Spin off, do leave the bike idling?

[Rough Edge racing]

  When not in traffic, do you kill the engine if stopped to chat for a few minutes? Do you start the bike on the stand , dismount , and do a few things before remounting? Do you only start the bike from the seated position unless you are working on it?
  Yes,no,yes

[Wayne Orwig]

If it is running, and I'm not on the seat, it must be broken and I'm working on it.

I've seen people start their bikes and let them idle for a long time before they ride off. They think it makes the motor last longer, but as we know it is actually wearing them out faster.

[Toecutter]

Starting: The V7 needs a bit of idling. Start the bike, helmet, gloves, gear check, get on... ride away. A minute, minute & a half, tops.


Traffic? I only shut it down if I know it's more than the standard "traffic wait". Trains, road construction (single lane chase-truck style), etc.

[rocker59]

  When not in traffic, do you kill the engine if stopped to chat for a few minutes?

Yes.

Do you start the bike on the stand ?

Usually.

Do you only start the bike from the seated position unless you are working on it?

No.  Almost never do I start my bikes from the seated position when at home.

At home I usually start it from the side stand.  Will let it idle while I'm putting on gloves and helmet.  Then, swing a leg over and take off.

If I'm out riding and stop for fuel, or lunch, or some other reason, that's about the only time I'll start the bike after mounting.

[larrys]

Will shut the bike off if stopping to chat. Always hop on, key on, set choke, start up and go. Choke comes off a mile down the road.
Larry

[kingoffleece]

What Rocker said.

[rocker59]

My LeMans 1000, Sport 1100, and both V7 Classics I've owned have been a little cold natured at cold start up.
 They have needed a minute, or so, to get some heat in the engine so as not to stall when releasing the clutch in 1st gear. 

I do not let them idle for extended amounts of time, as they actually come up to operating temperature quickly when rolling.  It's just that at initial start up, they pop, spit, and stall, if trying to hit the road too soon.

On the other hand, The Quota, V11 Nero Corsa, and California Bassa didn't exhibit this cold natured tendency, and were able to be ridden away immediately after start up.  Still, I usually would start them on the sidestand, then put on glove and helmet, then swing a leg over and go.

[blackcat]

On the fuel injected bikes I will start the bike while on the side stand, the carbed bikes while sitting on the bike as they need to have the throttle monitored as I don't like leaving them on the choke to get warm.

[Tom H]

What Rocker said in both posts.

For the first start of the day, my loops need to warm up, but my EV and HD can be cold started and ridden. Once warmed for the day, unless they have been sitting for many hours, I hop on and go.

Tom

[Guzzistajohn]

After warming up I like to park on a hill in preparation for a bump start.

I'd rather get a rolling start than have to foot the bill  (Guzzi content and Neil Young quote)

[oldbike54]

After warming up I like to park on a hill in preparation for a bump start.

I'd rather get a rolling start than have to foot the bill  (Guzzi content and Neil Young quote)

 Man , that BMW sure is quiet 

 Dusty

[Old Jock]

Always sit on the bike & pull in the clutch before starting, then slowly release the clutch

Then I dismount pull on helmet & gloves, remount and ride off but on low throttle for a few miles if the bike has been started cold.

With the carbed LM 1000 I usually let it sit just a little longer as it takes a couple of minutes to become tractable, otherwise I'll pogo down the road.   

I'm surprised how many have faith in the neutral light, especially if starting a bike on the side stand, something I'd never contemplate even on a modern bike.

Considering how much damage can be done if the bike decides to go walkies when you're not on it, it's just not worth it but YMMV.

I speak from bitter experience

[oilhed]

Start the bike, helmet, gloves, gear check, get on... ride away. A minute, minute & a half, tops.

Traffic? I only shut it down if I know it's more than the standard "traffic wait". Trains, road construction (single lane chase-truck style), etc.

Me, too. 

[Tusayan]

The only time I’m not seated on a bike, fully suited up with feet on the ground when I start it is if it’s kick start.  In that case if it has a center stand, it’s in use.  If I ever run a bike/engine on the side stand, I don’t walk away from it without trepidation and know I’m taking a chance if I do.

I then shut off the engine any time I dismount, but generally not before I dismount.  Road construction stops would be an exception.

[MGrego]

Anyone mount the bike when on the center stand,  then ride off from the center stand ? 

-- I used to have a BMW and the manual said you could do that, but I never tried it..

[oldbike54]

Anyone mount the bike when on the center stand,  then ride off from the center stand ? 

-- I used to have a BMW and the manual said you could do that, but I never tried it..

 All the time on airheads .

 Dusty

[rocker59]

I'm surprised how many have faith in the neutral light, especially if starting a bike on the side stand, something I'd never contemplate even on a modern bike.
 

Most newer (last 20 years) bikes have a neutral / clutch safety switch.  The bike won't start if in gear, unless the clutch is pulled in.  Some are also tied to the side stand and won't start in gear if the side stand is deployed.

That being said, I always pull in the clutch to start the bike, even when standing beside it.  Force of habit, I guess.

[Tom H]

Anyone mount the bike when on the center stand,  then ride off from the center stand ? 

-- I used to have a BMW and the manual said you could do that, but I never tried it..

The stock stand on my R75 is a little high to do it, but I'm sure it can be done. There was an aftermarket ride off stand that when the bike was up the rear wheel was still on the ground. I've done it with the ride off, but a little spooky if your needing to lean a bit when you start.

Tom

[kballowe]

I always have the Wife first wipe the bike down and then she rolls it out.

Not sure how she starts it.

I'll ask, and get back to ya.

[Groover]

If you let the older models with can style coils, the coils heat up too much and can potentially fail during long idling. Not sure how the newer models handle that electronically.

[brider]

Most newer (last 20 years) bikes have a neutral / clutch safety switch.  The bike won't start if in gear, unless the clutch is pulled in.  Some are also tied to the side stand and won't start in gear if the side stand is deployed.

My old Cal 2 had both of these safety switches, but I disconnected them when they both failed away from home, and never re-wired them.

I'm old-school, and maybe it's because I primarily ride an automatic (that doesn't have the factory side-stand rear brake, either), but even on 5-speeds I own I NEVER start the bike on the side-stand, due to the fear of a false neutral. Even on my LeMans, I started it on the center stand while suited up to go, to monitor the idle and more importantly, the oil-pressure light. I discovered that at low idle if left alone when cold, the oil light would begin to flicker on, and I just can't stand that.

[Perazzimx14]

When out touring or on long day rides if stopped for a train, traffic or construction I'll shut off the bike, dismount and tank an opportunity to stretch. I'll also sit on the bike on the side stand in S-N-G traffic until I plot my move to get out of said traffic. 

[acguzzi]

I only start it when seated and verified in neutral, I only run it on a stand if I am working on it.

[pebra]

Yes. No. Yes.   

[ejs]

Will shut the bike off if stopping to chat. Always hop on, key on, set choke, start up and go. Choke comes off a mile down the road.
Larry

Same as Larry do. Plus I pull the clutch.🛴

[oilhed]

I always mount my latest bike on the center stand but I’ve never ridden off it. Come to think of it I always put this bike on the center stand when I’m seated, too. 

[Kev m]

I don't run any of them much if I'm not riding them. I shut them off if I pull over for more than a few seconds.

I realize that years ago I adopted a habit where I tend to start it standing next to the bike so I can perform a quick check of the brake light and let it warm up for a second it two as I throw a leg over.

Back in my carbed days I might take a minute or more, especially in colder weather.

Now I tend to throw a leg over right away and, on all but the first start of the day cranky V7, I pull away pretty quickly.

That said as the day goes on I'm more likely to just sit on it and start and may or may not check the brake light again.

[Kristian]

Sometimes I don't start it until I've ridden it for a while. Only occasionally do I start it while it is laying on its side on the ground. I have never left it sit and idle all night while I sleep.

[stonelover]

First cold start of the day is done standing by the bike on its side stand.  I'm certain that it is in neutral because that's how I parked in on the level garage floor.  After putting on helmet and gloves and making a light check, everything is ready to go.  Subsequent starts during the day are both mounted and standing.  No set pattern.

[Bulldog9]

Run = Ride

Never sit and idle unless at start up, safety and equipment check. Chat?? LoL maybe at a traffic light or stopsign.

Always start and stop while straddled. Kill switch to shut off then key. Always clutch in while starting, never take off center stand while running. Safe and smart...