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Shutting down in gear

8.7K views 47 replies 29 participants last post by  Big Dawg  
#1 ·
The manual (and I think generally accepted motorcycle practice (GAMP) :) ) is to put the bike in neutral when shutting down. However, since our bikes don’t have a parking brake, I sometimes need to leave the bike in first gear when parking on a slight incline. Is this a problem? Why does the manual say leave it in neutral?
 
#3 ·
because if you start it in gear and it takes off and puts a whole in your garage door... Indian can say that it says right in the manual to shut it off in neutral.. and the owner is lacking brain cells so the damage is not our fault..

I always leave my bike in gear when parked... and I always put it in neutral before I start it..
 
#4 ·
I did not realize the manual suggest that. But either way... I would not and do not follow that suggestion. 99% of the time I use the "safety switch" of the kick stand to shut down my bike. Pull up to where I want to park, Ensure I am in first gear, put the kick stand down which shuts down the ENG, then turn the power off to the bike. That way if someone bumps it, or there is aslight rise or decent to the parking area I don't have to worry about the bike rolling and tipping over (which I have had happen before when I first started riding street bikes). My dirt bikes are always parked in Neutral unless leaning against a tree out in the bush or whatever.
 
#39 ·
I cannot put the kick stand down to shut the bike off. 1st I have to have the clutch pulled in, then if I were to place the kickstand down, the bike would still continue to run. Disengaging the clutch would cause it to surge forward leading to unwanted problems.
I do however, place the bike in gear always, but more so whenever on an incline (facing up or down), shut it off using the kill switch or main, then disengage the clutch to act as a mechanical brake...
 
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#8 ·
Hmm, the manual does say that.:) Technically, it says you can put it into neutral after the engine has stopped, but it does say to put it into neutral, and to put it in neutral to start it. Maybe for a newbie that might be a safe practice, but I never start or stop a bike with the clutch out, and there is a safety switch to prevent that anyways (if it is in gear). Generally, that is the only rule. You can only start in neutral OR in gear with the clutch pulled in AND the kickstand up.
 
#10 ·
A word from experience…coming from the Harley world and always having an HD locking kickstand, I’d leave the bike in neutral when parked, with the wheel straight. I carried this over to my Indians…until one day I stopped at a service station, on fairly level ground, dismounted my bike, left it in neutral, wheel straight, and as I was removing my helmet, noticed my Challenger slowing rolling forward. Had I not been standing there to catch it, it would have rolled off the kickstand. After that, I alway park in first and turn the bars to the left, full lock.
 
#44 · (Edited)
Simple guys . . . . do whatever works for you. If you're worried that your bike's gonna try and leave on its own, maybe you might want to leave it in gear. If, on the other hand, you've ridden for 50 years, like me, and your bike has never tried go out by itself, feel free to leave it in Neutral, unless you are, in fact, on an incline. Then you probably should look at leaving it gear.





BD
 
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#14 ·
A lot of things in manufacturer manuals are just them covering their butts. I'd say this is the same. Say someone shuts it down in gear, and then immediately releases the clutch, like almost at the same time immediately. It could still have a bit of a jerk to it since the engine hasn't completely stopped turning. It won't go far but that jerk could be enough for someone to drop the bike or hit something(curb, other bike, car, etc). Telling you to put it in neutral just absolves them of any liability if that happens. The manual does say you can shift to first for parking on a slope, so its nothing about it being in gear when off. Manual also says you should be shifting into 6th gear by 50mph.
 
#15 ·
Having a left hand shift motorcycle, and a right hand shift motorcycle also, it takes deliberate thought to ride them both. The brain gets conditioned to think automatically about routine actions like shifting, and braking. Neither of these bikes have a safety switch to stop me from starting them in gear, with the clutch not pulled in. The old school right hand shift bike, however, is kickstart only, so, really, you HAVE to have it in neutral, lol.
‘I guess my point is, you shouldn’t be mindless, when riding a motorcycle. There are deliberate actions that need to be performed, whenever you ride. In the 44 years that I’ve been riding, I have only left the motorcycle in gear after stopping and shutting off the engine a handful of times. If I’m parked on an incline, I try to find another level spot to park, in neutral. I always curb the bikes rear wheel, so it doesn’t move after parking, too, with the front forks turned to the left. Anytime you ride without deliberate thought, there is danger of something happening. Think about what you do, and why.
Charlie
 
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#16 ·
....‘I guess my point is, you shouldn’t be mindless, when riding a motorcycle. There are deliberate actions that need to be performed, whenever you ride. In the 44 years that I’ve been riding, I have only left the motorcycle in gear after stopping and shutting off the engine a handful of times. If I’m parked on an incline, I try to find another level spot to park, in neutral. I always curb the bikes rear wheel, so it doesn’t move after parking, too, with the front forks turned to the left. Anytime you ride without deliberate thought, there is danger of something happening. Think about what you do, and why.
Charlie
I couldn't agree more, and only add "good" habits also contribute to safety, success and enjoyment, and "bad" habits detract....
Good habits will cover your butt if you get distracted or have an off day...

I have to make the disclaimer that I am a total newb when it comes to motorcycles, but was a pilot and involved in the aviation industry my whole life. So my advice comes from operating a totally different kind of vehicle but the attitudes and approach to operating the vehicle I think carry's over.....
 
#17 ·
If this was important, then when the manufacturers added the safety switches 50 or 60 years ago, they would have simply made it so that the bike can't start in gear period. Starting in neutral isn't a "best practice" any more than not using your brakes in a curve is a best practice. It is a practice for new riders who have not yet memorized the clutch and its ubiquitous purpose in the operation of a motorcycle.

I understand Charlie's case of riding opposite bikes, and having to remind himself where the controls are depending on which bike he is on, but I think in his situation my fear would be in traffic where I might not have the time to remind myself, not in my garage.

If you are worried that you might not pull your clutch in when you start your bike, what does that say for the rest of the automated memorized things you should be doing on the road? You want the little things memorized, so that your focus is on important stuff.

If you want a best practice, and I am pretty sure all of us do this instinctively by this point, it is to pull the clutch in when you start the bike, and hold the clutch in till the engine is off when you stop and park. Fiddling with the gears falls under the which oil is best category.

I would ride a motorcycle without brakes before I would ride one without a clutch.:)
 
#19 ·
interesting thread… I have ALWAYS put my bikes in Neutral when parked. I think it comes from that awful feeling you get when you start a bike after forgetting you left it in gear; you know, that “snap your neck-everyone saw me do that” feeling. But then up until now Ive always owned Harleys with the locking kick stand. Think maybe I need to change that habit…
 
#21 ·
Is it true that some motorcycles have parking brakes? I have seen scooters with a locking mechanism on the front brake, but that’s because they have a centrifugal clutch and belt…
‘Now, if you have a bungee cord, you could wrap the front brake handle, and ‘set’ the parking brake… lol.
Charlie
 
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#22 ·
In gear when off/parked. When starting, key on, clutch in, shift to neutral, start. Been working for me since 1980.
 
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#26 · (Edited)
From the Indian Riders manual

Stopping the Engine
Before stopping the engine, bring the motorcycle to a complete stop. Shift to neutral or disengage the clutch.
WARNING! Stopping the engine with the transmission in gear while the motorcycle is moving could cause loss of rear wheel traction or engine and transmission damage, which could cause loss of control and serious injury or death. Always stop the engine after the motorcycle is fully stopped and the transmission is in neutral. If the engine stops unexpectedly while the motorcycle is moving, guide the motorcycle to a safe location off the road and away from traffic. Turn the power switch off.
1. When fully stopped, shift into neutral.
2. Move the engine stop/run switch to the STOP position.
3. Turn the power switch off.
 
#27 ·
Stopping the Engine
Before stopping the engine, bring the motorcycle to a complete stop. Shift to neutral or disengage the clutch.
WARNING! Stopping the engine with the transmission in gear while the motorcycle is moving could cause loss of rear wheel traction or engine and transmission damage, which could cause loss of control and serious injury or death. Always stop the engine after the motorcycle is fully stopped and the transmission is in neutral. If the engine stops unexpectedly while the motorcycle is moving, guide the motorcycle to a safe location off the road and away from traffic. Turn the power switch off.
1. When fully stopped, shift into neutral.
2. Move the engine stop/run switch to the STOP position.
3. Turn the power switch off.
I forgot to explicitly include pulling clutch in, but yes, obviously that's the first step!
 
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#30 ·
As a retired diesel mechanic and long term rider I have seen to many damaged machines and sometimes people to ever trust any kind of safety system,ie clutch,kickstand,neutral etc.To easy to fall into bad habits that will bite you.I shutdown and park in neutral and if on any kind of slope find a spot with something to let the rear wheel roll into like a chock.Developed this habit from many years of kicker only bikes,or they had such iffy statters I never trusted them.Plus starting in neutral is less load on the starter and allows oil to get into the throwout areas of the clutch release system.
 
#31 · (Edited)
Well, the wisdom of stopping or starting in gear isn't based on safety switches. It is based on the clutch, and even if you start in neutral, you are going to be in for one hell of a surprise when you change into first and you find out your clutch isn't working. The safety switches are not for accidently starting in gear. They are for accidentally starting in gear with the clutch out.
 
#32 ·
No question for me, shut down in neutral then engage gear if necessary to prevent bike movement. Invariably there is a 'relaxation' of suspension etc meaning a bike will 'settle back', even just an inch or two efffectivly creating a mechanical lock in the gearbox.. On smaller bikes it isn't difficult to either roll or bounce forward to reduce the 'lock' effect of the gearbox. Does this ever present a problem for much larger machines like my Chieftain... cos I can't see me bouncing this baby uphill!
 
#34 ·
FWIW: I've been runnin two wheeler now for close to 70 consecutive years,and every time I have parked any of my bikes on ANY HILL or INCLINE,I always,"ALWAYS", leave her in gear,which is a wise decision, the smart move, and COMMON SENSE when ya stop and think about it ! But,each to his or her own!!
 
#37 ·
95% off the time I shut the bike off in neutral and leave it that way when parked. Only time i park it in gear is if I’m on an incline and worried about the bike moving. There are times that I shut off the bike in gear but then almost always shift in to neutral before walking away.

One time I tried to start my Chieftain in gear with the kickstand up and clutch in. It still moved forward and popped a check engine light.
 
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#38 ·
Habits are habits, both good and bad. Someone who is forgetful enough to try and start the bike in gear is probably equally as forgetful to put the bike in neutral when they stop. Sit on your bike, check what gear it's in (with your foot not the indicator) put it in neutral then start it. Now go ride.
 
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