Do you shift into Neutral at red lights?

[mace]

Do you shift into neutral at red lights? This is better for the clutch correct?


Would a dry clutch and wet clutch wear at the same rate if you were to downshift to first gear --- and then hold in the clutch while waiting for the light to change to green?

what is the "correct way" to ride?

[caddydaddy]

Never. I leave it in gear just in case I need to get out of the way of an inattentive driver behind me.
Now, once a car is behind me, then I may pop it into neutral if it's a long light.
As for clutch wear, it's disengaged!?

[stoinkythepig]

You should leave it in gear and keep an eye on your mirrors, you may need to get out of the way of a car quickly. That said, I usually put mine in neutral after a car has stopped behind me. I don't think there would be any wear with the clutch pulled in unless there's a fault in the clutch release mechanism that's letting it partially engage.

[dontpanic]

I leave it in gear and keep my eyes on the mirrors until the vehicle behind me has come to a full stop, then neutral. Maybe. Depends on how nutty the drivers seem that particular day.

[mace]

ok --- yea, that is the way that I learned --- don't pull so close to the car in front of you - look for an escape route -- and keep in gear.


But I have been reading that you should put the bike in neutral. I am in no ways a mechanic, so figured I would ask.


What about a dry clutch vs. wet clutch? can you "ride" a dry clutch the same way you can a wet clutch? example: navigating in first gear through a crowd or parking lot.

[OreoGaborio]

As others have mentioned, leaving it in gear and watching your rearview is a very good practice to get into. That's typically what I do until there is another car behind me as a buffer.

To my knowledge, leaving it in gear and squeezing the clutch at a stop has zero ill effects on the clutch. Wet or dry.

As for wear due to excessive friction zone use, wet vs dry, that's an interesting question. Not sure I've ever heard the answer to that one.

[Karaya One]

I put it in neutral.

This way I can operate the Easy Bake Oven I installed in the sidecar.

[Priv]

you know, I had pretty much only left it in neutral if I have to adjust something and need to be able to get both hands on whatever that might be. Now after hearing so many mentions of an obvious danger, I may just start sucking it up until I'm safe and sound lol!!

[9secondsflat]

I keep it in gear and scan the mirrors making certain that the cage that is pulling up behind me actually stops...ever year riders are killed due to the fact that the person in the car/truck etc behind them smashes them from behind.

google this... motorcyclist killed at stop light and motorcyclist rear ended at stop light

its an eye opener....

When I was 15 years old one of the things that my drivers ed teacher drilled into our heads...."Always leave yourself an out" This little saying has saved my hide many of times.

[Kurlon]

As far as dry vs wet clutch wear rates, I think the only area a dry clutch wears worse is the basket itself. Without oil to damp the impact zones where the plates slot in they tend to get eaten up quicker.

[Chippertheripper]

I'll only put it in neutral after I see all the cars behind me are stopped.
The clutch only wears while slipping...grabbing and releasing...

[Rambunctous]

This seems like something you should ask at the Harley-Davidson forums.

[RyanNicholson]

While I totally understand leaving it in gear in case a car doesn't see you while coming to a stop... you'd have to have one hell of a reaction time and early recognition of a rogue car coming up behind you I would think.

Always wondered about that. I still do it, but personally I feel like I'd be damn lucky to pull that off if it were to happen.

[stoinkythepig]

While I totally understand leaving it in gear in case a car doesn't see you while coming to a stop... you'd have to have one hell of a reaction time and early recognition of a rogue car coming up behind you I would think.

Always wondered about that. I still do it, but personally I feel like I'd be damn lucky to pull that off if it were to happen.

If they are going to hit you hard enough to kill you, you'll be able to see them coming well ahead of time.

I flash my brake lights when I see someone approaching my six.

[ZX11D]

Neutral after i get someone behind me. I'm constantly watching my mirrors untill then . Ya never know when some aswipe in a cage is gonna run into you from behind.

[dhuze]

Like Oreo stated there is no wear on the clutch when it is either in or out. The wear is while it engages and disengages.

[oVTo]

Usually I just leave it in gear until the light changes.

I used to check my mirrors until the car behind me came to a complete stop until a few years ago when discussing accidents in a BRC. One of the students mentioned a friend who got seriously hurt by getting hit by the car behind him. That car had come to a complete stop but the second car back rear ended that car with enough force to push it into him.

Now I keep my eyes on my mirrors until at least a couple of cars have stopped behind me so the domino effect won't get me.

[fzwilly]

almost bit it on 95N in Attleboro approching construction stop and some DB locks them up behind me and came to stop 2' to the right of me. That was my wake up call.

[Stromper]

Yes

Use kickstand to trip the lights

[Evadd]

yes. if i don't put it in neutral, i can't wave at the car full of hot girls who think i'm cool.



ok, that never happens. i will only put in neutral after the cars behind me have stopped - how many depends on the speed of the road i'm on. if it's a slow road, one or two cars. faster, multiple or all cars.

[Rossco]

I only put it in neutral if I know I'm gonna be at a long light and the cars behind me are stopped.

Keeping the clutch in at a stop has no wear on the clutch plates. However, if your bike has a hydraulic clutch on it, it could cause premature wear on the hydraulic system.

[number9]

This seems like something you should ask at the Harley-Davidson forums.

They probably do it to give their hands a break. Sore from polishing chrome and all that...

[rvtjonny]

Yes

Use kickstand to trip the lights

Attaching a high power magnet to the bottom of the bike works too and a bit safer

[Degsy]

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Neutral after cars behind me have stopped.

[breakdirt916]

stupid barnett clutch springs tires my arm out...neutral for me, although I should be scanning those mirrors more