Kickstand no start switch

[xp8103]

Is there a way to disable the kickstand down/no start feature of our bikes?? Is there some sort of terrible horrible no good very bad damage I'd do if I were able to start and run my R on its side stand??

[DarrylRi]

If you follow the wires up from the switch, there's a connector along the left side. If the switch fails, and the early ones have a reputation that way, you could disconnect the switch at this point and install a jumper instead.

There's nothing wrong with running the bike on the sidestand. What's wrong with permanently disabling the switch is that when you forget to retract the sidestand and ride away, you could go for a high side on the first left turn, or even on a highly crowned road.

This is why the sidestands on all the airheads and even the optional one BMW supplied for /2s were all spring loaded retracting types.

[mneblett]

Is there a way to disable the kickstand down/no start feature of our bikes?? Is there some sort of terrible horrible no good very bad damage I'd do if I were able to start and run my R on its side stand??
Not sure what you are trying to accomplish here -- if the bike is in neutral, it will run with the sidestand down, i.e., there is nothing preventing you from running the bike on the sidestand, while still having the anti-ride-off-with-the-stand-down feature enabled.

[kgadley01]

Not sure what you are trying to accomplish here -- if the bike is in neutral, it will run with the sidestand down, i.e., there is nothing preventing you from running the bike on the sidestand, while still having the anti-ride-off-with-the-stand-down feature enabled.

Depends on what year the bike is. my 99 RT would not start or stay running with the sidestand down. I disabled mine. :thumb

[xp8103]

Not sure what you are trying to accomplish here -- if the bike is in neutral, it will run with the sidestand down, i.e., there is nothing preventing you from running the bike on the sidestand, while still having the anti-ride-off-with-the-stand-down feature enabled.

Actually, no. Mine will not start (will not even be "on" even tho the key is on) with the side stand down. I can turn the key on and nothing happens. Once I lift the side stand, the IP turns on, the fuel pump purrs and the starter is enabled.

At least on the K, there is a connection to the clutch lever that retracts it on first operation of the clutch.

[kgadley01]

Is there a way to disable the kickstand down/no start feature of our bikes?? Is there some sort of terrible horrible no good very bad damage I'd do if I were able to start and run my R on its side stand??

On my 99 RT there was an insulator where the sidestand mounts. I simply removed it. I removed the bolt holding the sidestand to the frame. then I slid the Insulator out, and replaced the bolt. I didn't mess with any wires. the Germans had it so that the bike wouldn't start till the side stand was grounded. when you raised the stand and it hit the frame it was grounded. when I removed the Insulator it causes the stand to be grounded all the time. :thumb hope this helps some...

[xp8103]

On my 99 RT there was an insulator where the sidestand mounts. I simply removed it. I removed the bolt holding the sidestand to the frame. then I slid the Insulator out, and replaced the bolt. I didn't mess with any wires. the Germans had it so that the bike wouldn't start till the side stand was grounded. when you raised the stand and it hit the frame it was grounded. when I removed the Insulator it causes the stand to be grounded all the time. :thumb hope this helps some...

thanks! Will crawl under it and look for the insulator.

[MCMXCIVRS]

The best option is to wire a relay in parallel with the sidestand switch. The relay is then powered byt the neutral light so it completes the circuit as long as the tranmission is in neutral. When the shifter is moved into gear, the relay will open and if the kickstand is still down, the engine will quit. Keeps the saftey feature working and eliminates the nuisance factor.

The later model oilheads were configured this way from the factory.

[mneblett]

Depends on what year the bike is. my 99 RT would not start or stay running with the sidestand down. I disabled mine. :thumb
Thanks for the correction! I didn't remember that from my '99RT. :thumb

[jamesdunn]

Mine is disabled! It quit working and I have bought a new one, but looked it over and have not installed yet as it looks like a PITA. I'll do it soon however. I don't think it is a good idea to disconnect, as I occasionally ride off on mine with the side stand down. So far no problems but it is unsafe in my opinion.:brow

[gnavecky]

The best option is to wire a relay in parallel with the sidestand switch. The relay is then powered byt the neutral light so it completes the circuit as long as the tranmission is in neutral. When the shifter is moved into gear, the relay will open and if the kickstand is still down, the engine will quit. Keeps the saftey feature working and eliminates the nuisance factor.

The later model oilheads were configured this way from the factory.

I used the RTP parts from the IBMWR web site and it works great. No cutting into the wiring. If need be you can use the relay to replace a bad starter relay.

http://www.ibmwr.org/r-tech/oilheads/run_on_sidestand/sidestand_start.shtml

[116318]

I have had my 1998 r1100gs for about 3 years now and I have become very use to putting my side stand down when I stop it turning off my bike. I like the idea of the new Ga's that you can start in neutral of for whatever reason and get off your bike and leave it running. So today just for grins I shorted the side-stand connector under the seat and took a right down to my local gas station for a fill up. Once there I found I had to use the kill switch to shut her down ( just a little confusing ) but on the way home I stop suddenly to help someone and because I was so use to the putting my kickstand down to kill the bike, I found myself fumbling and fiddling around, wasting time before I could help anyone. Once back home I decided this was a safety issue and put removed the short. I will do the relay setup in the near future. Because of the habit of stopping the bike with the sidestand and not the key or kill switch is just to risky . ( ok no check spell but you get the idea. )