What modification do I need to do to allow starting in gear?

[Gryphon Rider]

You know the situation.  The light turns green and because your mind is elsewhere, you let out the clutch too fast, or not enough gas, and you stall the bike.  With my Tourer, to restart the bike, I have to find neutral.  Sometimes I can't do this as quickly as I'd like with traffic backed up behind me.  I want to be able to just pull in the clutch, start the bike, and go.

[lee]

Now that's funny,  my tourer starts in gear.  As long as the kick stand is not down, and
the clutch is pulled in.
Could it be your clutch switch is bad?

[TearlessTom]

Odds are you have either a bad kickstand switch or a bad clutch switch. 
You can check the clutch switch by checking the resistance between the two connections. I can't remember which is which but you should see a difference between engaged and not engaged.

If you see a difference then go to your kickstand switch. It may be damaged and needs replacing.

Last but not least you can cut the wires at the kickstand and connect them together. Two are for the starter, the 3rd is the kickstand down switch.

Tom

[doubletee]

Now that's funny,  my tourer starts in gear.  As long as the kick stand is not down, and
the clutch is pulled in.
Could it be your clutch switch is bad?

Same here with my standard. As long as the kickstand is not down, she will start in gear with the clutch lever pulled in.

[Jeff K]

If the pivot bushing is worn on the lever it may not make the switch. I've had that happen on a few valks already.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Now that's funny,  my tourer starts in gear.  As long as the kick stand is not down, and
the clutch is pulled in.
Could it be your clutch switch is bad?

Same here with my standard. As long as the kickstand is not down, she will start in gear with the clutch lever pulled in.

Same here on my 97 Tourer

[22Dasher]

Mine use to start in gear with kickstand up and clutch in then I added the lever tassles (spellin) to the levers and now the lever doesn't go back far enough to make contact with the switch. A small fix I just gotta open up the switch housing and bend the contact lever a bit so it makes contact again. Nothing worse than stalling the bike in traffic I know

[DavRed]

The switch can be adjusted slighty. Sounds like a clutch switch or kickstand switch to me.

[Puffs Daddy]

Mine use to start in gear with kickstand up and clutch in then I added the lever tassles (spellin) to the levers and now the lever doesn't go back far enough to make contact with the switch. A small fix I just gotta open up the switch housing and bend the contact lever a bit so it makes contact again. Nothing worse than stalling the bike in traffic I know

Just demonstrates the unanticipated side effects of "tassles" and why their application should be limited to "pasties," not levers.

[John Schmidt]

Mine use to start in gear with kickstand up and clutch in then I added the lever tassles (spellin) to the levers and now the lever doesn't go back far enough to make contact with the switch. A small fix I just gotta open up the switch housing and bend the contact lever a bit so it makes contact again. Nothing worse than stalling the bike in traffic I know

Just demonstrates the unanticipated side effects of "tassles" and why their application should be limited to "pasties," not levers.

I agree Puffs, the effect is so much more tantalizing as well. However my Tourer hasn't started in that manner either for about three years now. Look closely and you'll see why. 

[Gryphon Rider]

If the pivot bushing is worn on the lever it may not make the switch. I've had that happen on a few valks already.

Jeff K, you got it right.  The pivot of my clutch lever is worn enough that the switch button doesn't push in.  If I pull up on the lever while it's pulled in, the switch makes (or maybe breaks) contact and the bike starts while in gear.  All it'll take to fix it is a little of my time and money, both of which are firmly dedicated to other things these days.  Thanks, Jeff K.

[fudgie]

Hmmm... I don't think mine does either. I cut my sidestand switch off and nutted it together. Hmmm...

[Jeff K]

If the pivot bushing is worn on the lever it may not make the switch. I've had that happen on a few valks already.

Jeff K, you got it right.  The pivot of my clutch lever is worn enough that the switch button doesn't push in.  If I pull up on the lever while it's pulled in, the switch makes (or maybe breaks) contact and the bike starts while in gear.  All it'll take to fix it is a little of my time and money, both of which are firmly dedicated to other things these days.  Thanks, Jeff K.

No problem, cheap fix, you can most likely get a bushing at the hardware store for around a dollar.

[frosty]

Are the I/S suppose to start with clutch in also. Or Just the Std.&tourer. Mine never has.

[Jeff K]

Are the I/S suppose to start with clutch in also. Or Just the Std.&tourer. Mine never has.

Yes it should start with the clutch in and the side stand up.

[frosty]

O.K., My I/S  never has started in gear, clutch in and side stand up. Hadn't thought much about it til saw these posts. I'll have to ck. it out.