamYgg

[Big B]

and how many times have some of you left it in second gear when you left it in gear?

never. what's your point?

[ofblong]

and how many times have some of you left it in second gear when you left it in gear?

never. what's your point?

I am sure people do and thats what my point is. Start your bike in second gear when you thought you were in first and find out you cant take off very well. I pull my bike into my garage and then back it out hwne I goto leave. putting it in gear would be stupid because then I would have to hold the clutch in to back out unless I went into neutral. Just way to many steps to worry about so I just leave it in neutral to begin with. Its not like its gonna "roll" in my garage. I do agree with leaving it in gear on a hill, however.

[Big B]

ok, i understand where you're coming from. i've never started my bike in second gear either. after i turn the key on, but before i punch the starter, i shift it into neutral, whether i'm rolling it out of my garage, or just sitting on it.