Hi all, I have searched the forums but have not found exactly what I am looking for. I am picking up 1997 916 on Thursday and I love it to pieces but I am concerned about the side stand. I believe it has been modified so that it can start with the side stand down which is fine but it will also start with it in gear and will also keep running if I put it in gear while it is idling, I know a lot of bikes have been modded like this but I am not comfortable with it so. 1. I presume getting it back to stock will be the easy option , I am led to believe this mod is done by looping 2 pins on the relay if this is the case where is the relay located 2. as a Future project can it be modified to work like a “normal “ bike. Starting on the side stand but killing the engine if in gear. A set of working instructions would be great thanks in advance
The side stand switch, if fitted, is wired out by many people as its prone to playing up and preventing starting at all. The switch gets a lot of crap thrown at it due to its location. But of course, whatever a previous owner has done can be undone if you want to. As for starting when in gear. Good practice would be to a) check the neutral light is on before thumbing the start button and b) pull the clutch lever in too, just in case your neutral switch is playing up. I’m not sure why you want to have an inability to start if it’s in gear which would involve some wiring linked to the neutral switch but which then might also kill the engine every time you select a gear.
There’s a Ducati that has a working Neutral light and gear both at the same time on demand? Video evidence or it’s pure fabrication.
Id go with what @West Cork Paul says mate, their electrics are just enough for the basics, rip any mods out and get it back to standard, you quickly get used to the suicide stand and good practice to pull the clutch when starting so you’re not asking more than needed from the starter motor too
Looking at the schematic for the 97 916, the neutral switch was never wired in a way that would enable the bike to be started with the sidestand down, which is why people probably did the mod. The neutral switch only has control of the dash lamp, if the Haynes manual is correct. Later bikes (my 996 for starters) had the neutral switch wired so it was effectively in parallel with the sidestand switch (albeit with a diode to prevent the sidestand affecting the neutral light) to allow the engine to be started on the sidestand if in neutral. Sounds like it's just the sidestand mod that's been done to yours. That can be done by bridging the sidestand switch itself or removing the relay and bridging the contacts. On the 996 the relay is the outer of the 2 small black ones near the battery. Assume the 916 has the same:
Isn't it useful to be able to start whilst in gear - like when it stalls at a junction? ps my 600ss neutral light rarely works and impossible to find neutral with engine running - all part of the character
Side stand switches are fitted to prevent you riding off with the sidestand down I don't believe they were ever fitted to 97 916's. They had suicide stands which retract the moment the weight is taken off them Suicide stands were modified to stop them flicking up automatically which is probably what has been done to yours I doubt you can retrofit a sidestand switch to a bike that never had one
Pretty sure that you can higgy, people have fitted the whole 1098 sidestand complete with forged bracket before now. I didn’t bother to mention it because of the present “sacred 916 preservation society” that exists now.
I have a 1996 SP3 from new; it could always be started with the stand down and also while in gear. It just added to the excitement of each ride...!
Boys should always have their toys in the boxes ready for playtime,you just need to keep them happy with drip feeding their account on a regular basis.
Chris’ post about the side stand mod is an essential IMHO. Stops the scarily ridiculous lean angle when bike on its stand. Pete’s point about the clutch in removing strain is also good as is ensuring the lights are switched off when starting from cold. Enjoy the bike, lucky fella.
