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sartorius · 08-29-2010, 12:36 PM

When I'm ready to go out on my butt-kickin' GS500f, here's my general routine:
1. have jacket, pants, boots on
2. sit on bike with helmet and gloves on tank
3. use the choke
4. start bike, put it in neutral, let it idle as I put on the gloves and helmet
5. give a few twists of the throttle as I ease down on the choke
6. slowly go on my way, using my parking lot to make sure the power is smooth before I go on the road

Here's the Q: How likely would it ever be for the bike to slip out of neutral and into a gear while I'm putting on the helmet and gloves? I'm not sure how much of a danger that'd be (would I go flying forward or would it just stall?), but I hear the choked high rpms and wonder sometimes.

The_AirHawk · 08-29-2010, 12:47 PM

Not likely, unless you've been beating on the transmission a LOT(say, repeated clutchless upshifts under power near-redline). Neutral is a pretty-safe "gear", once you're in it.

It's possible, but not probable. You'll have other problems a long time before that happens, I daresay.

seruzawa · 08-29-2010, 02:08 PM

That is the last thing you should worry about.

Dr_Sprocket · 08-29-2010, 02:24 PM

Hasn't happened to me yet, in six years of riding. Most of the time, I start the bike (in neutral, of course) and let the bike idle while I gear up.

One thing to think about: my driveway isn't level so with all the vibrations from the bike it does have a tendency to migrate or inch along. I always make sure the front wheel is pointed uphill (relatively speaking), so the bike won't rock forward off the kick stand.

sartorius · 08-29-2010, 03:04 PM

I don't think mine even starts while the kickstand is down. Safety feature, I guess.

Thanks for the input, folks. I'm not gonna worry about a sudden 4k rpm burst making a new entrance into my apartment.

A Star Ride · 08-29-2010, 06:08 PM

Unless your helmet falls from your tank & catches the shift lever on the way down, even still he bike should stall if you engage gear while side stand is down. You have a better chance of someone parking on top of you while sitting there loud pipes, blaze orange vest, etc.

pushrod · 08-30-2010, 07:25 AM

+1

Most bikes will stall, assuming you could accidentally get it to drop into gear.

If it's a Big Twin HD, or one of the other big V-twins, it may lurch forward, as the rotating mass of the engine is substantial, but again, it is not easy to go into gear without meaning to.

As mentioned above, I'd worry a lot more about well-fed birds, runaway grocery carts and mindless car drivers.

ghettoe · 08-30-2010, 10:07 AM

Personally, I put on gear before I get on but as someone said that will be the least of your worries.

Dirty Mac · 09-03-2010, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sartorius

When I'm ready to go out on my butt-kickin' GS500f, here's my general routine

Sorry to go off topic but how do you like your GS500F? They are selling 2009s for $3,900 including all dealer fees before tax, tag and title in Central Florida. It's one of the bikes I'm considering for my first ride.

sartorius · 09-03-2010, 05:16 PM

The GS500f is never off-topic.

I got it earlier this year, and I love the thing. Enough power to easily merge on the highway, yet very controllable so I'm not hanging on for dear life every time I twist the throttle. So yeah, powerwise it seems to be perfect for me as a first-timer. Seems pretty dang agile, too, although I don't have anything to really compare it to. Seating is kind of standardish, I guess: leaned forward a little, but not crazy crotch rocket style.

Mine was dropped by the previous owner, so I paid less and am not afraid to let it meet the pavement if it has to (only did once). That may or may not be a factor for you, but it was a big plus to me. Cracked fairing and duct tape ->

At first I was thinking I'd want a cruiser, but concerns about back posture/pain and general cost (I wanted < $2500) led me to narrow things down to the 250r, 500r, and SV650.

The SV650 got ruled out because it was a little pricier than what I wanted, and I heard varying things about the power: too much for a newbie or not? I probably could've handled it fine, being the cautious sort, but there'll be time to find that out next year when I get a different bike.

I hear the 250r or 500r would've been great first picks, too. Listening to people talk about them, they sound similar to the GS500f. I don't know what any significant differences might be, so maybe others will chime in here.

The GS500f just happened to come at the right time and right price. Completely unexpected, and I'm very glad I didn't ignore it.

08-29-2010, 12:36 PM	#1
sartorius Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 29	safety while idling? When I'm ready to go out on my butt-kickin' GS500f, here's my general routine: 1. have jacket, pants, boots on 2. sit on bike with helmet and gloves on tank 3. use the choke 4. start bike, put it in neutral, let it idle as I put on the gloves and helmet 5. give a few twists of the throttle as I ease down on the choke 6. slowly go on my way, using my parking lot to make sure the power is smooth before I go on the road Here's the Q: How likely would it ever be for the bike to slip out of neutral and into a gear while I'm putting on the helmet and gloves? I'm not sure how much of a danger that'd be (would I go flying forward or would it just stall?), but I hear the choked high rpms and wonder sometimes.

08-29-2010, 12:47 PM	#2
The_AirHawk Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Livin' in a Van: down by the Mariana Trench Posts: 10,891	Not likely, unless you've been beating on the transmission a LOT(say, repeated clutchless upshifts under power near-redline). Neutral is a pretty-safe "gear", once you're in it. It's possible, but not probable. You'll have other problems a long time before that happens, I daresay. __________________ *Parfois, on fait pas semblant* Sometimes, it's not pretend Oderint Dum Metuant Let them hate so long as they fear политики предпочитают безоружных крестьян Politicians Prefer Unarmed Peasants Nothing to see here, Citizen. Move along now...

08-29-2010, 02:08 PM	#3
seruzawa Robby Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: 8501 ft. Posts: 16,803	That is the last thing you should worry about. __________________ I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tanhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in the rain.

08-29-2010, 02:24 PM	#4
Dr_Sprocket Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Delmarva Peninsula Posts: 2,331	Hasn't happened to me yet, in six years of riding. Most of the time, I start the bike (in neutral, of course) and let the bike idle while I gear up. One thing to think about: my driveway isn't level so with all the vibrations from the bike it does have a tendency to migrate or inch along. I always make sure the front wheel is pointed uphill (relatively speaking), so the bike won't rock forward off the kick stand. __________________ "Aid to the helpless indigent is civilized. Aid to the irresponsible is socially corrosive." ----- Schizuki (c. 2011)

08-29-2010, 06:08 PM	#6
A Star Ride Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: central Va Posts: 1,126	Unless your helmet falls from your tank & catches the shift lever on the way down, even still he bike should stall if you engage gear while side stand is down. You have a better chance of someone parking on top of you while sitting there loud pipes, blaze orange vest, etc. __________________ White Trash Hick from Appalachia

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08-29-2010, 03:04 PM	#5
sartorius Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 29	I don't think mine even starts while the kickstand is down. Safety feature, I guess. Thanks for the input, folks. I'm not gonna worry about a sudden 4k rpm burst making a new entrance into my apartment.

08-30-2010, 07:25 AM	#7
pushrod Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Baja 'Bama Posts: 3,478	+1 Most bikes will stall, assuming you could accidentally get it to drop into gear. If it's a Big Twin HD, or one of the other big V-twins, it may lurch forward, as the rotating mass of the engine is substantial, but again, it is not easy to go into gear without meaning to. As mentioned above, I'd worry a lot more about well-fed birds, runaway grocery carts and mindless car drivers. __________________ You would not understand, this is not how I am... I have become - Comfortably Numb.

08-30-2010, 10:07 AM	#8
ghettoe Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 32	Personally, I put on gear before I get on but as someone said that will be the least of your worries.

09-03-2010, 05:16 PM	#10
sartorius Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 29	The GS500f is never off-topic. I got it earlier this year, and I love the thing. Enough power to easily merge on the highway, yet very controllable so I'm not hanging on for dear life every time I twist the throttle. So yeah, powerwise it seems to be perfect for me as a first-timer. Seems pretty dang agile, too, although I don't have anything to really compare it to. Seating is kind of standardish, I guess: leaned forward a little, but not crazy crotch rocket style. Mine was dropped by the previous owner, so I paid less and am not afraid to let it meet the pavement if it has to (only did once). That may or may not be a factor for you, but it was a big plus to me. Cracked fairing and duct tape -> At first I was thinking I'd want a cruiser, but concerns about back posture/pain and general cost (I wanted < $2500) led me to narrow things down to the 250r, 500r, and SV650. The SV650 got ruled out because it was a little pricier than what I wanted, and I heard varying things about the power: too much for a newbie or not? I probably could've handled it fine, being the cautious sort, but there'll be time to find that out next year when I get a different bike. I hear the 250r or 500r would've been great first picks, too. Listening to people talk about them, they sound similar to the GS500f. I don't know what any significant differences might be, so maybe others will chime in here. The GS500f just happened to come at the right time and right price. Completely unexpected, and I'm very glad I didn't ignore it.