Starting your bike in gear!!
#93
Three things:
(1) I always pull in the clutch when starting.
(2) I (almost) always sit on the bike before starting.
(3) Make sure it's in neutral.
Sometimes I forget number (3) and start the bike in gear. Even with the clutch pulled there is enough clutch drag on a cold bike that it may try to jump a bit. This is where sitting on the bike helps to control it -- with my weight it can't move much.
(1) I always pull in the clutch when starting.
(2) I (almost) always sit on the bike before starting.
(3) Make sure it's in neutral.
Sometimes I forget number (3) and start the bike in gear. Even with the clutch pulled there is enough clutch drag on a cold bike that it may try to jump a bit. This is where sitting on the bike helps to control it -- with my weight it can't move much.
#94
I wouldn't trust that. But that is probably just old me -- I remember when neutral lights couldn't always be trusted. I still don't trust them -- always let the clutch out slow if the engine is running.
#95
#96
#97
#98
After reading all these stories, I don't feel like the lone idiot anymore. It happened to me at a dealership parking lot of all places, with about four thousand other bikers watching (well it seemed like it at the time). I forgot to put it in neutral when I parked. The bike just lurched forward a bit before I grabbed the brake. Scared the ***T out of me. It's hell on the biker pride but a valuable lesson learned. Now I pull in the clutch EVERYTIME.