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[FLHTCUSE7]

Anyone leave their stick shift car in neutral when parked..............of course not 

[SBB]

Anyone leave their stick shift car in neutral when parked..............of course not 

Apples and oranges.

SBB

[110tHunDer]

Apples and oranges.

SBB

Thanks.  Now I know there's at least one other person on the board who doesn't equate a 2 ton, 4-wheeled cage to a 800 or 900 lb. motorcycle.

[FLHTCUSE7]

So what's the difference in your opinion?

Thanks.  Now I know there's at least one other person on the board who doesn't equate a 2 ton, 4-wheeled cage to a 800 or 900 lb. motorcycle.

[2k]

So what's the difference in your opinion?

Main one I can think of is a parking brake.

[Cvostu]

Neutral for me also.    Less stress.

[FLHTCUSE7]

Main one I can think of is a parking brake.

Which is not what you use when you park a car with a stick. (You might as support to leaving the car in gear, but never just the parking brake)

But with that logic and the MC not having a parking brake and the car does, it should be left in gear. 

[Harley Guy]

Neutral, clutch in, hand on front brake lever - old habit

[2018_FLTRXSE]

Which is not what you use when you park a car with a stick. (You might as support to leaving the car in gear, but never just the parking brake)

But with that logic and the MC not having a parking brake and the car does, it should be left in gear. 

Manual trans car/truck:

In gear, parking brake applied and wheels turned towards the curb. (Old habits from driver training 30+ years ago)

Bike on level ground: either neutral or in gear, jiffy stand limits movement unless the ground is completely smooth.

Bike on incline: In gear, shut off, stand down, set bike on stand.


Always start bike in neutral, with the clutch in regardless of position. Your hand is capable of holding the front brake and pressing the start button at the same time. You never know what hiccup may occur when starting. As others said it takes the load off starter, battery, etc during starting.

Its habitual for me in a car to do the same thing. I've had some hotrods with finiky clutches that it was best to be in neutral and clutch in always.

I still remember being taught to get on the bike from the kickstand side.... the other side seems to work better for larger bikes... the smaller bikes I still get on the stand side.

[mark]

Start in neutral, clutch in. Park it in gear.

[Fired00d]

Engaging clutch is a good idea.

I watched a friend of mine start his bike once while in gear (not sure if he was getting a false neutral light or what ). Good thing he was tall and quick... he was able to run w/the bike when it started long enough to engage clutch w/o dropping bike. After it was over and he got control we both laughed so hard we almost pissed our pants.... one of those things you had to see to appreciate.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[2018_FLTRXSE]

Engaging clutch is a good idea.

I watched a friend of mine start his bike once while in gear (not sure if he was getting a false neutral light or what ). Good thing he was tall and quick... he was able to run w/the bike when it started long enough to engage clutch w/o dropping bike. After it was over and he got control we both laughed so hard we almost pissed our pants.... one of those things you had to see to appreciate.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

I had to install an easy-clutch device in my wife's RK, makes the clutch finicky. It lurches sometimes when starting if left in gear with the clutch pulled in. I havent yet gotten her into the full time habit of clutch in, gear in neutral before starting.

d00d's narrative is one of those you can visualize... 

[phato1]

I always leave the bike in first gear when I park it. just makes me feel better about it not rolling after I turn my back.

When starting the bike I always follow the same routine - trans in neutral, clutch in, brakes on - usually foot on rear brake pedal, hit the button.

[CowboyBagger]

I always leave the bike in first gear when I park it. just makes me feel better about it not rolling after I turn my back.

When starting the bike I always follow the same routine - trans in neutral, clutch in, brakes on - usually foot on rear brake pedal, hit the button.

Ditto, X2

First day I got my FLHXSE3, the dealer got it all cleaned up and pulled it out for everyone to look at.   The guy that pulled it up left the bike in neutral about 10 minutes later this 12 yr old kid leaned on the bike and my brand new bike fell over on the show room floor.  Luckily nothing was hurt, but after that I always park locked in first gear.

For starting: neutral, brakes on, clutch in everytime.

Cowboy

[Trapperdog]

Since the HD's have a locking kickstand they are not likely to roll forward even on a moderate slope. Those of us owning multiple bikes of different manufacturers without that locking feature face the reality of them rolling forward and off the kickstand even on a slight slope if in neutral. Hence I always leave my bikes parked in gear unless backed down slope into a spot against a curb. On the flip side, our other bikes have a kickstand starter lockout if in gear and also a clutch switch needing the clutch lever to be depressed to start weather in neutral or not. Since my 07 SE Ultra has neither, I always start all in neutral.