neutral at traffic lights?

carlmalibu · Spanner Monkey Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Karma :

Why do people drop into neutral at traffic lights? I was told to drop into 1st at CBT. I don't understand?
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T1z3R · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Oct 2005 Karma :

personally i only go into neutral if i know im gonna be stopped at the lights for a while. otherwise i just keep it in first.

i was told on my CBT to shift into neutral in case someone hit me from behind cos if you let go of the bike when in gear its gonna jump away from you and maybe cause more damage/injury. kinda makes sens i suppose.
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Whitey · Nova Slayer Joined: 22 May 2006 Karma :

I don't do it on purpose Rolling Eyes

Sometimes I don't knock it right down to first and that's when it all go's tits up
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carlmalibu · Spanner Monkey Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Karma :

heh I know that feeling. I constantly, repeat: CONSTANTLY kicked the SR125 I was riding in CBT into neutral... and I gotta say I'm not sure if its more worrying hitting neutral trying to get second or trying to get first.

Saying that by the end of day 2 I had it near perfect Smile

My only beef is not always knowing what gear I'm in. That gets confusing when you get to traffic lights.
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sagalout · Nearly there... Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Karma :

I dont really ever use neutral, even when stopping and switching the bike off - I always leave it in gear as its the closest thing you have to a handbrake......and it makes you look like michael flatley at the lights as you suddenly need to start swapping legs!

AcIdBuRnZ · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Jul 2003 Karma :

alex_t · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Karma :

if im going to be sitting for a while i always go in to neutral saves me holding the clutch and then get o check phone and chill for a bit Very Happy

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JBurrows88 · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 May 2006 Karma :

when you pull in clutch the "cogs" are"separated" but can rub and evenutally cause the clutch to 'burn' out..... But it doesn't really mean you have to put the bike in neutral all the time Confused

Don't worry cos i never heard of it hapeening to new'er bikes... only those VERY old bikes that have 60 000 on the clock! lol

(BTW i only have a limit knowledge on this, i can't say whether i am 100% correct on this!)

I only do it if i see the lights infront of me go to red as i know that as i pull up i wont have to change out of neutral as i put my feet/ foot down on the ground!

(on another note... Won't be here for few weeks as moving house and holiday - Dont cry Mr. Green

!)
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Rockhopper · Trackday Trickster Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Karma :

1. Bike clutches tend to drag so sitting in gear with the clutch in for long periods will overheat the clutch and wear it out more quickly. To prove this, put your bike on the main stand, start it up and drop it into gear. Pull the clutch in and see of the rear wheel still goes round on its own.

2. The bit above about being hit from the rear is very valid and in my opinion the most important reason for staying in neutral.

3. If you are in neutral you know for certain that one click down gets first gear. If you are in a gear you don't know 100% which gear it is, espeially if you have had to rush your downchanges on the way.

h00dwink · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 May 2006 Karma :

stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

Yeah unless i can stay moving forwards until the traffic lights change, then i would always go into neautral too. The points made about being hit from behind and also knowing that you fill find the correct gear to pull away from a standstill are very good. It's only really the same as when your in a car though. At the lights it's handbrake on, footbrake off! and Into neutral. We all know that drivers who keep the car balanced/stationary by slipping the clutch and or sit there with the footbrake on, are poor drivers and complete Knobs!

MarkyPancake · Crazy Courier Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Karma :

fuzz · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Karma :

The point about the clutch drag, well, that's why we have a wet clutch. The heat generated while the clutch is slipping at tickover isnt really going to affect its wear rate due to the oil bath.

As for not knowing if your in first when you stop, do you not do a double tap on the gear lever before stopping/once stopped? It's a pretty sure way of knowing that your in first Wink

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APNess · Trackday Trickster Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Karma :

I drop into neutral to wiggle my fingers and get blood to my ass again. Looks a bit strange, a 6'5 (in boots, plus helmet height on top) fellow stood up and wiggling hands/ass but I haven't heard anyone taking the piss yet.

Wouldn't blame them if they did mind Embarassed

ZZR Girl · Trackday Trickster Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Karma :

I usually pop it into neutral if I'm going to be waiting for any length of time at lights. On the occasions when I'm lazy and keep it in first with the clutch pulled in all the time I'm sitting there, it seems to make changing gear from 1st to 2nd a bit harder when going through neutral and more clunky. Does this make sense or is it just my imagination?
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