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Sandymay made me smarter... Or did she ???

Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 11:19 am
by montliz44
Tip 'o the hat to Sandymay 'cuz she said something that made me actually use my brain on a Sunday morning for something other than reading the paper.

In her post about fueling the Forza she mentioned that she still wasn't using her centerstand. Now, I can totally understand that because it's really hard to do unless you're a big person with big boots, which she and I are not. But I still go to the effort every day because I've always put the thing up on the stand and started the engine in order to check the lights, brake lights, and turn signals before I take off down the street.

So I wondered how she checked her lights if she didn't use the centerstand. That won't work on my PCX or several other scooters I've owned because the lights won't come on unless the engine is running, and on scooters normally the engine won't run if they're on the side stand.

Then my curiosity (once again) got the better of me and caused me to actually get up from my seated position and go out to the garage to see if you could in fact check the lights with the engine off, key on, and sidestand down, and lo and behold you can! Everything works just fine that way. This made me very happy because I'd just come off of two weeks without riding the Forza because I'd sprained my foot and couldn't lift it. (PCX yes, Forza no).

But then Mr.Science and the memory of having so many vehicles with so-so batteries with which you would never, ever do such a thing kicked in and told me this was a bad, bad idea and would only result in heartbreak and grief.

Which brings me to the question for all you science majors out there in Forzaland: Is this a bad thing to do or not? Obviously just turning on the key doesn't use as much energy as starting the engine, but it sure does set off a lot of bells, whistles, fuel pumps, ECMs, and flashing lights, all of which appear to require a lot of juice.

So what say you scientific types? Are we good to go on this method or not? 'Cuz if we are, I've just discovered a whole new, more relaxed, way of life.

Enquiring minds want to know.

Johnny

Re: Sandymay made me smarter... Or did she ???

Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 2:12 pm
by you you
It'll be fine.

Re: Sandymay made me smarter... Or did she ???

Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 8:04 pm
by alx123
Take only a few seconds to check lights right? Your batt will be fully recharged a few miles from your place anyway.

Re: Sandymay made me smarter... Or did she ???

Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2017 6:01 am
by Sandymay
Thanks Johnny....all the more reason for me to continue to work on being able to get her up on her centre stand by myself. My hubby puts it up on it for me about once a week, and I check all my lights then. I am relying heavily on the dashboard for information, maybe too much?

First bike and I'm such a newbie....so much to learn.

Re: Sandymay made me smarter... Or did she ???

Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2017 7:26 am
by Jge64
"Checking lights" should take no batt power. You could leave these lights on 15 min easy, without motor, and still have a good battery.

Go ride your bike and stop worrying, these things are made to traverse third world countries and run on cow piss.....you won't have any problems for years.

Re: Sandymay made me smarter... Or did she ???

Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2017 8:49 am
by montliz44
OK, thanks everybody, I feel better now and my centerstand foot thanks you too.

Sandymay, I've become a fanatic about checking my taillights and especially my brake lights every time I ride after having been rear-ended several times over the years. That is sooo not fun and much to be avoided so if I make sure the lights are working at least I know I did everything I could to keep from being run over by some fool at a stop sign. Not to mention that one of these lights not working will get you pulled over by the law and (around here at least) that's another thing to be avoided if at all possible. You probably can rely on the dashboard to tell you if the turn signals are working, but the Forza is so long that you have to get off and walk around the scoot to check the other lights.

But the good news is that our PCX forum science majors have given us the go-ahead to check all this stuff on the side stand before we start the engine, so check away as much as you like.

So, as they say, enjoy the ride and keep the shiny (and brightly lighted) side up. :)

Johnny

Re: Sandymay made me smarter... Or did she ???

Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2017 10:28 am
by Brent
I randomly check my lights, usually while driving though.

Front lights: In the shiny chrome bumper of the vehicle in front of me at a stoplight, or in the window of a storefront.
Back lights: In the window of a store front looking into my rear view mirrors.