OWN UP!!!

[ronnierockster]

Ok how many of you have done this.. You pull up somewhere in neutral and cooly go to push (kick) your side stand down to lay the bike over. When all of a sudden you lurch forward and stall the engine, cause you jambed the ---- into gear!!!! How UNCOOL.. Come on own up.. Or have I just got large feet!! RR

[cammy]

Yip Ronnie, been their, done that, now I got wee routine. Park in neutral, Ignition off, side stand down, Off Rock to the Left, onto centre stand then side stand away. Best way for me.

[ronnierockster]

Hi. I have a "wee" routine .Allways remove outer motorcyling garments first!! How was CARNAC.. RR

[big papa]

Done it!

[Boxer]

I have a better one! Back into a parking space...Slip down the sidestand, but continue straddling the bike as I discuss very important matters with fellow riders. Upon ending said discussion, I grab the sidestand with my left foot and lift it up, thereupon getting off the bike and letting it fall over. Slick huh?

Brain fart.

[BobFV1]

Did it once, about 25 years ago. I have been pretty careful about it since that embarrassing day!

[Lion_Lady]

Did it in the tollway(?) of the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. Had the bike in neutral to get out my money ziplock with both hands. But when I needed to dig out my driver's license from a snapped & zipped pants pocket, I went to drop down the sidestand for stability and managed to kick it into 1st instead. Grrrr.

P

[Guest]

So THAT'S what neutral is for!

Only time (mostly) I use neutral is after pulling into my garage: shut off bike, shift into neutral, kick sidestand down, get off bike, put onto centerstand.

[Old Crockster]

Thanks for that,great to know I'm in good company!!

[dilligaf]

Done it, but not on this bike........yet

[tipstall]

My trick is to have the side stand still down after having the bike on the center stand. Good thing I have not driven away like that.

[captainK]

I've got another variation on the theme ...

Get lazy because you're only going a half-mile up backstreets to buy a couple of items at the local supermarket. Decide there's no need to get into proper bikin' gear because you're only gonna be gone five minutes anyway. Wear your timberland loafers instead of boots. Pull up outside the supermarket and as you go to put your left foot down as you come to a stop, the laces of your loafers wrap around the gear lever. Fall over.

A tad embarassing. On the upside, shoppers at the market loved it!

Captain K.

[rockster.ch]

My method (and I've put thought into it )

• Pull up, stop, etc. We've all mastered that I hope. I usually do this in first gear
• Sidestand down. Engine stops. Marv
• Ignition off, step off bike
• Engage neutral whilst standing next to the bike
• Rock Rockster onto centre stand
• Kick sidestand back (as of course engine cutoff will occur when you forget this and engage first to drive off)

I started this because my old VFR was such a bugger to get onto the centre stand, heavy is not in it - and the potential for dropping between dismount and leaving the bike on the stand is high (not really but it's only a month old )

I also believe that sole use of the centre stand leads to better oil useage....?

[scottybooj]

boxer, that was very funny!


i can't remember a time when i've done what you are all describing. then again, i can't remember breakfast.

[tipstall]

I've got another variation on the theme ...

Get lazy because you're only going a half-mile up backstreets to buy a couple of items at the local supermarket. Decide there's no need to get into proper bikin' gear because you're only gonna be gone five minutes anyway. Wear your timberland loafers instead of boots. Pull up outside the supermarket and as you go to put your left foot down as you come to a stop, the laces of your loafers wrap around the gear lever. Fall over.

A tad embarassing. On the upside, shoppers at the market loved it!

Captain K.

You must be a very confident person to own up to that.

I hope you didn't get hurt. That would be embarassing at a major level.

[ronnierockster]

Went to work on a sunny day in the deck shoes and jeans. Riding Guzzi Le Mans II in those days. Left work rode up the inside of all the box drivers to get out quicker, space getting tight,then realise the flaping laces of left foot have anchored foot to gear lever. Cannot get right leg down cars too close. Security guard steps out off gate house, just as I land,the only refuge I can find is the pole holding up his porch. Which I am now leaning on with my shoulder. Found neutral got other foot down, lent other way and untangled laces. His face was utterly bewilldered. Then I drove away. I have never had long laces since. RR

[Kabusa]

A thunder storm was just about over top of me as I walked out of work in the late summer of 1994. This used to make for an exciting ride for me, because if I really hauled butt I could ride west for five minutes down a twisty, hilly farm road before heading south for a bit and finally backtracking east, to the south of the storm, to my home. The key to doing this successfully (without getting wet) was to waste no time. So I ran to my bike, a new Kawasaki ZX7R Ninja (full fairing sport bike). And in one fluid motion swung my leg over, turned the key and lifted it off the sidestand. Suddenly, before hitting the start button, I realized that I was about to hit reserve, and I needed to turn the petcock to the reserve position now, so I wouldn't be fumbling for it at speed on this fun road. So I throw it back down onto the sidestand (when your feet were down on this bike, it obscured the knob) to make the change....
Well, of course the sidestand was up, and I threw my new bike down on the left side and went tumbling across the parking lot. I had to laugh. In 4 years I had done 2 track days, put 15,000 miles on a GSXR 750, 12,000 miles on a CBR900RR, raced half a season on my GS500 and this was the first time I had dropped a street bike. And the bike wasnt even running!
I went back in to get my boss to help me pick it up. It wasn't scratched up too bad, and I ended up not fixing it, as the scars made for good conversation starters.

[Guest]

So I never use Neutral on my bike.
My center stand is off, cuz I run a full Laser Race system.
So I pull up to a parking spot, clutch is in, in 1st gear. Side stand down. Kills the engine. get off the bike, take off helmet, gloves. Take key out, unlock/lock helmet/gloves to the bike, key in pocket, and get goin.

when I get back on the bike, fast idle on, key in/on. Side stand up, clutch in, and start the bike, roll back, and get going.
So basically, I never use neutral.

Have done this on my last 3 bikes...

no muss, no fuss.

-arbi

[toner87]

I admit it: I use the side stand as my kill switch! Bring on the flames!!!
T.

[X-Cruiser]

Been there - unfortunately. Pulled into a parkade (parking garage) a few months ago- too early in the morning - obviously still asleep. My parking angle was a bit off and my V Star started to fall to the right. Yup - you guessed it - I forgot to hit the kill switch (because I usually engage the side stand to kill the engine) and in the process to try and get the bike upright, I gave her full throttle. The power slide (donut spin) must have looked great to the onlookers. Unfortunately my rear fender smacked the concrete wall. Oh well: I got my first experience purchasing a used fender off ebay - matching the paint will be another story......