a question for motorcycle riders

[Alpo]

Could you walk up to a random bike, start it up and ride off?

 

I could with a car. Back when they still had keys - I don't know what the hell this fob crap is. But I could put the key in the switch and I could turn the car on and I could drive it away. Whether it was an automatic or a standard, whether it was a floor shift or a column shift, I could do it.

 

My bike was a 74 Norton. This was the last year that it had British shift. The 75 they put the brake on the left and the gear shift on the right like it is on American bikes. Like it is on rice burners sold in America.

 

But even so, I remember a friend telling me about his Yamaha that was one up and four down. It's been 40 years since I sold that bike but I'm pretty sure that Norton was one down and three up.

 

Nowadays, I'm fairly certain that everything sold in America shifts on the right and brakes on the left, but do they all have the same shift pattern?

 

Could you, who are used to riding a Kawasuki, jump on a Harley and ride off? If you're used to an Indian could you ride away on a Trumpet?

 

Television and movies - and yes, I understand the television and movies is made up - people just jump on random motorcycles and ride away. But do they control so similar nowadays that that could be done?

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

YES

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

"If" a street bike has a manual transmission (since 1975) - it is required to use the one down, the rest up pattern with neutral between 1st and 2nd.

 

This shifter must be located on the left hand side.

Hand clutch must be located on the left handlebar.

Rear brake on the right hand side.

Front brake on right side handlebar.

 

Obviously there are aftermarket modifications available or equipment made to accommodate disabled riders.

 

And there are other variations that would not instantly be recognized by every rider such as paddle shifters (semi automatic electronic transmissions; manually shifted but without the rider operating a clutch), DCT automatics (fluid automatic like your car, has multiple forward gears but shifts on its own) or CVT transmissions (no gears per se {a belt/ chain and variable pulley adjusts to regulate rpm vs speed}).

 

But in response to your question; as Coffinmaker answered so succinctly - 

Yes.

[Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L]

I would love to see someone unfamiliar with my '46 Indian try to start and ride it! 

 

I would get a beverage, a lawn chair and my phone to record the spectacle.

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

1 hour ago, Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L said:

I would love to see someone unfamiliar with my '46 Indian try to start and ride it! 

 

I would get a beverage, a lawn chair and my phone to record the spectacle.

I'd probably fail miserably - but doggone it; I'd like to try.

 

Love the old bikes - not enough to deal with owning one myself; but I love drooling over other people's.

 

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

But then again; maybe I could do it.

"Somebody" who shall remain nameless was kind enough to provide instructions.

 

 

 

 How to start and ride a 1946 Indian Motocycle (yes – no “r”).

 

1.       Shift hand shifter into neutral.

2.       Open fuel petcock.

3.       Close choke.

4.       Turn throttle to full open.

5.       Kick the starter three times.

6.       Move choke to number one position (one notch past open).

7.       Move manual ignition advance (on handlebar grip – like throttle) to 1/4 open.

8.       Turn throttle to 1/4 full open.

9.       Turn on ignition to first position (no headlights).

10.   Kick the starter until it starts. (Hopefully only one kick will be needed.)

11.   Open the choke.

12.   Adjust throttle to suitable idle (you will know it when you hear it).

13.   Adjust manual ignition advance to suitable idle.

14.   Turn ignition to second position (headlights on).

 

Now you can start to ride by pushing in the clutch with your left foot, shifting to first gear with your right hand (original Indians had the shifter and the throttle on the left), letting out the clutch slowly while twisting the throttle to keep the motor running.

 

Once you are moving, adjust the manual ignition advance along with the throttle to keep the motor running properly.

 

Then, when ready, shift to second gear by pushing in the clutch, using the right hand to shift, moving back the manual ignition advance, releasing the clutch and adjusting the ignition advance and throttle as needed.

 

Third gear is the same procedure as second gear.

 

When changing speeds, the ignition advance needs to be adjusted as needed.

 

When stopping, push in the foot clutch, downshift as needed, shift to neutral (this is highly recommended as you cannot take your foot off the clutch if the bike is in gear) and apply the brakes. Contrary to modern bikes, the rear brake is more effective than the front.

 

Repeat as necessary.

 

(Sorry - no video).

Edited May 2 by Creeker, SASS #43022

[Painted Mohawk SASS 77785]

Yep there's some oldies that are a challenge....best part is if they are a kicker only...& high  compression 

[Pat Riot]

1 hour ago, Painted Mohawk SASS 77785 said:

Yep there's some oldies that are a challenge....best part is if they are a kicker only...& high  compression 

My right foot still hurts when I think about a kick back I got from my friend’s Harley and I was wearing sneakers. 
Man, that hurt like hell. 

[Pat Riot]

I recall a friend of mine having an early 60’s HD Sportster that had a timing advance and I think the foot shifter was on the right and the rear brake was on the left. 

[Eyesa Horg]

9 hours ago, Alpo said:

Nowadays, I'm fairly certain that everything sold in America shifts on the right and brakes on the left, but do they all have the same shift pattern?

Just the opposite!

And yes , I could start and ride most, with the exception of some antiques that might have  a special sequence.

[Pat Riot]

@Alpo, 

@Creeker, SASS #43022 is correct that motorcycle controls were all standardized. I it was a little earlier than ‘75 per DDG AI. 

Timeline of Standardization

Year	Regulation/Change
1972	Initial federal regulations on control placement began.
1974	Further refinements and definitions were established.

I recall some folks that rode Harley Davidsons being ticked off about it because the changes were “Un-American”, but I am pretty sure HD had adopted those changes well before the law went into affect. 
If I am wrong about this it won’t hurt my feelings if I am corrected. 
 

On another note I discovered that Yamaha only had 6 key variations for all of their motorcycles. I had an ‘83 Yamaha Seca 550.  A guy I was talking with told me about this and he and I conducted an experiment at The Rock Store near Malibu, CA. We asked people if we could try out keys in their Yamaha ignitions. My key worked in 3 other bikes. His worked in 4.

Apparently we weren’t the only ones that knew this and Yamaha had to make changes from then on, but I don’t know if the govt made them fix that or they did it on their own. 

[Alpo]

5 hours ago, Creeker, SASS #43022 said:

How to start and ride a 1946 Indian Motocycle (yes – no “r”).

When we boys was getting of age that we needed driver's licenses and therefore powered vehicles to get around, we spoke of motorcycles. And my father was completely against motorcycles.

 

He told a story about when he joined the Navy they issued him an Indian chief to get around on. This was 1940, and he was in Airedale, so this was allow him to get around the field quickly.

 

He said he weighed about 125 pounds at that time. And occasionally he would not get the spark advance set correctly and that bike would throw him over the handlebars.

 

I believe he may have been exaggerating, because it occurs to me but if you kick the bike and it kicks back and you go flying over the handlebars, the bike is going to fall down onto the ground. This might not be too bad on grass but if it's on pavement or gravel it will scratch it up and this would most likely annoy the higher ups. Which would then likely have him walking around the airfield.

[Blackwater 53393]

Many motorcycles back then, particularly the European models had swing down stands that left the bike standing straight up as opposed to many American bikes that had kickstands. Some had both.

 

In any case, most sensible riders went through whatever starting procedure required with their motorcycle “on the stand”.

 

My older cousin had a 1968 XLCH Sportster that was kick start only. He weighed 119 lbs soaking wet, (and I think he had horseshoes in both back pockets) so occasionally on cold mornings, I’d have to drive over to his house to start the bike for him. 
 

Yes, Alpo, the bike most certainly could, and occasionally did, toss him over the handlebars and remain upright. I watched it happen more than once.

 

Far worse than kicking back, if you weren’t careful, was kicking through!  That’s where the ratchet mechanism fails to properly engage the cranking shaft and slips off the shaft, causing the kick lever to instantly drop all the way to the bottom of its stroke with no resistance.  This often snaps your leg straight violently and overextends your knee.

 

My right knee reminds me of that experience on most cold mornings and often when I am tired or have over exerted.  I’ve had to have that knee “Scoped” twice and after many years it’s in need of replacement.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 2 by Blackwater 53393

[Eyesa Horg]

This ↑↑↑^

[Eyesa Horg]

I had an '68 XLCH, my first HD. If it liked me, it started on the first or second kick, if it was having an attitude at me, well you could kick for half an hour and not get a fart! Thank God when it did fire, it stayed running! And it also had right side shifting. 

[Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485]

3 hours ago, Pat Riot said:

We asked people if we could try out keys in their Yamaha ignitions. My key worked in 3 other bikes. His worked in 4.

I worked on Hondas back in the early 70s. You could take a ignition switch from most any Honda go to most any other Honda unplug that switch and plug yours in and ride away.

[Choctaw Jack]

Commenting on Pat Riot's tale about commonality of keys....

I was in Sturgis for the Black Hills Classic in the early '80's,outside of Gunner's Bar when a biker stumbled out of the door and walked over to bike parked at the curb.

Thinking it was his, he inserted the ignition and proceeded to start the motorcycle. Another nearby individual standing nearby took offense at this, seeing as how it was ,indeed,his bike, and a brief bout of fisticuffs ensued.

After both parties calmed down it was discovered that both of their keys would actually fit both of their bikes.

Several of the riders watching this started checking their keys (with the owners' permission) in other bikes, and it was discovered that t was alarminglycommon that one key would fit other bikes!.

An oldtimer standing nearby commented that an old-style VW locket would fit in standard H-D dash with very little modifiation.

[Eyesa Horg]

Several years ago Ellie was shopping and locked the key of my F-250 in the truck. She called me while I was working over 2 hours away. I told her to check the parking lot for other similar Fords and wait for the driver and ask to try their key. Second person she asked was able to unlock the door!! FYI, there's only about 3 different camper keys😉.

[WOLFY]

 

 

a friend forgot to retard the timing on an early british single and got tossed over the bike whike operating the kick start 

[Blackwater 53393]

Before Schoolmarm and I got married, I worked for a Ford tractor dealer. We bought and traded for any brand of farm or industrial tractor, combine, and earth moving equipment.

 

Among my duties was delivering and retrieving the various units that changed hands. I had keys for many different brands. Back the all  Ford tractor models had keys unique to the particular model, and all of the mid ‘70s and later models of any kind used the same key.  Most other brands did the same.

 

I often made “beer money” betting guys that didn’t know this that I could start a state or county owned piece of equipment in hnder two minutes. I used the two minute gimmick to make them think that I was really doing something special.

 

I’d climb up on whatever was the object of the bet and fiddle around for a few seconds and then take out my keys and start it up, shut it off and jump down with my hand out! 😜🤣

[watab kid]

NO , i rode a triumph , i cou;ld maybe start one of those , but unlikely as all the controls have changed since 1972-3 , the couple harleys i ever rode i had to be taught as well as the one indian that was very new and very complicated , i could not just jump on and go - yes i can ride once i havell the comtrols understood and its running - so i could steal one from someone maybe if it was running ...........assming its a brit bike , the contrls are on the opposite side 

[Eyesa Horg]

8 hours ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

Before Schoolmarm and I got married, I worked for a Ford tractor dealer. We bought and traded for any brand of farm or industrial tractor, combine, and earth moving equipment.

 

Among my duties was delivering and retrieving the various units that changed hands. I had keys for many different brands. Back the all  Ford tractor models had keys unique to the particular model, and all of the mid ‘70s and later models of any kind used the same key.  Most other brands did the same.

 

I often made “beer money” betting guys that didn’t know this that I could start a state or county owned piece of equipment in hnder two minutes. I used the two minute gimmick to make them think that I was really doing something special.

 

I’d climb up on whatever was the object of the bet and fiddle around for a few seconds and then take out my keys and start it up, shut it off and jump down with my hand out! 😜🤣

Somewhere I've still got a universal John Deere key and a Case key as well.

[Pat Riot]

It’s funny, the only bike I ever had to worry about being stolen was my ‘86 Harley Davidson 883 “Sportster”.

Long story short, I had an acquaintance tell me how to keep thieves from stealing my bike quick. 
The quickest way to start and ride off a Harley years ago was to have a metal plate about 1”x2” and a heavy rubber band. 
You put the plate behind the ignition switch against the open contacts then hold it in place with the rubber band then start the bike and ride off. 
I tried it. It worked. 
I modified an aluminum electronics box that attached to the rear of the ignition switch plate to prevent this from happening. 
He also advised that I chain my bike up

everywhere I went. I did. 
Turns out my “acquaintance” was part of the largest SoCal Harley Theft Ring in history. 20 years in Chino Prison probably took that urge to steal others bikes out of him. 

[Painted Mohawk SASS 77785]

Right side gear change & kicker only...that's what is my project at the moment..1973 Triumph T140 750cc...no where near will it be original, putting whatever I fancy to get it up & running..harley ironhead front end.

[watab kid]

7 minutes ago, Painted Mohawk SASS 77785 said:

Right side gear change & kicker only...that's what is my project at the moment..1973 Triumph T140 750cc...no where near will it be original, putting whatever I fancy to get it up & running..harley ironhead front end.

i owned one of those , i still remember the wear pattern on my right boot toe , and i guarantee you if i got on one today - not gonna happen , i would expect the transmission to be on my right foot - clutch in my left hand , 

my 72 bonnie was gold the 74 was red = i far preferred the 73 750 to the 72 650 even tho the first was faster , the second was way more comfortable to ride , but both were great bikes , i had one more gear than my friend had on his 68 daytona - it messed him up when we were riding and id shift to 5th - he would try but didnt have it and id getr the finger 

[Texas Joker]

Honda VT1100 mid 90 vintage the wire harness for the ignition ran down by the airbox.

 

Take off the right side box cover disconnect the 2 wire connector, jump it with a paperclip protect fron grounding out. Jump the starter if you need to

 

Bike will run and keep running til the paperclip is removed. It's hot use pliers 

[Blackwater 53393]

When we redid my old Shovel Head, I put the on/off switch in a custom dash that fits between the tanks.  It’s an antique looking chrome flip-top switch with key and tumbler built in.  We disassembled the tumbler and a locksmith buddy of mine re-keyed it so that the factory keys would not work. The dash is held on with a lock-lug similar to what you find on custom wheels and two of the three bolts are hidden. Thieves would have to probably destroy the dash to get to the back side of the switch.

 

 The slickest trick I have seen in the stealing bikes business was two fairly large guys with a piece of pipe and a pickup truck. They just shoved the pipe through the spokes on the back wheel and lifted that end of the bike into the bed of the truck then one guy steadied the front end while the other one put the pipe through the front wheel. With the two of them balancing the bike, they rolled it in to where the front wheel was on the tailgate and then one of ‘em climbed into the bed and rolled the bike the rest of the way in and the other one threw a couple of ratchet straps onto the handlebars and tied the bike down.

 

It might have taken them a whole minute and a half and they were headed out of the parking lot!

[JP McLintock]

On the old harleys, the padlock for the steering is a much better theft deterrent than the locking ignition switch, those bikes can be hot wired with a wire from battery positive to the coil. No key needed.

[watab kid]

On 5/3/2026 at 5:43 AM, Eyesa Horg said:

Somewhere I've still got a universal John Deere key and a Case key as well.

yes me too , but even those are beginning to change because of all the thefts and damage 

[Blackwater 53393]

8 hours ago, JP McLintock said:

On the old harleys, the padlock for the steering is a much better theft deterrent than the locking ignition switch, those bikes can be hot wired with a wire from battery positive to the coil. No key needed.

The “Springer” front end doesn’t have the padlock option. I had a round stainless lock that went through the cooling holes in the front brake rotor and fastened around the caliper bracket.  I also carried a plastic coated heavy chain that we’d wrap through the spokes of all the bikes that traveled with us and padlocked them to a convenient post

 

As to hot wiring the coil, (or coils on my bike) the battery is located inside the oil tank, under the seat. The seat is bolted to the rear fender with a “security lock” bolt that requires a special tool. The coils are also hidden under the seat.

 

You might be able to pick up positive voltage from the hot post on the starter solenoid, but you’d still have to get to the hidden coils and with solid state single fire ignition, you’d have to supply power to it separately.

 

 The old thing is pretty secure by the time I go to sleep.

 

But the guys with the pipe and pickup wouldn’t be phased. They’d just cut the chain and take whichever bike was closest!!

[Alpo]

 

 

[Eyesa Horg]

BTDT 🤠, but no where near 300 feet! Maybe 75 though!

[JP McLintock]

Blackwater, definitely sounds secure, but some of us have old guy shovels, and the battery and coil are out in front of everyone! 

Edited May 5 by JP McLintock
Typo

[Eyesa Horg]

49 minutes ago, JP McLintock said:

Blackwater, definitely sounds secure, but some of us have old guy shovels, and the battery and coil are out in front of everyone! 

Nice scooter Pard

[JP McLintock]

Thank you!, I've had it since high school, sold a 82 honda sabre to get it, not so sure i shoulda done that.  But o well!