I changed my routine today. Instead of riding the motorcycle after work, when I'm travel weary from my commute, I decided to ride before work. It was 5:30 AM and I decided to venture out to The Marina via Park Presidio/Highway 1. This involved passing through a tunnel (a first), down a grooved road at 45 mph (another first), through "Cow Hollow," and up over a steep hill to get back to familiar territory. Before any of that, I had to get the bike started.
Normally it starts right up, so I was surprised when I pulled out the choke, pushed in the starter, and it tried and failed to catch. I went inside to consult the owner's guide and it suddenly dawned on me that I had forgotten to set the engine cut-off switch to run. (In my motorcycle class, the teacher had us use the engine cut-off switch to turn off the bike. I understand from talking to JT and Don that this is not standard practice, but I am still figuring out my standard practice.)
I tried again, but this time the engine didn't even turn over. I mentally reviewed the startup sequence: bike in neutral (or clutch in), cut-off switch in run position, ignition on, push starter button... then it dawned on me that the kickstand was down. (As a safety precaution the kickstand has to be up when the motor is running.)
After all the drama of starting the bike, the ride was uneventful and I was relaxed enough to notice the sound of birds singing as I came up and over the steep hill on Divisidero.
1 comment:
My bike will allow the engine to start with the kickstand down, but if you put it into gear it kills. Great design! My neighbor who rode Harley's for 20 years as an Oakland Police Officer noted that Harley's don't have that kind of interlock. Thus, one can take off in gear with the kickstand down. Apparently when this happens, nearby vehicles are damaged by the kickstand, as if a giant can opener went by at ankle height!
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