[onesixteen]

It really surprises me, for some reason, as to how many say they opt for neutral when parking their bike. (in any situation)
Literally nobody can argue against the fact that the "safest" option is to park in gear...and more specifically, 1st gear.
If you have ever had a bike roll away or fall down due to being parked in neutral, trust me...you'll never do it again.
There is no damage that can be caused by parking "in gear" and being in gear is the only way to ensure the bike won't move aside from being chocked, tied, etc.
Would you park a car in neutral?...even with a parking brake engaged, that's never a good idea.
---"Park" on a car locks the transmission to stop vehicle movement and with a manual transmission, it should be parked in gear.
Even in a garage, if you've got kids, pets, spouse, or even wind that goes through, you could have issues.
---For that matter, even I myself have bumped into my bikes and have had "oh shit" moments.
If you want to warm up your bike, unless you have remote start...which I have yet to see, you already have to be "at your bike" to start it so how hard is it to pop it into neutral when you're there?
At the end of the day though, it's YOUR bike. You do you!

That's a great summary and reasons why I park in 1st all the time

 

[Slacker82]

99% neutral unless it’s on a grade. Reason is I walk up and start the bike to let it warm up as I’m putting on my gear.

Same as you. I just push the start button when grabbing all my gear.

 

[Griff]

Mmmm, Yeah?! Starting today I guarantee 1st gear no matter the situation. Thanks for starting this thread. It’s the little things you take for granted that bite.

I've always wondered why Polaris uses a non-locking kickstand, unlike HD. When I bought the bike, I didn't know that the kickstand didn't lock in place when down. That was a big surprise, and made my jaws hard. Also, my first kickstand broke in TWO places and was replaced under warranty. These heavy bikes should have a very strong stand that locks when down. I never worried about parking my HD Roadking, but my '14 Classic needed constant vigilance until I got the mind set to always park it in gear.

Also, I don't know if my bike is unlike other Indians, but I can start it in gear. I don't have to shift to neutral. I just push the start button by the right hand grip, wait for the F.I. to do it's thing, pull in the clutch and start it up. Maybe all Indians are like that, I don't know as I very seldom see one where I live. Maybe one of the many ECM reflashes I had to do might have something to do with it.

This thread wouldn't have had to be started if Polaris had spent a couple of bucks more in the development of a self-locking kickstand. I consider it a safety issue.

Griff

 

[Caprock]

Lockable or not, the Indian kickstands, at least on my previous Springfield and my current Chieftain, go so far forward beyond center that they are not just going to flip up on their own. I've seen a couple of videos where Indians have fallen over, but they were both due to the owner not properly, or fully putting the kickstand down before they tilted the bike to the left. I have actually intentionally pushed my bike forward while on its kickstand (took a lot of force) to see what the kickstand would do and it just slid on the ground forward with the bike. With the bike leaning on the kickstand, and with the kickstand out, for it to go backwards, the bike would have to go upright a little before the kickstand can go to, and beyond the 6 o'clock position. So on a flat surface, or parked facing up on an incline the bike is not going to roll off its kickstand, and you should not be parking your bike facing down hill on a slope. But, if you do, then put it in gear.

But, do whatever you feel comfortable with.

 

[Big Dawg]

Accidentally posted in the the wrong thread.

Apologies.





BD

 

[Davetac1]

Wow!! But I just gotta ask this question!!! Did ya damage the rock???

 

[HYTMN]

In my garage in the wheel chock it's in neutral. Out of the chock, whether in the garage or in the street, it's in gear.

I'm the complete opposite.If mine is in the Wheel Dock then it's in gear, Makes it easy to push down on the front tire release without the bike moving.

 

[WalterMitty]

I guess I'm jus really curious about all of you who say that stay in 1st at stop lights because you're worried about someone slamming into your backside.

Now, I've only bee riding since 1973. In all of that time I have never had anyone even come close to hitting me at a stop light. Of all of the people I know who ride, not one of them has related a story about someone either almost, or actually, running into them in that situation.

So, that being said, for all of you who are so vehemently in favor of staying in 1st, for that safety reason, have you, or anyone you know, actually had that happen?

If not, I still do understand the whole "better safe than sorry" and "ride for the slide" philosophy of motorcycling. So, as a 2nd question, for the same group, how many of you are also ATGATT.

Neither of these question is meant to be a "got'cha" or anything like that. I refuse to ride without a helmet because, shortly after I first started riding, I ran off the road in a curve, my bike hit a huge rock, and I flew over the handlebars and landed on my head. My helmet had a 2" long gash in it.





BD

I know of two examples. My brother was riding with his daughter on the back, stopped at a light, and someone rear ended them. Luckily, it was fairly slow, but it still shot them forward unexpectedly, and both fell off the bike. Second example was someone I sold a bike to. The next day, he was stopped and someone hit him hard. Eff'd up the bike pretty bad. He was fine though.

Even knowing both of these, I sit at stop lights in neutral...but I usually have a brake on.

 

[Big Dawg]

Wow!! But I just gotta ask this question!!! Did ya damage the rock???

Not to my knowledge, although I have been called hard-headed . . .

I also broke my right collar bone. I was wearing one of those old style 3/4 helmets and when the lip under the ear connected with my collar bone, you which one lost that battle.

No cell phones in those days, of course, so I actually rode to the hospital on the back of one my friends bikes.





BD

 

[Big Dawg]

I know of two examples. My brother was riding with his daughter on the back, stopped at a light, and someone rear ended them. Luckily, it was fairly slow, but it still shot them forward unexpectedly, and both fell off the bike. Second example was someone I sold a bike to. The next day, he was stopped and someone hit him hard. Eff'd up the bike pretty bad. He was fine though.

Even knowing both of these, I sit at stop lights in neutral...but I usually have a brake on.

Actually I meant to post this in a different thread, but I appreciate your response. I was sure that there were real life examples of this, cause it happens to cars, too.

Glad to hear that all involved were okay.

I appreciate your response.




BD

 

[Borisrph]

I can't speak for others,but,unless I'm parking on a grade,mine is always left in neutral.Naturally,if the machine is parked on a grade,THEN,you would place it in gear which I would think would be common sense.

This ^^^