[DezynGuy]

Do you -

1. Hold in, and keep holding, the clutch lever (while in 1st gear)

or

2. Shift to neutral, thus relieving the constant left-hand squeeze?

 

[Von Dutch]

several reasons why but it is usually
better to be in neutral for less clutch wear
and for safety.

 

[bobbo]

I do both, but obviously not at the same time.

 

[kota]

both

i do bit of both. but i believe MSF course tell you to be in gear just in case you need to move out of the way of harm.

 

[Arkwright]

It all depends on your stoplight...

I tend to know the habits of most of the stop lights in my town and some will keep me waiting for a few days before changing whilst some change every 30 seconds.

Depending on which light I'm stopped at determines whether I leave her in gear or not.

 

[PAAS]

I put the bike in neutral unless I expect it to be a short stop. Back in the late 70s I attended a training course (in the UK) run by the RAC/ACU (it's now defunct) and they made us put our left hands in the air at stop lights to show the instructor we had gone in to neutral. I understand the MSF courses in the US teach the opposite! Personally, when at a stop light I tend to be looking at the lights rather than in my rear view mirror waiting to be rear ended and I wonder how many people actually manage to avoid being hit by using this method. I would think it more likely that your hand would slip off the clutch and lose control of the bike if hit lightly. I wouldn't say it never happens here, but being rear-ended when stationary seems to be a bigger issue in the US than here. In the UK the main issue I confront is people pulling out in to my path.

 

[plasma]

I put the bike in neutral unless I expect it to be a short stop. Back in the late 70s I attended a training course (in the UK) run by the RAC/ACU (it's now defunct) and they made us put our left hands in the air at stop lights to show the instructor we had gone in to neutral. I understand the MSF courses in the US teach the opposite! Personally, when at a stop light I tend to be looking at the lights rather than in my rear view mirror waiting to be rear ended and I wonder how many people actually manage to avoid being hit by using this method. I would think it more likely that your hand would slip off the clutch and lose control of the bike if hit lightly. I wouldn't say it never happens here, but being rear-ended when stationary seems to be a bigger issue in the US than here. In the UK the main issue I confront is people pulling out in to my path.

Good post Paul.

Plasma.

 

[Malcolm21]

I keep it in gear with the clutch pulled in until a vehical has come to a stop behind me. Then I click it into neutral and wait.

 

[JasonRP]

I keep it in gear with the clutch pulled in until a vehical has come to a stop behind me. Then I click it into neutral and wait.

+1 on what Malcolm said. I leave it in gear until I know no one can hit me from behind..

 

[doxiedog]

As soon as you find neutral,the light will change.

 

[vzshadow]

In gear and watching the mirrors unless I know it to be an exceptionally long light, then neutral. Of course I live in a relatively small town and don't stop at many lights. If I were in constant traffic and lights I'd probably be in neutral more or I'd get a scooter.

 

[eric nyc]

As soon as you find neutral,the light will change.

Ha. +1. One good thing about NYC is that a good number of the pedestrian crosswalk signals have the numerical countdowns on them when they start flashing orange. Most start at 25 or 30 seconds. It's a perfect way to time when I need to get back into gear. That's what I pay more attention to than anything else at red lights - the crosswalk signal.

 

[Wheelhorse]

I'm with Malcolm and JasonRP. If I am the first on at the intersection with cars swifly approaching, I tap my brake a few times before leaving the brake applied ( all while stationary ) to let the squibs behind me know that I am stopped. Once traffic is stopped behind me and I know the light is going to be a bit, I'll pop her in neutral.

 

[alfacliff]

I usually sit in gear, my old xs650 gave me arms like popeye from the extremely strong clutch springs they put in those things.
Cliff

 

[ruger]

Be ready to book on out

I'm also one who stays in gear. Even with a stopped car behind you there's a chance you will need to take evasive action if a crash causes cross-traffic to veer towards you.

As for clutch wear - I'm still on my original clutch after 43,000+ miles. I also slip the clutch occasionally to get revs up rather than downshifting. It's not like a car.

 

[tsmgguy]

Neutral. Always. This avoids wear to the clutch throw out bearing.

 

[mc-bsa]

What a great thread; I've not thought about being able to take evasive action while stopped at a light. I usually go to neutral unless I know the light is a short one. I do this because I know there is constant wear on the release bearing. Of course, there is wear on the shifter dogs every time I clunk it into first gear, too, so I suppose it's a toss-up.

 

[leftarmlogan]

I just run the light. It avoids difficult decisions like clutch-in or clutch-out.

 

[eric nyc]

What a great thread; I've not thought about being able to take evasive action while stopped at a light. I usually go to neutral unless I know the light is a short one. I do this because I know there is constant wear on the release bearing. Of course, there is wear on the shifter dogs every time I clunk it into first gear, too, so I suppose it's a toss-up.

Yeah but clunking it into first gear and revving up just before the light changes just FEELS so good.

 

[Olhogrider]

I just run the light. It avoids difficult decisions like clutch-in or clutch-out.

Best answer so far!