[colorob]

Yesterday I had a parking lot tipover I turned the key, and the neutral light was on (I mistakenly assumed it WAS in neutral). Against my typical starting practices, I did not pull the cluth in when hitting the starting button - and the bike lurched forward, tiping onto it's left side.

There are some slight scratches on the left fairing and the shift lever snapped off. Man was I PISSED! I feel as though the faulty neutral indicator switch was the major contributor to this mishap (I'm not even sure if it would allow the bike to start if the neutral with wasn't in a faulty green mode) - so I am hoping to get Ducati to pay for these damages. I'll see what my dealer says today.

 

[mrinflux]

contributory negligence

Yesterday I had a parking lot tipover. I turned the key, and the neutral light was on, (I mistakenly assumed it WAS in neutral). I did not pull the cluth in when hitting the starting button - and the bike lurched forward, tiping onto it's left side. I feel as though the faulty neutral indicator switch was the major contributor to this mishap so I am hoping to get Ducati to pay for these damages.

Rob,

Bummer about your bike. Ducati plastic is expensive, so even minor damage ends up costing a fortune.

I can't imagine DNA is gonna pay for your damage, but good luck with that. Let us know how you make out!

Elton

 

[NewDuc]

Maybe

Sorry to hear about that...you might get that covered if you bitch enough. Good luck!

There was previous post on this, and a good practice is to mechanically feel neutral before starting. You can do it with your foot when approaching a stop and you can do it with your hand when you're off the bike. There is tension on the shift lever when in gear and it doesn't want to budge. There is less tension and a bit of play up and down when in N.

This was shown to me by my tech so it's real and works for me every time. (I have had false N light more than a few times too!) Put the bike in 1st and observe the tension/tightness of the lever. Now pull it up to N. (you might have to move the bike an inch or two as you know) Push the lever up and down...if it moves freely you have N. You can do this gently with your foot at a light too, but a) get to know the feel of in-gear vs. N first and b) the amount of play is small so this is a gentle operation.

Yesterday I had a parking lot tipover I turned the key, and the neutral light was on (I mistakenly assumed it WAS in neutral). Against my typical starting practices, I did not pull the cluth in when hitting the starting button - and the bike lurched forward, tiping onto it's left side.

There are some slight scratches on the left fairing and the shift lever snapped off. Man was I PISSED! I feel as though the faulty neutral indicator switch was the major contributor to this mishap (I'm not even sure if it would allow the bike to start if the neutral with wasn't in a faulty green mode) - so I am hoping to get Ducati to pay for these damages. I'll see what my dealer says today.

 

[boduc]

Do people turn ignition key off while still in gear? I never taken any safety classes, so not sure what the best practice is. I always switch ignition off with my left hand, so if it is in gear then I am not able to do that. I always assume that people don't mess with my bike while at park, like putting it in gear for example. The only time that I feel the need to park it while in gear is when I park it on a steep incline.

 

[colorob]

Do people turn ignition key off while still in gear? I never taken any safety classes, so not sure what the best practice is. I always switch ignition off with my left hand, so if it is in gear then I am not able to do that. I always assume that people don't mess with my bike while at park, like putting it in gear for example. The only time that I feel the need to park it while in gear is when I park it on a steep incline.

There is a good chance that I actualy shut it off while in gear on this occasion as I was 5 minutes late for a conference call - and I hauled ass home, coasted into my spot and then jumped off the bike. Perhaps I did leave it in gear - but the green neutral light gave me the false sense that I was actually in neutral.

Lesson learned, I'll never trust the neutral light again (should probabaly just pull th fuse out) but I'll see what DNA has to say about it.

 

[TRN]

They won't pay.

Sorry to hear about it though.

 

[colorob]

Thanks - I'm not really keeping my hopes up.

On a sidenote - does anyone know if the 999 or other Ducati model shift levers are interchangeable with ours? It may save me a lot of time if I can use an in-stock part.

 

[NewDuc]

It's not a bad practice

to keep your bike in gear. Sometimes you need to...and you shouldn't need to be afraid of the N light.

I think that it's BS to get false N on a brand new bike believe me...but I'm telling you, you can make sure your bike is in N every time. It's a simple practice that will avoid a situation like his, so why wouldn't you do it???

Do people turn ignition key off while still in gear? I never taken any safety classes, so not sure what the best practice is. I always switch ignition off with my left hand, so if it is in gear then I am not able to do that. I always assume that people don't mess with my bike while at park, like putting it in gear for example. The only time that I feel the need to park it while in gear is when I park it on a steep incline.

 

[aviator]

sorry to hear about the incident. but, could have been worse. what if your ankle got stuck when it tipped and sprained? (unless you were wearing a riding boot covering the ankle)

here is a question: why couldn't move the bike a few inches either forward or backward before hitting the starter button, regardless what the neutral light indicates? i have always done that with the R6. one could make it a habit.

as for the parking, i have always parked in gear, regardless how level the surface was. but, before shutting it off, i go to neutral (here the false-neutral could get me, though!), shut it off, put it in gear, dismount. this has been my habit.

cheers.

 

[FlyerLen]

Always in gear...

Do people turn ignition key off while still in gear? I never taken any safety classes, so not sure what the best practice is. I always switch ignition off with my left hand, so if it is in gear then I am not able to do that. I always assume that people don't mess with my bike while at park, like putting it in gear for example. The only time that I feel the need to park it while in gear is when I park it on a steep incline.

I took the MSF class when I started riding last year, but I don’t remember why they recommend leaving it in gear, just that it’s a good practice.

I’ve always parked my SV650S in 1st gear. I position it into its parking spot in neutral, and then I shift into gear before turning it off. (If I try to shift it after the engine is off it’s a colossal pain-in-the-ass!) I keep it in gear to keep it more stable while it’s parked; for those of you who do, what’s the rationale for leaving it in neutral? Maybe I’ll have to change my M.O. after I get my 1098 on Saturday…

 

[NewDuc]

I'd stick with it...

just my opinion

I took the MSF class when I started riding last year, but I don’t remember why they recommend leaving it in gear, just that it’s a good practice.

I’ve always parked my SV650S in 1st gear. I position it into its parking spot in neutral, and then I shift into gear before turning it off. (If I try to shift it after the engine is off it’s a colossal pain-in-the-ass!) I keep it in gear to keep it more stable while it’s parked; for those of you who do, what’s the rationale for leaving it in neutral? Maybe I’ll have to change my M.O. after I get my 1098 on Saturday…

 

[Visitor Q]

Tell your insurance company about it and let them go after Ducati. If you can get papers from a mechanic and the Ducati dealership saving something is faulty, you got them in my opinion.

Jason

 

[Tim McKinley]

Do people turn ignition key off while still in gear? I never taken any safety classes, so not sure what the best practice is.

It's been a couple years since i taught (04), but until this tour of duty I taught a lot over 6 years. As I recall (without looking it up, curriculum is in a box!) we taught to use the kill switch, that way your hands did not leave the bars until the engine was off. That's how I ALWAYS do it, even before I was an MSF Instructor/RiderCoach.

If you think about it, it makes sense. Kill switch to turn the engine off, ignition to enable it, starter to start it. As far as leaving it in gear, I taught that as well, with an emphasis on uneven/inclined surfaces. That's how I taught it anyway.

 

[NewDuc]

Makes sense

I started out using the kill switch and stopped because I kept leaving it on by accident and couldn't determine why my bike wouldn't start...

It's been a couple years since i taught (04), but until this tour of duty I taught a lot over 6 years. As I recall (without looking it up, curriculum is in a box!) we taught to use the kill switch, that way your hands did not leave the bars until the engine was off. That's how I ALWAYS do it, even before I was an MSF Instructor/RiderCoach.

If you think about it, it makes sense. Kill switch to turn the engine off, ignition to enable it, starter to start it. As far as leaving it in gear, I taught that as well, with an emphasis on uneven/inclined surfaces. That's how I taught it anyway.

 

[Tim McKinley]

I started out using the kill switch and stopped because I kept leaving it on by accident and couldn't determine why my bike wouldn't start...

I flick it off and then right back on so that won't happen.

 

[NewDuc]

Yeah but come on...

that would be too easy! :idea:

I flick it off and then right back on so that won't happen.

 

[FlyerLen]

No changes...

It's been a couple years since i taught (04), but until this tour of duty I taught a lot over 6 years. As I recall (without looking it up, curriculum is in a box!) we taught to use the kill switch, that way your hands did not leave the bars until the engine was off. That's how I ALWAYS do it, even before I was an MSF Instructor/RiderCoach.

If you think about it, it makes sense. Kill switch to turn the engine off, ignition to enable it, starter to start it. As far as leaving it in gear, I taught that as well, with an emphasis on uneven/inclined surfaces. That's how I taught it anyway.

They're still teaching it that way: FINE-C (fuel on, ignition, neutral, engine cut-off switch, clutch in) to start, and kill switch, ignition, fuel off to shut down.

 

[ckirkst2s]

I'm really sorry about the tipover and you must be sick about it. That I can relate to. You can try calling out Ducati on this if you'd like, but I I'd be surprised if they paid up. You just need to buck up and learn from your mistake ... which it sounds like you are doing. I'd say you messed up by not making sure that it was in fact in neutral. It should be SOP for the person starting the bike to either engage the clutch or roll the bike to ensure that the bike (or for that matter any stick shift car, truck, riding mower ...etc) is in fact in neutral. FWIW Ducati is NOT the only manufacturer where I have seen with a neutral light on while in fact the bike has a gear engaged ... no matter how fully or slightly. There's a KTM 950 in my garage that will do this occasionally. I've seen it on my old SV650 track bike, various BMW's, an MV F4 1000 that I'm babysitting to name a few . Too bad about the expensive lesson!

 

[10982nv]

Why is everyone telling this guy to just deal with it and that its his fault?? Ive taken the MSF corse and flip my switch all the time. BUT this kind of thing shouldnt happen! Atleast not on a production motorcycle!
I got one today at a light. I was sitting at a light and the light was taking longer then I thought it would. I clicked the bike in N (or so I thought) The light showed it anyway. Let off the clutch and boom. Im just lucky I had the brake on. Nothing happened but now I doubt the bike.

 

[Sumfun4me]

I learnt the hard way to always pull the clutch when starting a bike & release it slowly to ensure it's in neutral (regardless of what the light tells me), but I do believe that the bike shouldn't start if the neutral light has power being fed to it (regardless of the gear position). I think that this is a design problem - something that they need to look at (at least for future deliveries, if not a recall. I don't believe it would be too hard for the engineers to come up with a fix). I'm not familiar with the electrical design on the bike, but a safety or neutral start relay would probably sort it if not already fitted.