Park in gear or neutral?

[johnSTamela]

I've heard sporadic comments about parking the bike in gear. Is it a personal preference?

[Burger]

For me, it depends on the incline I'm parking on. If the ground is flat and level then I leave it in neutral. If there's an incline then I will probably leave it in gear to stop it rolling off or sliding on the side stand.

Regards,

[johnSTamela]

That would make sense to me as well. I guess it's something I'm going to have to think about to break a habit.

[Raven]

In gear on side stand.
In neutral on center stand.

[motomac]

I know that you should always leave your bike in first gear when parked on a slope with a trailer on the back. Don't ask me how I know this. I learned it long before I got my ST.

[Tarheel_Rider]

Always in first gear, it only matters on the side stand, but my habit is to always put it in first. On the LT, there is always a little play, so push it forward against the compression when using the side stand, but especially if downhill at all, usually will turn the bike around to face uphill direction. (I pushed it off the side stand in the garage one time when it was in neutral, it takes surprisingly little force).

[saaz]

As per Burger, depends on the circumstances. If the bike is at any risk of mving I leave it in gear, move it so that the bike does not want to go further then put down the side stand. Otherwise always in neutral.

[IlliniST]

In gear on side stand.
In neutral on center stand.

Ditto.

[GRN]

In my garage... flat concrete, no chance of it getting bumped, neutral. Everywhere else, 1st gear.

[Imrubicon]

Almost always in gear . but in thegarage I leave it in N due to warmup as I just stick the key in andstart it as I almost always on center stand in the garage at home

[NCrider]

Leave it in gear, safer that way.

[BigTom]

In gear. By long habit, and on purpose.

[Trekker]

In my garage... flat concrete, no chance of it getting bumped, neutral. Everywhere else, 1st gear.

+1 Always in gear, except in my garage.

[dreddd2000]

I always park in gear. That way it's habit and I don't have to worry about forgetting it when I happen to be on a slope.

[Bacon]

Always in gear on the side stand and N on centre stand.

I had one very luck save with my old Max when it moved on the side stand so I have learned my lesson.

[TLTONEY]

In gear on side stand.
In neutral on center stand.

What he said! :bow1:

Trey
:biker:

[Mark]

neutral, always.

What can I say... its flat here!

Mark

[Finewest]

After watching my bike roll off the side-stand on a downhill slope I now always park in 1st.

[GRN]

What he said! :bow1:

Trey
:biker:

Not exactly...

:rolleyes:

[AZST]

neutral, always.

What can I say... its flat here!

Mark

In gear.

BTW, Mark's driveway is sloped. DAMHIKT. :D

--Bryan
04ST1300A
:04biker:

[Lonerider]

Neutral in my garage
First gear everywhere else

[John Anthony]

First gear always.

John

[AgSTreak]

Always in 1rst gear, neutral in the garage.

[Mark]

In gear.

BTW, Mark's driveway is sloped. DAMHIKT. :D

--Bryan
04ST1300A
:04biker:

That is *not* a slope!
:-)

[newbornst1300]

Neutral unless it is a slope, then 1st gear.

[Sink]

I leave my bike in gear and usually leave the side stand down even when on the centerstand. If my son just happens to get curious, it won't start in gear with the side stand down... Oh, and keys are not left in it.

[Blue STreak]

Always in gear, even in the garage. As someone else said, if you get in the habit of leaving in in first you won't forget when you park on a slope, and it won't roll if someone bumps it. Bikes don't have a parking brake, or a "park" position on the tranny, so leaving it in gear is the only thing that will keep it from rolling.

There's nothing bad can happen when it's in gear. And very bad things can happen if you leave it in neutral at the wrong time.

You'll also get in the habit of always putting it in neutral before you start it, so you'll be less likely to forget it's in gear, start it, and then let out the clutch while it's still in gear.

[este1300pilot]

Better mileage if it is in 5th gear.............

Actually, this thread has jarred me a bit, I have never had a "roll off the stand" incident, but it I can see it happening so easily.

I always park my car and truck (manual) in gear and parking brake, so I think that I need to change my habits.

In gear on the sidestand from now on.

[CruisingDog]

I always park whilst in 1st gear. I got into this habit after dropping a previous bike whilst on a hill!!

[Carl_T]

In first unless on the centerstand.

[pjripple]

In gear on side stand.
In neutral on center stand.

+1

Paul

[tommyboy]

First gear when on the sidestand, neutral when on the center stand

[pretbek]

In neutral before reading this thread.
In 1st gear after reading this thread.

:o:

[huxtablejones]

Always in first gear, it only matters on the side stand, but my habit is to always put it in first. On the LT, there is always a little play, so push it forward against the compression...

+1 I'm not sure there's a worse feeling than seeing your motocycle roll forward off the sidestand and onto its side - unless it's seeing your wife's motorcycle roll forward off the sidestand and onto its side.

Tipover wings be damned LOL

:(

[ChipSTer]

In neutral (unless on any degree angle of hill)... Then in first gear...
:cool:

[B727AV8R]

Its just like parking a manual shift car...leave it in first so it doesnt roll forward.