Author Topic: Do you like the safety features? (Read 8020 times)

Rough Edge racing · « **on:** July 04, 2015, 02:36:44 PM »

By safety features I mean for the side stand,clutch lever , neutral switch etc. I was returning home on the Buell and the engine let off a loud bang from the exhaust, cut out stumbled and then after maybe 10 seconds ran fine again.....This happened one more time and the loud shot from the pipe sounds like ignition problems....On a forum a guy said he had a similar issue from the side stand safety that kills the engine if you put the bike in gear and let out the clutch.... The switch tested ok but was very sticky or worn...So I just jumped out the ignition relay pull in coil directly to ground, bypassing all the safety stuff... Just like an older bike...
Do you guys like or rely on these types of safety features?

Triple Jim · « **Reply #1 on:** July 04, 2015, 02:42:22 PM »

That's a tough question. In general I hate safety interlocks, but then I knew a guy on the British triples board who was killed when he was making a left turn and his lowered side stand launched him into oncoming traffic. So I guess if I were building a motorcycle for myself, I'd leave off the interlocks and put a rubber finger on the side stand foot like some Hondas have, so it if hits the pavement, it kicks back up.

jackson · « **Reply #2 on:** July 04, 2015, 02:43:05 PM »

I detest the "pull the clutch to start" feature so I have disconnected the cable on my bike. I'm not crazy about the sidestand cutout switch BUT it can prevent a very nasty accident. What I don't understand is that Harley has been making their sidestand (they call it a jiffystand) for many years and it doesn't have a cutout switch because if you attempt to drive off with the stand down, it will push itself up and away from the pavement if it makes contact. Such a simple design and it worked great on the Harleys that I've owned. I've read where many people think that the cutoff switch is federally mandated but apparently it's not since Harley is still putting the jiffystand on their big bikes (don't know about the Sportster).

Arizona Wayne · « **Reply #3 on:** July 04, 2015, 02:44:48 PM »

If they become a PIA I bypass the sidestand safety switch. But some times they stop me from stupidly taking off w/the sidestand still out.

Lannis · « **Reply #4 on:** July 04, 2015, 03:25:05 PM »

Quote from: Arizona Wayne on July 04, 2015, 02:44:48 PM

If they become a PIA I bypass the sidestand safety switch. But some times they stop me from stupidly taking off w/the sidestand still out.

Both the sidestand switch and the "don't start it in gear" switch have saved me from embarrassment a couple of times on the Stelvio when I get in too much of a hurry. They'll make me mad when they fail, though ....

Lannis

pebra · « **Reply #5 on:** July 04, 2015, 04:29:47 PM »

I don't mind the sidestand light.
I don't rely on the neutral light.

Arizona Wayne · « **Reply #6 on:** July 04, 2015, 05:26:49 PM »

Quote from: pebra on July 04, 2015, 04:29:47 PM

I don't mind the sidestand light.
I don't rely on the neutral light.

I have different make bikes. Some require squeezing in the clutch and some don't. Therefore as a habit I assume all require pulling in the clutch levers to start the motor.

charlie b · « **Reply #7 on:** July 04, 2015, 05:39:00 PM »

Mine is old enough to not have either. Have not left the sidestand down...yet. It helps that mine will kick back up with a little bit of vibration. I sometimes have to keep my boot on it as I lean the bike over. That has almost caused a senior moment when I did not 'secure' the stand as I leaned the bike over. :)

I always check to see if it is in neutral before I start it. And, no, frequently my neutral light does not work either. Mainly I do it because when it is hot, the clutch can drag a bit, making it a problem to start if not in neutral.

When I had the Honda it sometimes created a senior moment as I'd try to start it without engaging the clutch.

steven c · « **Reply #8 on:** July 04, 2015, 09:39:02 PM »

I got side track the other day when leaving Cycle gear on the Eldo and left my stand down,stupid,luckily I was still in the parking lot.

Gliderjohn · « **Reply #9 on:** July 04, 2015, 11:13:09 PM »

I think the side stand switch is a positive one. Leaving one down is to easy to do and it can do nasty things to you.
GliderJohn

canuguzzi · « **Reply #10 on:** July 04, 2015, 11:25:48 PM »

Safety features like sidesteps and clutch interlocks aren't there to be relied on for routine use of the bike, they are there in case you forget and do something that would otherwise cause a greater problem

I have yet to hear that a side stand lockout caused something worse than one left down. Same for the clutch lockout.

If you are always certain the transmission is in neutral or that you pull in the clutch, then the ffeature doesn't get in your way. If you always put in the side stand then how does that lock feature get in your way? I guess you might want to let the bike sit, side stand out idling away but just how smart is that?

I don't rely on features like that, they are there in case that day I'm not Mr. Perfect.

Arizona Wayne · « **Reply #11 on:** July 05, 2015, 12:14:06 AM »

If I park my bike on a slope on the sidestand I will put it in gear and some times I forget I did that when it's time to leave. Your description sounds simple but assumes every situation is the same. It is not at least for me.

On a Guzzi Convert. the sidestand locks I position and also locks the rear parking brake since the bike is free rolling if not on a flat surface. So on that bike you don't need a safety switch. Any time you want to move forward you know the sidestand has to be in, not out. But like I said before, different designed bikes don't all operate the same way on this subject.

My MP3 scooters don't have a sidestand. They don't need it. You lock them upright electrically when you stop. It too rolls like a Convert. when off but has a mechanical parking brake for that like a car.

Rough Edge racing · « **Reply #12 on:** July 05, 2015, 05:30:58 AM »

I ride kick start Brit, Harleys and a few old Ducati 750's most of my life. Retracting the side stand was part of the routine. In fact most riders on old Triumphs retract the stand before kicking the bike. I still do that on the electric start Buell. It's like flying a plane with a list before you take off. Check the fuel by looking in the tank, put on helmet, sit on bike, retract the stand , squeeze brake and clutch levers, check for neutral,start bike, ride moderately until engine is warmed up....And all our cars/trucks have clutch pedals and no electronic driver intervention safety features.
Being a minimalist requires a bit more work but the rewards are wonderful...

redrider · « **Reply #13 on:** July 05, 2015, 06:46:58 AM »

No, not at all. One more thing to go wrong. I learned to ride and drive before these devices appeared. Another thread has us handing out Darwins with glee when humans interact badly with Nature.

rocker59 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 05, 2015, 07:55:54 AM »

Same for my Sport 1100 !!!

Seems like no one remembers the Italian self-retracting sidestands.

Sometimes people ask why I've got a bungee cord running from the sidestand to the front brake rotor when the bike is parked for long periods on its sidestand!

rocker59 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 05, 2015, 07:57:38 AM »

Quote from: Rough Edge racing on July 04, 2015, 02:36:44 PM

By safety features I mean for the side stand,clutch lever , neutral switch etc. I was returning home on the Buell and the engine let off a loud bang from the exhaust, cut out stumbled and then after maybe 10 seconds ran fine again.....This happened one more time and the loud shot from the pipe sounds like ignition problems....On a forum a guy said he had a similar issue from the side stand safety that kills the engine if you put the bike in gear and let out the clutch.... The switch tested ok but was very sticky or worn...So I just jumped out the ignition relay pull in coil directly to ground, bypassing all the safety stuff... Just like an older bike...
Do you guys like or rely on these types of safety features?

They're great when they work, but having a sidestand switch, a clutch switch, a neutral switch all wired into the starter switch just seems like a lot that can go wrong 500 miles from home in the middle of the night!

tiger_one · « **Reply #16 on:** July 05, 2015, 12:25:01 PM »

I get used to the stuff and don't even realize it. Love the linked brakes on the Super Tenere and now on the KTM.

Two of our cars now have automatic locking doors when you move, now when we get in the truck which does not have this feature, we forget to lock the doors. Used to never do that.

Arizona Wayne · « **Reply #17 on:** July 05, 2015, 06:04:20 PM »

Quote from: kirby1923 on July 05, 2015, 07:51:11 AM

My Guzzi has no interlocks and will happily start in any gear its in and your off in what ever direction your pointed if it fires. Its a cool feature to mount, then punch the starter and as they say "Elvis has left the building".

My CX also has the Guzzi stand from hell, as in auto retract! I have struggled with that feature but have a good technique for dealing with same.

There has to be a through briefing given to anyone who I let ride the machine to cover all the potently dangerous thing that can happen 'cause riders that are used to interlocks WILL forget.

I think interlocks are a good thing but...

mike

There'a a little bracket you can make extending the sidestand springs from the stand mounting frame/bolt so that your sidestand no longer is trigger happy when you move the bike frame upright.

pebra · « **Reply #18 on:** July 05, 2015, 07:00:31 PM »

I've always used to start vehicles with the clutch out.
Maybe I ought to change that habit?

cleatusj · « **Reply #19 on:** July 05, 2015, 08:04:32 PM »

Nope, do not like them as they lead, me and others, to not thinking enough about what it is that I should be doing. Being aware of one's surroundings means using one's brain. If I use it regularly it works better.

kevdog3019 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 05, 2015, 09:00:21 PM »

If no bikes had safety switches we would check this stuff through habit. All it takes is one bike to ruin that habit. I prefer as little electronics as possible and well-sorted carbs.

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Author Topic: Do you like the safety features? (Read 8020 times)

Rough Edge racing

canuguzzi

Rough Edge racing

redrider