Flyinfool Posted June 21, 2015 #1 Posted June 21, 2015 Do the big Harleys have a safety switch on the side stand? A few weks ago, I was sitting at a red light, oncoming traffic had a green left turn arrow. I saw a bike coming toward me in the left turn lane and noticed something sticking out the left side. Just about the time I realized it was the side stand he leaned into his left turn. You guessed it, he high sided hard. Fortunately he was only going about 15 MPH and did a good job of tuck and roll and had no injuries other than some minor road rash. After a couple of tumbles he was on his feet before the bike stopped sliding, The bike had some pretty serious damage, when it slid into the curb. Bent fork, handlebar, everything on right side had rash and or was bent. He got POed at me when I said I saw his side stand down before the turn. He was blaming gravel, but intersection looked clean to me. But I was just wondering if there is supposed to be a side stand switch like we have to prevent that from happening.
M61A1MECH Posted June 21, 2015 #2 Posted June 21, 2015 Do not know for sure, but I think not, during the numerous bike events here in Central Florida, I have seen many a bar rider come out and get on their Harleys and forget to put the kickstand up, and you can figure out the rest.
vzuden Posted June 21, 2015 #3 Posted June 21, 2015 I guy in our office rides a 2013 and he does not have the safety switch. I caught him taking off from one of our fuel stops last year with it down. Not sure of the model but it is one of the touring models
slowrollwv Posted June 21, 2015 #4 Posted June 21, 2015 Harley's do not have a safety switch on any model
Flyinfool Posted June 21, 2015 Author #5 Posted June 21, 2015 Wow, I guess I just assumed that such a simple, cheap, effective thing would be on at least all high end bikes.
JDaniel Posted June 21, 2015 #6 Posted June 21, 2015 My 07 Goldwing has a light telling you the side stand is down. It also will not start or run if the stand is down.
jimmy99 Posted June 21, 2015 #7 Posted June 21, 2015 Pretty much guaranteed to crash with the stand down on a Harley since they kind of lock in the down position. I can't believe they don't put a switch on it.
Flyinfool Posted June 21, 2015 Author #8 Posted June 21, 2015 I think all stands on all bikes use an "over center" mechanism to lock them down. This means that it WILL rise the left side of the bike higher than when resting on the stand. This is why it is so violent when the stand kits in a turn. So on a wing you can not have the motor running to warm up on the side stand while you gear up?
cowpuc Posted June 21, 2015 #9 Posted June 21, 2015 Why would they put 21st Century wiring technology into a 19th Century scoot with a tractor motor
etcswjoe Posted June 21, 2015 #10 Posted June 21, 2015 I found out my Ultra did not have a "jiffy stand" switch (Harley does not call them kick stands) when I accidentally hit the starter without the clutch pulled in it jumped about 3 feet.
JDaniel Posted June 21, 2015 #11 Posted June 21, 2015 Bike has to be in neutral or clutch pulled in for bike to run with side stand down.
camos Posted June 21, 2015 #12 Posted June 21, 2015 Wow, I guess I just assumed that such a simple, cheap, effective thing would be on at least all high end bikes.You are right, they are.
venturesome Posted June 21, 2015 #13 Posted June 21, 2015 Why would they put 21st Century wiring technology into a 19th Century scoot with a tractor motor Now you have insulted John Deere!
KICKSHOT Posted June 21, 2015 #14 Posted June 21, 2015 Harleys are vey unforgiving when it comes to the side stand and starting in gear. A lesson you may never forget. kicshot
Oldodge Posted June 21, 2015 #15 Posted June 21, 2015 I knew a fellow who lost his life in a kickstand accident 30 some years ago. He was a new rider and apparently just forgot to put it up when he pulled onto the road. High-sided into a telephone pole. A friend has a 2013 Ultra and we have discussed the switch. Coming from Honda he doesn't like the no switch on the Harley. I had a 1977 GoldWing once that either didn't have one or the switch didn't work on it. I messed up once, scared me bad, was lucky not to crash. I was pulling out of a parking lot and it drug on the rise onto the highway. My riding buddy rode an ElectrGlide and said no switch was normal. I was young, dumb and lucky.
Mad Dog Posted June 21, 2015 #16 Posted June 21, 2015 I found out my Ultra did not have a "jiffy stand" switch (Harley does not call them kick stands) when I accidentally hit the starter without the clutch pulled in it jumped about 3 feet. Holy Crap ... thats insane.....
KSRIDER10 Posted June 21, 2015 #17 Posted June 21, 2015 You mean like overhead cams and water cooling? LOL!
Great White Posted June 21, 2015 #18 Posted June 21, 2015 Seems even something simple like the rubber tab on my interceptor would be a decent idea. It grabs the pavement first if you forget the side stand and kicks it up...
relic Posted June 22, 2015 #19 Posted June 22, 2015 My 2014 Ultra does not have a switch but it is interesting that you direct this to harley bikes only. I have had 7 bikes in my lifetime (this is the first harley ) and the only two bikes that had the switch was my 2004 rsv and my 1978 yamaha 750 special. I like the safety feature of the switch and wish the new one had it but the majority of bikes do not have one. In 40 years of riding only left the kickstand down once and that was on my 1983 goldwing. First lean left and you knew it right away. Lucky not to crash it. I agree that it should be mandatory on all bikes no matter the size.
Great White Posted June 22, 2015 #20 Posted June 22, 2015 Come to think of it, the one on my FJ12 went "titters" and I just bypassed it.....
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