Regardless of what type of motorcycle or any possibility of excess wear on the clutch or gears, I've always read, and believe, that leaving the bike in first at a stop, left hand on clutch, and right foot on brake is a better option. You're ready to go when the light turns green or if you see the guy coming up behind you is not slowing down sufficiently it gives you options. With the bike in neutral, and you sitting there picking your nose, there is nothing you can do if you need to do something in a hurry. my $.02.

 

Regardless of what type of motorcycle or any possibility of excess wear on the clutch or gears, I've always read, and believe, that leaving the bike in first at a stop. left hand on clutch, and right foot on brake is a better option. You're ready to go when the light turns green or if you see the guy coming up behind you is not slowing down sufficiently it gives you options. With the bike in neutral, and you sitting there picking your nose, there is nothing you can do if you need to do something in a hurry. my $.02.

Exactly this.

 

I will do as RR says above, until a car stops behind me. I will then shift to neutral if it's going to be a long light.

I have ridden a couple Triumphs 100,000 miles each. I have never had to replace a clutch or any part of a gearbox.

 

If thinking about security I watch carefully through my mirror before stopping the bike. Once stopped I have never seen and can't imagine any situation could happen making me able to react if the gear is on, but not if I am neutral.

I have heard about cases of mad drivers hitting a row of cars and falling over a biker. But in all those situations the drivers did not really noticed anything before the truck coming over. The gear they had or not could have not make any difference.

Maybe some others have spiderman's spidersenses to be aware of unseen coming dangers, or having eyes in the rear area of helmet, but not my case nor anyone I know.

But I have seen, at least two times, some disturbing cause other guys accidentally release the clutch lever and as a result the bike making a sudden unwanted movement and they falling because of it. In one of the times the result was the bike crossing into the opposite traffic. With the terrible consequences we can all imagine. Both situations would have been avoided simply putting the bike neutral on the stops.

So for security... better set neutral.

If thinking about wearing, the fact is the pressure over the open springs, and the discs half contacting while they are free cause wearing.

Much more than the simple action of full disengage, set neutral, and engage again the clutch with the gears off, leaving all the set in resting position. We have to understand the base position of clutch is, in fact, closed. And disengaging is what makes it to "work" - if you keep your clutch disengaged for 60 seconds you are in fact overwasting it.

So for clutch life and wearing... better set neutral unless I know the stop is going to be only a few seconds and not practical to change.

 

Depends. If is a known long light or my clutch hand needs a break then in neutral. I think folks are dreaming if they think they can avoid a hit from behind because they are in gear, but hope springs eternal.

 

I have learned to select neutral before stopping at the lights while still rolling. My Monster and Buell are wery difficult to find neutral while standstill and the clutches are heavy. Easy on Triumph but it has become a habit! Don´t think i could get anywhere even if in gear, seldom beeing first in line.

 

Interesting keeping it in gear so you're always ready if need be - I never really thought of that. It sounds like a good idea. BUT I pretty much always drop it into neutral, unless it's going to be quick or I'm on a hill or something. I figure I'm giving the clutch a little rest, and I'm giving my hand a little rest. Changing that old habit of mine is not going to happen at this point, lol. And I've always put my bikes in neutral while still rolling if I can; It 's always seemed a much smoother operation than clunking it into neutral when already stopped.

 

28c here and no bike to ride🤬

 

I gather you are not in Canada at the moment

 

I've read about doing it both ways. I've always sat there in neutral but I'm starting to reconsider after reading some of these contents.

 

I am a mostly "N" at stop lights, but a few things first. Like a previous poster put up, I like a buffer car behind me when waiting on red.
Secondly I have to have seen the light turn red, it lets me know more or less how long I will be stopping, OR if I pull up to light that has been red, I will more than likely be in gear holding the clutch and trying to balance the bike with my feet on the pegs for as long as I can, while at the same time making sure I have a clear line of sight in front of me for escapes or just when its time to go.
If I'm second in line and the car in front of me is not paying attention or texting when it goes green I'm gone.
If I'm the first in line , which I kind of don't like at major intersections then Im in gear and cautiously waiting for the car behind me to stop, then I will drop in N, give the clutch hand a rest, take a quick visual inventory of my bike and my gear, maybe flip a visor up for a few seconds then back in gear watching the intersection and the timing of the traffic and the traffic light so I can GTFO there

 

It depends on the situation for me.

 

I keep mine in the first gear during short stops. For longer ones I select neutral and strech my back.

I haven't had any clutch or gearbox issues, so can't be too bad.

 

Always 1st gear at stop light...and eyes in rearview mirror.

 

Back in the 60's I was riding my TT Special with a buddy on a knucklehead.

We were stopped at a light with cars behind.

My buddy always kept his HD in gear at a light but I always found neutral.

While waiting for the light to change the "mousetrap" on his Harley popped and both he and his bike thumped through the intersection and ran up a curb.

I ALWAYS keep my bike in neutral at lights but watch what is happening behind me so IF a car looks like they don't see me standing there, and that has happened more often than I thought it would and happens more frequently THESE days, I can pop into first and get out of the way.

With a hydraulic clutch I might change my mind but in close to 60 years riding and a lifetime in the industry I've seen too many clutch cables break while sitting in gear at a stop.

 

I would recommend everyone do what they are most comfortable with, but I will always be an in-gear stopper. I was at a light and saw a car approaching from behind and slowing down as expected. In the next couple of seconds, it was apparent the car was slowing down but not stopping. There was live crossing traffic, so I couldn't move very far forward, but the couple of feet I could move forward and to the left allowed me to get out of the car's path and it only cost (the car driver) a right-side pipe and rear turn signal. The alternative would have been being pushed into crossing traffic - crunched from the back and slammed from the side. I will accept potentially increased clutch wear as a fair exchange.

 

I NEVER have my bike in neutral while at a stoplight. Never.

 

Have you ever ridden a BSA. The couple I had there was a choice when adjusting the clutch. Either slip when engaged or drag when the lever pulled in, in that case the clutched heated up and started to drag even worse. On occasion you would get it just right so that it would slip and drag. Sooo I got into the habit of neutral at stops longer than a few seconds. oh I almost forgot when stopped in first gear and the clutch was dragging it was impossible to get into neutral which would lead to a choice of the lesser of evils,

 

Interesting thoughts here. I'd have to say I tend to find "N". Don't have a good reason why. Probably more for resting my hands than anything. I have more questions about how do you guys discern the driver behind you and their potential to stop or not? If I'm coming to a light and know someone is behind me, yes I study the mirror hard until they stop. But at what point do you pull the trigger and get out of the way if you sense danger? That's what's going through my mind anyway while I'm a "sitting duck". Thoughts?

 

I have one of those flashing brake light.
When I'm sitting there like a duck I like to use it
Hopefully the jackass behind me sees it

 

For me, it depends on the situation... sometimes I sit at lights in gear, like when I'm on a slope (uphill or downhill). Sometimes I have it in neutral so I can stretch or check the bike. Lane filtering is permitted in my state, so there are times I will sit in neutral when I have 5+ stopped cars behind me. I've practiced shifting into gear and moving quickly, and my head is always on a swivel.

 

"May" offer a different scenario in that I ride where there are the least amount of four-wheeled vehicles. Most of the time. Cities/towns, I avoid if at all possible. I'm riding for relaxation rather than for work, etc. With that in mind and kept in mind that I have replaced T140 clutch cables, discs, plates, springs, nuts, primary seals, and everything in that basket, I bring my modern T120 up to a stop sign in neutral. I am not kidding/joking/time wasting when I say I do not want to climb in behind a modern clutch for repairs. If you have the financial means to portray a T.E. Lawrence to replace your engine's necessities such as "riding the clutch," as it was called in the "old" days of when I began riding at the modest age of (less than 10), then I'll hold your cranium adornment.

Vote: don't ride the clutch. I'm at the age I just don't want to fix it anymore.

 

When I started riding In 1980, the thinking was bike in neutral at a stop with both feet down,otherwise the clutch cable could snap and send send you into the cross traffic. It also made for some fun games, putting the bike into neutral while coming to a stop, getting the wheels to stop completey, look both ways, shift into 1st then take take off without putting a foot down. We used to have contests between us.
The past few years though I've taken to leaving it in 1st with my left footdownbecause an old motorcycle accident that ruined my back and my right hip became bad enough that it was extremely painful to take my right foot off the beg and put it back on again.

 

Yeah I am paranoid about watching what is coming up behind me when I am stopped. I always am in first just staying aware of my exit strategy. I have fat hands and I never find gloves that are a loose fit so my hands cramp up holding the clutch. But, you can shake out your throttle hand when you are stopped and shake out your clutch hand while riding.

 

If I recall my motorcycle safety course from years ago, it was to stay engaged in 1st gear at a light.

 

Left foot down, right foot on brake and in first gear. I wouldn't do it any other way unless I'm in an uninhabited area at a stoplight that lasts at least five minutes.

If you're sitting at a light with both feet on the ground <cringe>, in neutral and twiddling your thumbs, I'm judging you.

 

Left foot down, right foot on brake and in first gear. I wouldn't do it any other way unless I'm in an uninhabited area at a stoplight that lasts at least five minutes.

If you're sitting at a light with both feet on the ground <cringe>, in neutral and twiddling your thumbs, I'm judging you.

Agree, I can’t even imagine sitting at a red light in neutral.

 

Haia all
Ermmm, I live on a mountain side in Wales... what's a 'stop light'?
2WG

 

Yeah, I understand that idling in first gear is hard on the clutch throw out bearing. That said I always do it, in readiness for a fast escape.