2012 rss se5 rolling while off in 1st gear??

[librathe13th]

I have had my 2012 rss se5 for a year. I have always left it in 1st gear when parking in "sketchy" areas and applied the parking break. (It would never budge while parked and in 1st gear.) I have done this because I have always felt like someone could just disengage the parking break and roll my spyder away. Tonight for the first time I left it in 1st gear and before I put parking brake on I noticed it was able to roll forwards and backwards. I am at a loss why this suddenly could happen, in fact just a few days ago I was out late and parked it in gear and it did not roll. Can anyone give me advise on this issue?
Also can someone with a 2012 rss se5 turn there spyder off in 1st gear and tell me if it can be moved with out parking brake on? Thank you in advance.

[NancysToy]

The SE will roll in gear because the centrifugal clutch disengages when shut off. You just never realized it before. That is why the SE has a parking brake alarm (at least on the RT).

[OJ UK]

The RS-S SE5 also has a parking brake alarm. I think that all of the semi-autos do.

[bullant12]

The RS-S SE5 also has a parking brake alarm. I think that all of the semi-autos do.

So does the SM5 (Manual). Very rare, but I've had the RT beep because I parked on a hill, but I can't remember if it was in gear (which I usually do) or I hit reverse with the parking brake on.

[daveinva]

The SE will roll in gear because the centrifugal clutch disengages when shut off. You just never realized it before. That is why the SE has a parking brake alarm (at least on the RT).

Not to insult the OP-- -- but I'm at a loss as to how anyone can own an RS for a year without realizing that the SE goes to neutral once you shut it off. Between the free rolling, the alarm beeping, the owner's manual, the fact that it always starts up in neutral... really??

To me it's up there with, "Hey, I've owned this Spyder for a year now, and I just noticed it's got THREE wheels, is there something wrong with my motorcycle?"

[Neez]

With SE5 it is a good idea to be sure that your parking brake is properly adjusted. I always lock the handlebars too. That way, if somebody were to release the brake while it was parked, it would not roll too far.

[Bob Denman]

Not to insult the OP-- -- but I'm at a loss as to how anyone can own an RS for a year without realizing that the SE goes to neutral once you shut it off. Between the free rolling, the alarm beeping, the owner's manual, the fact that it always starts up in neutral... really??

To me it's up there with, "Hey, I've owned this Spyder for a year now, and I just noticed it's got THREE wheels, is there something wrong with my motorcycle?"

When you put it that way; it sounds pretty funny!

Live, and learn...

[librathe13th]

Not to insult the OP-- -- but I'm at a loss as to how anyone can own an RS for a year without realizing that the SE goes to neutral once you shut it off. Between the free rolling, the alarm beeping, the owner's manual, the fact that it always starts up in neutral... really??

To me it's up there with, "Hey, I've owned this Spyder for a year now, and I just noticed it's got THREE wheels, is there something wrong with my motorcycle?"

Sorry know it all but it does not. You can turn it off in gear and it does not go into neutral until your foot is applied to the brake and started, it then goes into neutral. Maybe you should know what your talking about before you comment. The alarm beeping/ parking brake has nothing to do about anything I was asking. My concern was I would leave in gear and it would never be able to roll with out brake on now it does. If you can't help with that, then keep your comments to yourself.

[librathe13th]

The RS-S SE5 also has a parking brake alarm. I think that all of the semi-autos do.

My question is not about the parking brake or it's alarm. I am fully aware of its functions.

[librathe13th]

The SE will roll in gear because the centrifugal clutch disengages when shut off. You just never realized it before. That is why the SE has a parking brake alarm (at least on the RT).

That's what manual says but when shut down while in 1st it would not roll

[Bob Denman]

Because the centrifugal clutch is disengaging; the bike will be free to roll off on it's own...
Don't ask me how I know this...

[daveinva]

Sorry know it all but it does not. You can turn it off in gear and it does not go into neutral until your foot is applied to the brake and started, it then goes into neutral. Maybe you should know what your talking about before you comment. The alarm beeping/ parking brake has nothing to do about anything I was asking. My concern was I would leave in gear and it would never be able to roll with out brake on now it does. If you can't help with that, then keep your comments to yourself.

I apologize, I was making a joke. But I assure you, I know exactly what I'm talking about with the Spyder, having ridden not only my own but other models (RT, ST) for three years now.

But, given the chance that this behavior was always present in my SE5 and I somehow never noticed it once in those three years, I just left my office to the parking lot to run through the following routine:

1. Shut bike off in neutral using both key and kill switch: Spyder rolls free until I apply the parking brake, as we both would expect.

2. Select first gear, shut off using both key and kill switch: rolls free until I apply the parking brake. This is how my bike has always worked, but I'll of course accept that your bike behaves differently.

FYI, even while the bike is *running* in first gear, my bike rolls free without the parking brake, i.e. I hopped off while it was running and in first and my Spyder behaves the same as if the engine was off.

3. Select reverse, shut off using both key and kill switch: just for grins, I tried this, and the bike rolls free until I apply the parking brake.

Bottom line: the only way *my* Spyder RS SE5 doesn't move, in gear or not, is if the parking brake is engaged. (*Fully* engaged... I gotta tighten that sucker back up again!).

As for this, you wrote: "You can turn it off in gear and it does not go into neutral until your foot is applied to the brake and started, it then goes into neutral." How do you start your bike *without* applying your foot to the brake?

That said, I do believe you are correct there, insofar as when started the gear indicator light is dark until it shows "N". But I think that's just the indicator light behavior-- as others above me said, the SE5 clutch disengages once the bike is shut off, i.e. it's practically indistinguishable from neutral. Or, at least, it's *supposed* to disengage-- and your bike may not. Or, it *didn't* before now.

So, to sum up:
-- I'm genuinely sorry for the snark.
-- My experience is completely different than yours.
-- *One of us* has a weird Spyder!

[Sarge707]

If you shut it off in 1st gear it stays in 1st gear Until you start it with your foot on the brake.
When I test my rear alignment and start it jacked, run it in first, and shut it off I have to put my foot on the brake to start it and then it will change from 1st gear to neutral.

[Sarge707]

Sorry know it all but it does not. You can turn it off in gear and it does not go into neutral until your foot is applied to the brake and started, it then goes into neutral. Maybe you should know what your talking about before you comment. The alarm beeping/ parking brake has nothing to do about anything I was asking. My concern was I would leave in gear and it would never be able to roll with out brake on now it does. If you can't help with that, then keep your comments to yourself.

[daveinva]

If you shut it off in 1st gear it stays in 1st gear Until you start it with your foot on the brake. When I test my rear alignment and start it jacked, run it in first, and shut it off I have to put my foot on the brake to start it and then it will change from 1st gear to neutral.

Thank you, I'll take your word for it. Still doesn't stop my Spyder from rolling, though.

[SPYD1]

If you shut it off in 1st gear it stays in 1st gear Until you start it with your foot on the brake.
When I test my rear alignment and start it jacked, run it in first, and shut it off I have to put my foot on the brake to start it and then it will change from 1st gear to neutral.

The confusion is that when you shut it off it mechanically disengages. When you turn it on it goes into 1st...engaging...as that is where it was left.
Hopefully this helps.

[Bob Denman]

One the revs drop below the engagement threshold; it's going to act exactly as an SM-equipped bike does with the clutch pulled in...
"Bye-bye; bike!"

[Chupaca]

I do believe you can leave the Se5 in gear but the clutch will not be engaged. Now the roadster will roll but not as easily as when in nuetral. If parked on level area it may seem like it won't roll off but if inclined or giving it a good push it will. Sm5 as soon as you release the clutch lever it is fully engaged...

[billybovine]

To sum it up.

An SE5 will roll even in gear because the the clutch is not engaged. It may be a surprise to some but this has come up before. It is mentioned in the owners guide.
An SE5 will start in any gear but BRP has programed the Spyder not to engage the starter in gear unless the brake pedal is depressed for safety reasons and after the engine starts it will shift to neutral. It was and maybe still is a common myth, that somehow without hydraulic pressure the HCM is somehow able to shift gears.

[Tazzel]

I do believe you can leave the Se5 in gear but the clutch will not be engaged. Now the roadster will roll but not as easily as when in nuetral. If parked on level area it may seem like it won't roll off but if inclined or giving it a good push it will. Sm5 as soon as you release the clutch lever it is fully engaged...

exacly what I experence with my 2012 RS SE5


I know this because when I warm the spyder up in the morning I hand push it out of the garage before I turn it on. If it is in 1st its very hard to push and I realize it is still in first

[Tazzel]

[QUOTE=daveinva;790972]I apologize, I was making a joke. But I assure you, I know exactly what I'm talking about with the Spyder, having ridden not only my own but other models (RT, ST) for three years now.




Did not sound like you were joking. People should be free to ask questions without someone chiming in to tell them how stuipd they are.

[Bob Denman]

Well....
Dave might have jumped in on the "heavy" side.
But this is something that becomes pretty self-evident; quickly.
Let's back away from that portion of this one...

[Michael211_2000]

That's what manual says but when shut down while in 1st it would not roll

It might not roll easily, but it *will* in fact roll if pushed or pulled firmly enough the clutch is free with the engine at idle or turned off... the only thing that will prevent an SE model from rolling are the wheel brakes (or rear parking brake) being applied. Since the parking brake can be disengaged (either intentionally or by accident by someone messing with it), it's always best to have the steering locked to 1 side or the other when parking these machines in a public area as well as the parking brake firmly applied. I always give mine a good firm tug on the rear grab handles before walking away from it.

So, you just never realized this before... not a big deal. I didn't realize for 9 months that I could open the frunk lid withing turning the ignition off 1st! Just when you think you know everything about the Spyder, you learn something new... lol!

Now, what does that S button on the dash do? And I can't figure out how to set the clock, again! Arghhh!

Cheers!

- Michael