Starting in gear

[imcgyver]

Hello, I have a 1980 XS1100LG and a 1981 XS650H, and noticed that I can start the 1100 in gear and the 650 I can not, There is a switch on the 650 clutch handle but the 1100 does not, Is there someting bad and/or missing or is the 1100 is allowed to start in gear?
I like the safty of having to be in nuteral and/or have the clutch in to start.
Thank you for your time and response Ron

[natemoen]

The XS11's did not have any of those safety interlock switches. You can start it in gear with the clutch out and it does not care.

[psycoreefer]

I like not having the safety - may not happen often but once in a while being able to do what you want (ie assuming your not an idiot) is really nice. And honestly it only takes the bike jumping away from you once or twice to 'learn' the right habits.

[LoHo]

...and there have been a couple of cases of guys making it home on starter motor power when the engine quit...but not recommended.

[motoman]

The XS11's did not have any of those safety interlock switches. You can start it in gear with the clutch out and it does not care.

Well, not all............least 81 and later had the clutch safety switch.......

[jjz28]

I was working on mine in the garage and was standing beside it and hit the starter and the bike started and the floor is slick concrete so the peg stuck on my leg and the bike spun and died. I was still on the sidestand and wasnt a big deal, i could see how it could have been worse though. I do know that now i will always look for the neutral light.

[natemoen]

Well, not all............least 81 and later had the clutch safety switch.......

Well then let's get more specific, cause isn't it only the LH that has the switch.

[rpgoerlich]

My 81H has one as well but my 80G did not.

[DGXSER]

SH also has the switch, mine does not work, but it is there.

I was working on Steppenwolf's bike this past weekend. He has an 80. During the process, he kept "yelling" at me to ALWAYS put the bike in Neutral when parked. Now, I never do that, if nothing else, so I do not park on an incline and find my bike rolling away, off the side stand. But I did once hit the starter with it in gear.

Typically, I go through the FINE-C (Fuel, Ignition, Nuetral, Emergency stop- Choke) in my head before every first start of the day though, and if I am sitting on the bike, I always grab the clutch in before I try to start it.

[CatatonicBug]

My LH has the wire, but it's never worked for me. I don't mind though. I always put the bike in neutral before killing it, so I know it's ready to start each time. I usually start the bike before getting on it too, so holding in the clutch would not be an option. I think it's only supposed to "kill" anything if the neutral light is not on though, so as long as the bike is in neutral, it's a moot point anyway.

[motoman]

Well then let's get more specific, cause isn't it only the LH that has the switch.

LH,H,SH,XJ.........and likely most scoots manufactured after 1980..........

[DGXSER]

I thought perhaps it became a NTHSA thing that all bikes had to have the Neutral safety and the side stand switch around that time frame.

[crazy steve]

I thought perhaps it became a NHTSA thing that all bikes had to have the Neutral safety and the side stand switch around that time frame.

Nope, all those 'nanny' interlocks were dreamed up as 'features' by the manufacturers. The last things the feds did (other than EPA/noise stuff) was require turn signals, standardize the left-side shift, and the short-lived 85 mph speedos...