M696 - starting the bike without it having to be in neutral? - Ducati.ms

soupgfx · Aug 20th, 2011, 11:00 am

Is there a way to rewire or change something that allows me to start my M696 in gear with the clutch pulled in? Currently you have to have the bike in neutral in order to start it. I don't like that since i've had my bike stall on me a few times when riding it and I wasn't able to start it on the fly. I actually think this is pretty dangerous limitation.

So any tips to change this would be greatly appreciated.

elambo · Aug 20th, 2011, 1:29 pm

Did something change between '09 and '11? My '11 M696 can be started in gear. I stalled it in traffic on my first day when still learning the clutch and, yes, it was handy not having to hunt for N. If memory serves, I read that this can be added to certain Ducatis which don't currently support it.

DoWorkSon · Aug 20th, 2011, 8:06 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by elambo

Did something change between '09 and '11? My '11 M696 can be started in gear. I stalled it in traffic on my first day when still learning the clutch and, yes, it was handy not having to hunt for N. If memory serves, I read that this can be added to certain Ducatis which don't currently support it.

Do you have the kickstand down??

You should be able to start the bike in gear, as long as the kickstand is in the up position....

motodave · Aug 20th, 2011, 10:17 pm

You either have a missing or broken clutch switch and/ or side stand switch.
you should be able to start it in any gear w/ the clutch pulled in

asherrick · Aug 21st, 2011, 4:36 pm

Did you add aftermarket levers? If so, they're probably not making contact with the neutral kill switch.

soupgfx · Aug 21st, 2011, 5:58 pm

Yo 'doworkson', I'm no retard... Is my kickstand down? Ya buddy, like I'm riding around with my kickstand down on the freeway.. Geezz...don't comment if you say stupid $hit like that.

I found out the problem. I ride with only two fingers on my clutch lever, so it must only engage enough for me to switch gears when I'm riding. In my garage i tried starting the bike that way and it still didn't start but when I used all my fingers and pulled the clutch lever in all the way it worked. So, I must not be pulling in my clutch enough to make some kind of contact with a sensor or something.

Thanks guys for confirming that, that wasn't some kind of rediculous safety feature on the bike.

elambo · Aug 21st, 2011, 7:30 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by soupgfx

Yo 'doworkson', I'm no retard... Is my kickstand down? Ya buddy, like I'm riding around with my kickstand down on the freeway.. Geezz...don't comment if you say stupid $hit like that.

Take it easy bro -- he was just trying to help, no need to lose your cool. His question was valid.

DoWorkSon · Aug 21st, 2011, 10:45 pm

Dude relax. I wasn't suggesting that you were riding around with your kickstand down. You said you couldn't start it in gear and, believe it or not, some people have posted in the past regarding the same issue and later realized that the reason they couldn't start it was because they had the kickstand down. Chill out

Yuu · Aug 25th, 2011, 12:25 pm

For future reference - it's the clutch safety interlock switch that you were not tripping.

It can be bypassed easily - but that tricks the bike into 'thinking' that the clutch lever is always pulled which would allow the starter to spin while the bike is in gear with the clutch engaged

GP1152 · Aug 28th, 2011, 11:18 am

My GF had a similar problem with her 696. It must have been loose enough to not be making contact because hers wouldn't start unless it was in neutral either. That clutch safety switch actually popped out and was just hanging there one day. Took it to the dealer and it now works fine.