DL650 K5 Steering Lock on Right

[krisv]

Hi All,

This may be a strange question, even a stupid one maybe. On all the modernish bikes I have owned in my life I could lock the steering with the handlebar turned to the left or the right. But on my DL650 K5, I can only lock it on the left.

Does the steering only lock on the left on the bike you have got or is it just mine?

Much appreciate your reply.

Cheers...

krisv

[greywolf]

Left only.

[jimbo8098]

Yup, left only. I could only see right working if you don't live in the UK. Maybe it is a British spec bike so they lock the steering on the left but in other foreign models they use right?  It is a bike used worldwide.

[greywolf]

I was away from riding for 16 years before I got my first V-Strom. Every bike I had before that, Japanese, BMW, even a Canadian Can-Am, had left only locks.

[jimbo8098]

All 5 bikes in my back garden are left only too.

[Jacko]

They're all on the left to stop the bike rolling off the sidestand.. Parking up with the bars to the right (away from the stand) is courting disaster, it's only a question of when, not if.. I hate to see it, but every time I do I know the owner is still in his 'pre-roll off stand' biking years..

[mjc506]

really? how would the bike roll off it's stand? (assuming it's not parked downhill...)

[jimbo8098]

really? how would the bike roll off it's stand? (assuming it's not parked downhill...)

Or if you were to clip it with your boot when getting off, I suppose.

[mjc506]

well, yeah, but I'm perfectly capable of accidentally kicking my bike over with the bars locked left too

[greywolf]

It seems to me a right lock would narrow the triangle of support but also increase the lean angle. Is it really much less stable?

[Andy M]

I've had situations where the ground was best suited the bars turned to the right, the wheels running into a natural U shape so less tendency to roll than the n of bars to the left. If you are already at the bottom of a slope running two ways you stop rolling. It's mostly tracks where there is no one to steal the bike mind, in Sainsburys car park I'd use the centre stand.

Having had some Cockney **** screwdiver the ignition lock then realise the chain was beyond his useless Southern thievery skills (a scouser would have nicked it), I rarely use the ignition lock anyway.

Andy

[Jacko]

really? how would the bike roll off it's stand? (assuming it's not parked downhill...)

It's easier for a bike to roll away from its stand than towards it.. Are you 100% sure you're not on a slight downward slope every time you park your bike? There's a reason that the steering locks ALL lock to the left.. I'm not saying they can't roll off to the left, I'm saying they're more likely to roll off to the right, where they're not having to overcome the position of the stand..

End of the day park how you like, just don't park next to anything I own if you throw your bars to the right..

[greywolf]

Always park the bike in first gear and push it forward until it resists before putting the side stand down. It won't roll forward then.

[mjc506]

yeah, I usually find a small slope and park uphill. always leave it in first too, so that stops it rolling far.

[John316]

Following through this thread, I'd little doubt that all motorcycles lock facing left side until I came to work & parked up beside an older 1100cc bike yesterday morning.  
Sure enough it was locked, facing the right side!       I was stunned.  
Should really get out more, I say to myself  

[Jacko]

Didn't catch on though, wonder why.. ;)

PS. Don't park near it.. :D

[krisv]

Thank you all for your reply... I think it is more of a cost cutting measure by the manufacturers...

Cheers