h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've been riding a bike for 12 years now, and have never parked my bike in gear, or been recommended to park the bike in gear. What benefits are gained from this?

Any other recommendations? other than keeping a bike upright at all times?

Cheers
Kd

I must say that I agree with your questioning the benefits of parking the bike in gear.
The only reason I can find for doing it is if you park your bike in a down sloap and only have a side stand on the bike (very common with off-road bikes).

This article starts giving me withdrawal symptoms again. I haven't ridden a bike since late August and I really, really need to get out on the roads again. After all, there's nothing better than going somewhere on the bike, planless trips where you don't decide which way to turn in the upcoming intersection until you're almost there...
//LinS

I guess it's something that's habit for me - it essentially means the bike won't roll forward and off the sidestand (like LostInScotland says, particularly if it's pointing down hill - not that you should really park your bike pointing nose first down hill if you can avoid it). On some bikes, it just takes a slight forward roll and the sidestand pops up...

Not really that important, but like I said, it's a habit I've acquired and I don't think it's a bad one. As for any more advice, I think I'm adviced out after writing that article

Habits are usually pretty hard to break once you've gotten started with them.
The main drawback with parking the bike in gear that I can think of, is the one where you accidentally forget that you did it, and if you've got a bike with a kick-start, the following embarrassment of trying to kick-start the bike while it's still in gear. Happened to me a couple of times back in the old days (first 4-5 months after getting the licence).

LinS

LOL!
Ah yes, the joy of an automatic ignition cut out, when the sidestand is down and the bike is in gear. How soon we forget those early embarrassing moments, like riding off with the sidestand down...

Must admit I've always ridden electric starters, though. Thanks for the advice, I'll remember it if I ever talk my better half into letting me buy a dirtbike.

I never park my bikes in gear in my own garage, however, when I ride my BMW R1100RT I often park in gear when not in my garage, the RT is 239 Kilos (525 lbs) and I'm only 175cms (5'9") so, to play it safe and not have the bike move forward or back etc when I get on, I leave the bike in gear.

A second thing, when I manoeuver the bike, walking it, either beside it or on it, I leave the side stand down, in case of problems, it won't fall on me or just fall if I'm sitting on it.

I don't pay that much attention with my F650ST, which is a lot lighter, but when I first got it, I dropped it once getting on it and that is how I got into the habbit of not retracting the side stand until I'm comfortable and ready to go.

Ride safe,

Jerry