Can you start your bike in gear?

[Ideapimp]

I can...or at least I could. If I was in first, disengaged the clutch and punched start it used to fire right up.

Ever since I took it into AMS to get a once over, it ONLY starts in neutral. Could that have done something...or "fixed" something? Like a safety switch of some sort?

Do I see the safety issue involved here? Yes, but I want ease of use dammit. Anyone heard of this or am I crazy?

[caffeinejunkee]

I can't start mine in gear unless the kickstand is up.

[bryant8]

kickstand bypass = paperclip to jump the sensor

oh yeah, i start in gear all the time; usually boots, gloves, earplugs, jacket and helmet 

[Ideapimp]

I can't start mine in gear unless the kickstand is up.

Before all this I could do both. If I sat on it with the clutch disengaged, in gear and I hadn't flipped up the kickstand it'd still work. But if it was running and I put the kickstand down it'd kill it.

But I don't mind THAT safety issue. I just wanna start the thing in first.

[never2loud]

I can start the M620 in first if the kickstand is up (I think the SBK will do it too...)

[hiero]

check the clutch switch, the pin may just be misaligned

[rsoffar]

i can start mine in gear and with the kickstand down.

is that not supposed to happen? haha

[BarneePhife]

I can...or at least I could. If I was in first, disengaged the clutch and punched start it used to fire right up.

Ever since I took it into AMS to get a once over, it ONLY starts in neutral. Could that have done something...or "fixed" something? Like a safety switch of some sort?

Do I see the safety issue involved here? Yes, but I want ease of use dammit. Anyone heard of this or am I crazy?

I can tell you that on my 06 S1K that it will not start while in gear with the kickstand down.  With kickstand up, will start while in gear (clutch engaged, of course).  With kickstand down, I can only start while in neutral (clutch does not need to be engaged).

[pipeliner1978]

I have always been able to start all my motorcycles in 1st gear after I stalled at a light or stop sign.  But never with kick stand down.  Good luck.

[Ideapimp]

check the clutch switch, the pin may just be misaligned

Nice guess. This actually occurred to me last night. I remembered when I adjusted the clutch on the wife's car (Instead of having a huge amount of travel - almost to the floor - to disengage, it now disengages as soon as she touches it. Shifts faster.) Anyway, when I did this, I had to add a little extension to the clutch switch so that the car would start.

So I looked over the handlebar, squeezed the clutch, perfect connection. The pin was going most all the way down. I climbed off, and looked around front. Sure enough, the plastic wire harness was halfway out. Sorta tweaked. It pops out VERY easily. Like a piece of plastic is missing, but so far, I've not been able to see where/if it broke. A small black rubber band later, and presto!

Good thing I haven't stalled at a stop light in a week or two. 

[bryant8]

Nice guess.

*snip*

David doesn't really guess, he's pretty spot on with most of his advice.  Dude must be a rocket scientist or something....