Hold the clutch in a redlights, or shift the neutral?

[upthemaiden]

What do you guys do when you stop at redlights? if it's gonna be a while I'll put it in neutral and relax regardless, but when you pull up to a light and aren't sure how long until it's gonna turn green, or when you're in stop and go traffic do you just hold the clutch in, or do you try to keep it in neutral as much as you can?

I used to just hold it, but I've heard people say that it's not good for the bike to leave it running while you've just got the clutch pulled in for a while, so it's one of those things that's always in the back of my mind. I know there's still friction on the clutch even when it's pulled in, you can even tell by trying to push a bike that way when it's not running, but it would be nice to hear a definite answer as to whether I should always try to get it in neutral, even if it's only going to be 10 seconds, or if I should just hold in the clutch lever and wait it out. What do you guys think?

 

[stellio78]

As I'm rolling up to a red light I knock it into neutral.

 

[Twilli88]

Hold in the clutch, may help you get out of a sticky situation quicker if you are in gear

 

[2004xb12s]

I try to put it in neutral as much as i can but as twilli said if there are no cars behind me stopped and it is a dangerous intersection for getting rearended i keep it in gear.

 

[Cecilsan]

I keep the clutch in, lights aren't that long. Its more work to get it in and out of neutral than it is to hold it. Not only that but you also have the safety factor. Plus as clunky as Buell transmissions are I'd like to avoid any excess grinding (My XB isn't as bad as my Blast)

 

[upthemaiden]

If I'm stopping at a light and know there are gonna be cars pulling up behind me I keep an eye on my mirror and wait until I know they're stopping to put it in neutral. It's usually in stop and go traffic. I got stuck in construction traffic on the highway last weekend for half an hour, and tonight I got stuck in some pretty annoying traffic for 10 minutes. It's just when you move 5 feet, sit, move 5 feet, sit. i never know if I should just hold it in or keep popping it in neutral and then back to first.

 

[jimijeans]

I just tough it out AND yes I pull up with ample space and a slight angle so I can see way behind me. This way I can pull around out of the way if needed. I use the option, cause I saw someone many years ago that slammed into the back of another truck pushing it towards me. I pulled up several spots as he ran into several others. That could have been a RVT 1000R-rc51 sandwich. With me as the orderve/balogna Etc..Damn she was almost brand new back then. Since then I mostly pull the clutch in unless I'm in the close front area. Then I may put it into neutral.

 

[BuellGaza]

Clutches do wear out faster when you're just disengaging them (pulling lever on bike or pushing pedal in car) rather than putting into neutral and sitting there waiting for the light. And you are correct that this is due to the friction that still exists between the plates.
But it's all up to you and the situation what you want to do. If I know the lights and how long I have to wait I'll put it into neutral, otherwise I'll just hold it.

 

[netty2424]

I tend to find neutral as much as possible to rest my hands. I find these brief rests and the chance to sit up and straighten my back out helps to limit fatigue. I'm 6'3" so my riding posture can be a bit poor so I try to utilize as many rest stops as possible.

 

[gtp3800]

Coming to a light ill rapid tap my front brake lever, so that the cars behind me hopefully will notice me stopping more. Then i downshift and coast in neutral to a stop just right or left of the car ahead to avoid getting sandwiched. So I put it in neutral 90 percent of the time.

 

[upthemaiden]

Coming to a light ill rapid tap my front brake lever, so that the cars behind me hopefully will notice me stopping more.

I always do that as well. If I'm already stopped and a car is coming up behind me I'll always tap it a few times as well.

 

[konarider94]

one thing to keep in mind is that motorcycles have wet clutches. our bikes do anyway, i dont think there are any traffic lights out there long enough to overheat the clutch and cause excessive wear. i sometimes kick it into neutral just to give myself a break from the clutch lever though. as many others stated you should always be mindful of your surroundings, its a judgment call if you think its safe or not.

things are different in a car because the clutch is dry and heats up much faster when stuck in traffic.

 

[2004xb12s]

stop just right or left of the car ahead to

Do you all physically stop next to a car or just off to the side? I usually pull up so that my front tire is next to the cars rear bumper that is in front of me. That way if their car gets rearended I am out of the way of most danger.

 

[ct1200]

In gear unless its rush hr and then in and out of neutral to let my hand recoup as much as I can.

But I have been glad I staid in gear a few times.
Either someone not paying attention, their breaks gave out, they r just a crappy driver, etc...

 

[J_Undisputed]

I try to put it into neutral if i know i'm on a road with longer lights. For flashing the brake lights, or acknowledging people that acknowledge the bike with hand signals and in the colder temperatures, warming my hands by the headers/engine.

 

[gtp3800]

Do you all physically stop next to a car or just off to the side?

No, i just make sure that if im hit from behind me and my bike will go past the car in front of me, not into it. So im still behind the car, i just aim the bike to either side of it in case of a sticky situation.

 

[Javakilla]

I keep it in first and hold in clutch.. because I'm paranoid


RW

 

[xxspudxx]

Shift to neutral 95% of the time. Same with the car.

 

[raven]

all riding schools will tell to keep it in gear and keep a eye on whats going on behind you.A few years back the van behind me was rear ended so hard it snapped the bumper on our truck.The two people in the van were both hurt.I,am real happy I was not riding a bike that day.

 

[JohnnyD]

Most of the time I'm in first, holding the clutch in (just in case) - with an eye on the mirror. I'll tap the brake a few times to warn people that I'm stopped. Been a few times I needed to get out of the way.

If I know it's going to be a long stop, then I'll shift her into neutral and readjust my position & stretch. I'm still watching out for someone to run me over.