Do you park in gear or in neutral? (bike, motor, brakes)

[pch1013]

Just curious. I always park in neutral because... well, just because. IDK if it's what I was taught during the MSF class 22 years ago or what.

What about you?

[TurcoLoco]

It depends.

I think in gear is safer in general but I only leave it in gear when I am parking in a public area and the bike will be out of my sight. Locking the handlebar and putting the bike in gear should lessen the chance for an idiot or kid to push the bike, knock it down and hurt himself.

Since I always park mine in my own personal garage, I leave them in neutral so I can start the bike and back it out of the garage quickly and let it warm up while I am putting the gear on.

[20yrsinBranson]

I cannot remove the key from the ignition if the car is not in Park.

20yrsinBranson

[OdysseusNY]

Originally Posted by 20yrsinBranson

I cannot remove the key from the ignition if the car is not in Park.

i assume OP was referring to motorcycles specifically (if so perhaps he should have put in poll title)

i always park my moto in gear. cars too, if it's a manual

aside from convenience, is there ever a reason not to (excluding things like it needs to be towed or pushed or what have you)?

[GarageLogic]

If I'm in my garage, it's in neutral. If I'm on the street somewhere, or a parking lot, I leave it in gear.

[Brian_M]

In gear, everytime. I also push the bike forward (after stopped) to take up whatever 'slack' there is before putting the sidestand down. 2nd year of riding I had a bike roll forward off the side stand, and a few months later I had it happen again while in gear (only needed that ~2 inches).

I "stop" in gear 100% of the time too, meaning coming to a light or a sign. Probably because absolutely Every time I've been hit by a car, it's been while stopped or from behind at a stop light/sign. Nothing you can do in a split second if the bike's in neutral and your foot's down.

Cars are also left in gear... what's the "Park" thing anyway? I have 1-5 or 1-6 forward gears and 1 reverse gear..

[OdysseusNY]

Originally Posted by pch1013

Just curious. I always park in neutral

i just noticed your location..

wow! 22 years of parking in neutral in SF and no problems?

even my gentle hill in upper manhattan, the bike will easily roll in neutral...

[raveabouttoast]

Considering bikes don't have parking brakes, I leave mine in gear when parked.

[pch1013]

Originally Posted by OdysseusNY

i just noticed your location..

wow! 22 years of parking in neutral in SF and no problems?

even my gentle hill in upper manhattan, the bike will easily roll in neutral...

I always back in and park with the rear wheel against the curb. In fact it's the law here -- at least 1 wheel has to be touching the curb when the bike is parked. Weird law, but it's how I always park anyway. I live on a fairly steep hill, so I park facing diagonally uphill and with the sidestand on the downhill side.

My bike has fallen over twice while parked, but both times it was pushed over from the side... being in gear wouldn't have made any difference.

(And yes, I meant motorcycles. )

[echo42]

I park in gear. That is what is taught in the MSF course.

In my garage, I put it on the center stand in neutral.