Bike jumped in neutral - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

ParrotheadPain · 05-16-2008, 07:14 AM

Hello, kind of new here, been lurking for a while though. Hoping someone can explain what happened to me this morning. 2004 Marauder with just under 10K miles. My morning routine is to get the bike started, then let it warm up while I'm putting my leathers, helmet, etc on. When it's cold out my bike can be a little stubborn to get going in the morning. Anyhow, on about the 3rd or 4th try at starting this morning, the bike lurched forward hard. Luckily I was able to keep ahold of it. I get it back on the kickstand, it's still in neutral. Since I'm scared of it happening again, I get on the bike, it starts right up, I let the clutch out, it stays where it should no problem. Its kind of scary, it was in neutral, and on the kickstand, two criteria that I thought made it impossible for the bike to move.

Any ideas what happened?

Thanks.

cvillechopper · 05-16-2008, 07:23 AM

False neutral. When you parked it, did you roll it at all before you started it up again? It is possible for the bike to indicate neutral but still have the gears just slightly connecting, especially as bikes age. I always roll the bike a bit just to make sure.

Hope that's all it is for you. A possessed bike is never a good thing...

cyclesinct · 05-16-2008, 08:21 AM

I agree with chopper. I've had similar things happen to me. The bike would be running, the light would say I'm in neutral and I go to release the clutch and I lurch and stalled. Hopefully that's all it was and nothing more serious.

ParrotheadPain · 05-16-2008, 08:27 AM

That sounds like what happened. I didn't roll the bike at all, just turned the key on, put it in Neutral and tried to start it. I assume what you are saying about rolling it first is that if the bike is in this "false neutral" state, it probably won't roll at all.

cyclesinct · 05-16-2008, 09:45 AM

Exactly, if you have a false neutral when you attempt to roll the bike it will go an inch or two and then stop. If that happens you haven't quite made it into neutral.

cvillechopper · 05-16-2008, 10:06 AM

Unless you're on an incline I'd say just park it in neutral rolling the last couple inches to make sure you're there. If you have to shift into neutral when you go to start the bike, roll it a bit to help align the gears.

Have you kept up on your oil changes, adjusted the clutch cable, etc? Old oil can make it a little harder to find neutral sometimes.

05-16-2008, 07:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
ParrotheadPain Newbie Joined: Oct 2007 Bike: 2004 Marauder - Blue Location: Newark, OH Posts: 5	Bike jumped in neutral Hello, kind of new here, been lurking for a while though. Hoping someone can explain what happened to me this morning. 2004 Marauder with just under 10K miles. My morning routine is to get the bike started, then let it warm up while I'm putting my leathers, helmet, etc on. When it's cold out my bike can be a little stubborn to get going in the morning. Anyhow, on about the 3rd or 4th try at starting this morning, the bike lurched forward hard. Luckily I was able to keep ahold of it. I get it back on the kickstand, it's still in neutral. Since I'm scared of it happening again, I get on the bike, it starts right up, I let the clutch out, it stays where it should no problem. Its kind of scary, it was in neutral, and on the kickstand, two criteria that I thought made it impossible for the bike to move. Any ideas what happened? Thanks.

05-16-2008, 07:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
cvillechopper Clunked into first gear Joined: Jun 2007 Bike: '07 Suzuki M50 Limited, '73 Honda CB550 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 234	False neutral. When you parked it, did you roll it at all before you started it up again? It is possible for the bike to indicate neutral but still have the gears just slightly connecting, especially as bikes age. I always roll the bike a bit just to make sure. Hope that's all it is for you. A possessed bike is never a good thing... __________________ It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. Aristotle '07 Suzuki M50, Corbin Dual Tour with Backrest, Kuryakn SwingWings, 2 1/2" lowering bones, Jeff's Riser Spacers, NGK Iridium Plugs, Amsoil Synth 10w30

05-16-2008, 08:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
cyclesinct Kickstand Operator Joined: Feb 2007 Bike: Boulevard M50 Location: Connecticut Posts: 294	I agree with chopper. I've had similar things happen to me. The bike would be running, the light would say I'm in neutral and I go to release the clutch and I lurch and stalled. Hopefully that's all it was and nothing more serious. __________________ '05 M50 black MAPAM backrest Corbin dual tour Highwayman Jumbo Straight Bags Johns Kit forward controls Debaffled exhaust

05-16-2008, 09:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
cyclesinct Kickstand Operator Joined: Feb 2007 Bike: Boulevard M50 Location: Connecticut Posts: 294	Exactly, if you have a false neutral when you attempt to roll the bike it will go an inch or two and then stop. If that happens you haven't quite made it into neutral. __________________ '05 M50 black MAPAM backrest Corbin dual tour Highwayman Jumbo Straight Bags Johns Kit forward controls Debaffled exhaust

05-16-2008, 10:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
cvillechopper Clunked into first gear Joined: Jun 2007 Bike: '07 Suzuki M50 Limited, '73 Honda CB550 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 234	Unless you're on an incline I'd say just park it in neutral rolling the last couple inches to make sure you're there. If you have to shift into neutral when you go to start the bike, roll it a bit to help align the gears. Have you kept up on your oil changes, adjusted the clutch cable, etc? Old oil can make it a little harder to find neutral sometimes. __________________ It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. Aristotle '07 Suzuki M50, Corbin Dual Tour with Backrest, Kuryakn SwingWings, 2 1/2" lowering bones, Jeff's Riser Spacers, NGK Iridium Plugs, Amsoil Synth 10w30

05-16-2008, 08:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
ParrotheadPain Newbie Joined: Oct 2007 Bike: 2004 Marauder - Blue Location: Newark, OH Posts: 5	That sounds like what happened. I didn't roll the bike at all, just turned the key on, put it in Neutral and tried to start it. I assume what you are saying about rolling it first is that if the bike is in this "false neutral" state, it probably won't roll at all.

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