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[SpeedisLife]

I always start in neutral (less stress on bike).  And, I always have the clutch pulled in (old habit).  SJ Ron

x2

[porthole]

Yes they do move forward a bit, but once the stand locks they stay generally stay put. On bikes without the locking feature they continue forward until the stand folds and the bike falls on its side if not in gear.

Mine moves enough that I got tired of my wife's reaction whenever I got off the bike and she was watching. Gets left in gear all the time now - no roll.

[Trapperdog]

Mine moves enough that I got tired of my wife's reaction whenever I got off the bike and she was watching. Gets left in gear all the time now - no roll.

Ha, been there too. One of the better reasons to leave it in gear. That little yelp they give out scares me more than the bike rolling forward

[porthole]

Ha, been there too. One of the better reasons to leave it in gear. That little yelp they give out scares me more than the bike rolling forward

Yeah - that and when in the truck and she looks up from her phone, screams - puts her feet on the dash and yells "lookout" because she "just" sees the car alongside us that I have been watching for several hundred yards.

[Midnight Rider]

I could always tell a difference between starting in neutral vs starting in gear...could always feel the bike want to move when initially hitting the start button when in gear.  100% of the time, I pull the clutch in. 100% of the time I have two fingers on the front brake lever before hitting the starter button.  Both feet on the ground unless I's starting cold, then I do the same routine from the left side of the bike, put on my helmet/gloves, etc and then get on the bike from the left side.  I cannot remember a single time I have ever started the bike with my right foot on the rear brake pedal...I want both feet on the ground "just in case".  Front brake engaged, start the bike, let the idle speed drop to normal, support with right foot, put it in gear, both feet back on the ground, ride off.

[BaggerProud]

Yeah - that and when in the truck and she looks up from her phone, screams - puts her feet on the dash and yells "lookout" because she "just" sees the car alongside us that I have been watching for several hundred yards.

How come my wife's ridin' in your truck??

[hogdooz]

If you've taken an MSF RiderCourse, you know they always stress leaving the bike in first gear when you shut it off---keeps it from rolling while you dismount and mount again. Then put it in neutral before you start it. And like a previous poster said, I pull the clutch when I hit the starter for two reasons; insures the bike won't move when you hit the starter and breaks the clutch plates loose so it will slide into first much easier. On the old kick start bikes, we always squeezed the clutch and kicked it through to free the clutch plates, still needs to be done on the electric starts.

[Para Bellum]

Unfortunately that isn't the case, especially on a cold start, due to a phenomenon called clutch drag.

Jerry

x2

[SE66]

Just to make a point about starting the motor while not in neutral.  It does put a load on the starter when cranking while in gear.  Just to prove my point,  leave the bike in first gear,  pull in the clutch and try to roll the bike forward,  very hard to do,  this just proves that there are parts that are still slightly engaged which does cause more of a load on the starter when attempting to start while in gear.  Just my thoughts,  sounds reasonable.  HUH

[MIKEYTEE]

Park in 1st gear, start in neutral with clutch in. Old habits hard to break. Never kick start a bike in gear don't ask how I know this.
Mike
 

[Pete7539]

Put the bike on a lift, make sure it's strapped down. Start it up in neutral the rear wheel will spin. You can stop it by hand, but it will rotate on it's own in neutral. Start it in 1st with clutch in, it'll spin faster with more torque to the wheel. I've only done this after detailing and engine wasn't warmed up, but as Jerry said clutch drag.

[FLHTCUSE7]

There is a reason that Motor officers always start in first gear and foot on brake..................................................

[iski]

Park in 1st gear, start in neutral with clutch in. Old habits hard to break. Never kick start a bike in gear don't ask how I know this.
Mike
 

That is the kind of thing you do only once, if you are lucky.   

Watched a bike - not mine - that was started in first gear run up over a curb a time or 2.  Once it gets going, it's like a wild bronco & doesn't want to stop.

[Pete7539]

There is a reason that Motor officers always start in first gear and foot on brake..................................................

I guess it depends on region and training. I know and have ridden with several, none of them do. I'll ask the instructor when I see him in December.

[masiman]

I start in neutral with clutch disengaged.