Do you park your bike in gear?

SDRider · August 30, 2012, 10:25:54 AM

I always do... force of habit from learning to drive on and owning manual transmission cars for over a decade.

I'm always surprised by the number of riders who park their bikes in neutral. The only time I leave it in neutral is when I back it in to my garage and put it on the rear stand.

stopintime · August 30, 2012, 10:32:00 AM

I only do it if the ground isn't level, but it's probably better/safer to always park it in gear...

MikeZ · August 30, 2012, 10:38:12 AM

Quote from: stopintime on August 30, 2012, 10:32:00 AM
I only do it if the ground isn't level, but it's probably better/safer to always park it in gear...

Same here.
Keep thinking I should leave it in gear but never do.

jrswanson1 · August 30, 2012, 11:15:54 AM

Nope, neutral for me. That way when I start it up, I don't have to be on the bike. I let it warm up while I'm putting my gear on. Saves some time in the morning and when I leave work. I also use my steering lock every time I park my bike.

roggie · August 30, 2012, 11:24:09 AM

Quote from: jrswanson1 on August 30, 2012, 11:15:54 AM
Nope, neutral for me. That way when I start it up, I don't have to be on the bike. I let it warm up while I'm putting my gear on. Saves some time in the morning and when I leave work. I also use my steering lock every time I park my bike.

+1
Exactly the same
Also for moving it around the garage...

xsephirot · August 30, 2012, 11:43:20 AM

I leave it in gear too from manual driving experience. Only time I leave the bike in neutral is when I get home and am going to roll it into the garage to put on stands.

Anthony81586 · August 30, 2012, 12:22:14 PM

Quote from: jrswanson1 on August 30, 2012, 11:15:54 AM
Nope, neutral for me. That way when I start it up, I don't have to be on the bike. I let it warm up while I'm putting my gear on. Saves some time in the morning and when I leave work. I also use my steering lock every time I park my bike.

+1 here

kopfjÃ¤ger · August 30, 2012, 12:34:47 PM

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=45103.msg813973#msg813973

SDRider · August 30, 2012, 02:44:14 PM

Quote from: jrswanson1 on August 30, 2012, 11:15:54 AM
Nope, neutral for me. That way when I start it up, I don't have to be on the bike. I let it warm up while I'm putting my gear on. Saves some time in the morning and when I leave work. I also use my steering lock every time I park my bike.

You don't have to get on the bike to start it. I just snick it into neutral, depress the clutch and start it right up.

I guess it just seems to make the most sense to me from a safety standpoint. I was thinking about this because I stopped by the dealer last night and as the guy went to roll my bike into the shop he found out right away that it was in gear. I told him I always park my bike in gear and was surprised when he said he does too.

ab · August 30, 2012, 02:59:53 PM

Getting in the habit of parking in gear.

mickyvee · August 30, 2012, 03:19:30 PM

After my Kawasaki ZL1000 rolled forward and toppled over in 1987, I've always parked up in gear.

Travman · August 30, 2012, 03:53:54 PM

There was another thread with the same topic a few months ago with similar replies. I was surprised how many people leave their bikes in neutral. Keeping it in gear will keep it from rolling if not level. You should always pull in the clutch when you start the bike so it's your own fault if you start it in gear. If you need to roll it then put it in gear. It is basically just like a car wih a manual transmission.

kopfjÃ¤ger · August 30, 2012, 04:02:09 PM

^^ look 4 posts up

Goat_Herder · August 30, 2012, 04:37:38 PM

out of habit, I always park my vehicle in neutral. There is always an off chance that the safety feature might fail and you end up launching your car/bike when you start it. I only park in gear when it's on a hill.

krolik · August 30, 2012, 06:58:57 PM

I only park it in gear when i get home from a ride, other times I park it wearing a t-shirt.

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Do you park your bike in gear?