2017 Trike Won't Start In Gear
#43
03-08-2017 | 01:00 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 64
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TG won't start in gear
A few weeks ago I was riding sweep in a HOG ride. A friend of mine had just purchased a new 2017 Trike and was getting used to the clutch release. At an intersection, after the light turned green, the group took off and my friend stalled. He had some momentum but couldn't start the bike while rolling (not enough momentum to just release the clutch and engine start it) because the starter wouldn't work. He had to completely stop the trike, find neutral, then he could start the bike. After the ride he went straight to the dealership and found out that it is a new *feature* for 2017 that the bike has to be in neutral to start. I don't know what models this impacts, but now I know it impacts trikes.
I found this to be a very serious and dangerous issue. In this case he was in the middle of an intersection and car drivers were getting pissy. People do stupid things and cause accidents when they get pissy like that. It had me very concerned and was relieved when he got it started and cleared the intersection.
If rolling down a highway and accidentally hit the engine kill switch instead of the right signal (like everyone has done at some point), if the rider doesn't know they can just release the clutch to restart, they will be having to completely stop the bike so they can find neutral to restart.
Personally, I find this pretty stupid and unsafe. I understand needing to have the clutch pulled in, but having to put it in neutral is just unsafe in more ways than not.
I found this to be a very serious and dangerous issue. In this case he was in the middle of an intersection and car drivers were getting pissy. People do stupid things and cause accidents when they get pissy like that. It had me very concerned and was relieved when he got it started and cleared the intersection.
If rolling down a highway and accidentally hit the engine kill switch instead of the right signal (like everyone has done at some point), if the rider doesn't know they can just release the clutch to restart, they will be having to completely stop the bike so they can find neutral to restart.
Personally, I find this pretty stupid and unsafe. I understand needing to have the clutch pulled in, but having to put it in neutral is just unsafe in more ways than not.
#48
03-10-2017 | 09:41 PM
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Joined: May 2007
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From: Skunk Hollow, TX
#49
03-11-2017 | 06:15 AM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,407
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From: USA
That doesn't sound good/right. The rear brake light switch is a pressure operated switch. If you're able to press on the brake pedal enough to START activating the rear brakes , then that should also be enough to trigger the brake light switch. If that is not is not happening, then the bike could be stopping without the brake lights coming on if you only used the rear brake. The bike is under warranty. Take it back to the dealer and have them fix it. I'm sure Softbrake did not design a brake pedal that needs to be pushed extremely hard to stop the bike. It's most likely a defective rear brake light switch. There have been recalls (2009 FLHTCU) on that switch but it was due to heat from the exhaust system destroying the switch that was mounted very close to it. I don't know how it is on the trike.
#50
03-11-2017 | 02:37 PM
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,926
Likes: 138
From: NE Ohio
That doesn't sound good/right. The rear brake light switch is a pressure operated switch. If you're able to press on the brake pedal enough to START activating the rear brakes , then that should also be enough to trigger the brake light switch. If that is not is not happening, then the bike could be stopping without the brake lights coming on if you only used the rear brake. The bike is under warranty. Take it back to the dealer and have them fix it. I'm sure Softbrake did not design a brake pedal that needs to be pushed extremely hard to stop the bike. It's most likely a defective rear brake light switch. There have been recalls (2009 FLHTCU) on that switch but it was due to heat from the exhaust system destroying the switch that was mounted very close to it. I don't know how it is on the trike.