Help the NooB...

Back in MSF motorcycle school... They taught us the FINE-C acronym as a reminder of the steps to follow when starting your bike: Fuel (turn on the petcock at the tank), Ignition (turn the key on), Neutral (check the indicator and get there if it's not on), Engine cut-off switch (turn to run), Choke (pull out) and Clutch (pull in).

That all worked great on my '93 Honda trainer. But I'm picking up my new (to me) 2008 fuel injected Fat Bob tomorrow. I know it's got no choke. Does it have a fuel valve? (How else would you get to reserve?) It's got an on/off switch on top of the tank - how does that work in conjunction with the key to control ignition?

I'm sure my salesman will teach me this, but I'm excited and I'd like to arrive informed. (And yah, . But I don't have one yet!!)

 

no petcock on the FI, no reserve...

ignition to run (key), put it in neutral, keep the clutch engaged, turn the on/off to 'on', let the engine light go out, fire it up... ease off the clutch (in case the dummy light is wrong)

 

No petcock. No reserve. You'll need to watch the fuel gauge or odometer.
The key unlocks the ignition and you switch it to ACC, ON, or OFF.

 

No petcock, no reserve, no choke.
But you still have FINE-C
Fuel (how much do you have?)
Ingnition (Switch to on)
Neutral
Engine cut off switch
Clutch

I'd expect the Fat Bob to be like many Harleys. As a security feature, the key fob must be near the bike for it to start. The switch on the tank is the ignition.
The key is used to lock or unlock things like the steering.

 

Ah. Thanks guys. Good dtuff. Can't wait!

 

make sure you let the fuel pump wind up all the way before you hit the start button. You'll hear it when you turn on the ignition. Only takes a few seconds.

 

maybe you should buy an older bike so you can use the skills you paid to get trained for. j/k. i know a girl that actually quit her safety course because she didn't understand the whole petcock, reserve thing because all her guy friends had fi bikes.

 

I am not really trying to **** anyone off here, but I just got done reading a thread where someone was ranting about all of the maintenance questions on this board. And now, I just read that some people need a friggin acronym to remember how to start their bike.

All I can say it, "F*cking Eggs, bacon!"

 

Just comes natural?

Hey... I put up a disclaimer - I realize I'm an ignorant newbie. But how do you learn if you don't ask? I suggest you use the little popup preview feature and then skip the threads you'd be bored reading.

 

Here's the thing, I read when you said "back in MSF school" which led me to believe that you took it a while ago. If you had never been on a bike when you went to MSF then that would be a great way (i guess) to teach someone how to start a bike.

However, I would have to assume by the end of the course you wouldn't have to use an acronym to start a bike, much less use one to start your own bike.

You also said you are picking up your 2008 Fat Bob. You don't know if it has a reserve or not? You don't know if it has a fuel valve?

Have you not even ridden it yet?