Mod 2 - Do you put bike in Neutral at lights etc?

[thepuma]

As above.....I never ever put my bike in neutral when waiting at lights but read somewhere that its advisable to do it for your mod2. It's the first I've heard of this.....is it really necessary?

Has anyone received a minor for not doing it?

For me personally I find it too much faffing about coming to a stop, swapping legs to get into neutral, swapping back to hold the rear brake and then swapping legs again to change gear when the lights change whilst doing mirror,mirror shoulder check......

Anyone?
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YBR125 (SOLD) - CBR250R(SOLD) - CBR650F(SOLD) Current - Street Triple
765 RS

[weasley]

If I know I'm going to be there for more than a few seconds then yes, I'll go into neutral. It eases the strain your hand and prevents the possibility of you accidentally dropping the clutch (or the cable snapping) and lurching forwards, potentially into danger.

The whole left-right-left foot dance is only for the test. In the real world most people just keep their right foot on the ground.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[Pete.]

Only if I want to rest my hands/wipe visor/adjust zip on my leathers or if I know they are a long interval. Mostly, I just wait in 1st with the clutch in.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Efes123]

I never did for my test. But, I think it might be like filtering, some examiners expect it, others don't. You can ask the examiner before you start.
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Honda Goldwing GL 1000 Current love
Honda VT500 ED - SOLD
Projects Suzuki GS125 Done, then stolen - Kawasaki GPX750R SOLD - Honda VF750S SOLD

[thepuma]

It just seems a bit like a faff..and imho can lead to other faults like not making progress, especially if you stop at lights and then as you're putting it in neutral the lights change, so you're floundering around dancing frantically left and right...potentially in the rush forgetting an obs and maybe stalling in the panic to get away in acceptable time.
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YBR125 (SOLD) - CBR250R(SOLD) - CBR650F(SOLD) Current - Street Triple
765 RS

[gaffa]

I didn't do it for my MOD 2, was told by my ins to keep it in 1st. Suppose it is also 1 less thing to worry about while on test.
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MOD 1 passed 30/07/12, MOD 2 passed 13/08/12. Current bike: 2008 Kawasaki ER6f

[janner_10]

The examiner doesn't give a flying fuck if your bike is in neutral of first at a junction and how is he going to know?

Leave it in first with the clutch in, saves you faffing about trying to get it in neutral.

Focus on the important stuff, like speed limits of the potential route or unusually tricky areas you could be riding in on the test.

Don't lose sleep over guff like this.

Good luck for the test though
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Yamaha FZS600 (Now gone to heaven) > CBR600F4i (SOLD) > '99 YZF-R1

[Matt-]

No i didn't.

But as for personal preference I do like taking my bike out of gear at the lights. Just easier.

Matt
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Current Bike's - Road Legal TZR 125 Pitbike, Aprilia SR50R 2010

[doggone]

[Billo63]

Plus if you go into neutral & then start looking at traffic flow, checking mirrors etc - all the things that you're trying to show examiner you are reading the road & then when time to pull away comes there's always a chance you forget that you ain't in 1st - (easy to go neutral but still keep clutch in!) you suddenly realise that everything behind you is been held up when way was clear, then that would at very least give examiner thoughts of totting up a minor - if not more serious.

Lights change frequently. junctions can clear instantly, it's just not worth it.
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I might not be a gynecologist, but I know a cunt when I see one

[map]

[Matt B]

You should leave it in 1st gear at the lights, that's the way it should be taught from CBT onwards.

As you approach the lights braking you drop into 1st just as you stop then the left foot goes down.

Right stays up on the rear brake and you can release the front.

Lights go red/amber you check mirrors and away bringing the right foot back up.

It's easier than swapping feet.
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stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[dungbug]

I always put the bike in 1st at a stop regardless of how long I might have been there, left foot down, right on the brake. At least then you're ready to do your obs and pull away when ready, whens your Mod 2?
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CBT: Pass 25/06/2011 Theory Test: Pass12/06/2012 Mod 1: Fail 08/07/2012
Mod 1 Retest: Pass 15/0702012 Mod 2: Pass 03/08/2012
Suzuki GN125 (Sold) ~ Current bike: Yamaha YZF 600R Thundercat

[Bomberman]

I was told not to go into neutral for my test. Can't get away as quick if you need to, and just something else to get wrong I guess
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'89 TZR 125 - '94 GPZ500s - ZK3 GSXR600 Alstare

[Flatbadger]

I had my mod 2 a couple of weeks back, this didn't come up at all. I failed, but not because of that
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Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
You're in ISIS

[Rogerborg]

Agreed to all the above, I can't be arsed with doing a Hendon Shuffle that was designed for lanky legged Plod.

On a practical matter, I stay in gear to give myself a fighting chance of escaping a rear end shunt.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[map]

[Kradmelder]

[map]

[Alpha-9]

Same as others, I only neutral if I know its a set of lights which is a PITA

and thats only so I can drum and ping my tank out of boredom


Today I accidentally clutched a wheely on my YBR, while pulling off the line between two cars, people were staring like I meant to do it...I wasn't aware it was even possible

Gonna try again later
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Fzr-600 1999

[Kradmelder]

[Ribenapigeon]

I never used to select nuetral at junctions or in quing traffic but now i do if im waiting on lights or quing its good practice. I can do it now with feeling like im hopping about, i just have the bike ballnced and slipp it in and out of nuetral as easy as pie. I did wonder the same though about during MOD2.

[Bomberman]

[Teflon-Mike]

You wont fail for not using neutral & holding it clutch in on test.
You might for attempting to do it 'By the book' and fucking it up!

By the book is something known as the "Cardington Clog Dance" or 'The Met Shuffle"

Saftey Possition? Remember that from CBT? Left foot down propping bike up, right foot up covering, but not necesserily applying rear brake, unless on a hill.

Slowing for the junction, you aporoach in 2nd gear, and clutch in JUST as you stop.... assume Safety Pos.

Now CCD/MS...

Reverse foot, covering front brake with right hand, Right foot down, left foot up, select Neutral, re-assume Safety possition, reverse footing again, left foot down, right foot up to cover brake.

You are now preparing to pull away....

Cover front brake, with right hand, reverse foot, right foot down to prop bike, left foot up to select 1st gear, reverse foot again, left foot down to prop bike, right foot up to cover brake, hand off the front brake....

And OH shit, the gap you were going for has gone....... back to neutral.. try again!

You'd be there for ever like a cat on a hot tin roof changing footing never moving!

CAN be done.... and there are riders, usually police riders, instructors or examiners to whome its so 'drilled' and they have such precission & smoothness that they CAN do it and do it so intuitively and swiftly that it doesn't hold them up.... but for mere mortals? Something that takes a LOT of practice and NOT expected of a two year newb!

For you?

Draw up to stop in 2nd, DONT risk a learner-lurch changing to 1st and getting excessive engine braking just before the stop, OR risk examiner spotting you snick first but hold it clutch in 'coasting' to the halt.

Roll to the line in 2nd, Using rear brake. assume safety possition, reverse foot straight away, find first...... reverse foot, back into safety possition, keep the clutch 'in' till you are ready to launch.

It is NOT, repeat NOT 'best form'. But iot works.

Its not good form, becouse it keeps tension on your clutch sprrings and clutch cable excessively, which means they will wear out faster.

But its the safety implication thats more critical. IF your clutch cable snaps while you are holding it in, OR your grip of the lever is relaxed for any reason; knock from a pedestrian weaving through stationary traffic crossing the road, car wing mirror from car forcing an extra lane, or you are other wise knocked distracted or just sneaze..... bike will launch... it wont 'fail-safe'.

IF its obviouse its going to be a long wait... worth using neutral. Cardington-Clog or Met-Shuffle may be a bit of a faff, but when you are on a bigger bike, with more 'oomph' to make getting intoi gaps easier.... using Neutral if not the full polava of teh Cardington-Clog can be useful..... if for no other reason than hanging onto the much heavier clutch of a big-bike can have your wrists and fingers aching like bludgery after a couple of hours of such stop start riding!
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[Ribenapigeon]

Bomberman, I say good practice meaning practicing keeping balance while dancing from ground to pegs not as in its good technique to always go into neutral. There are rarely sitiuations where you have to be rapid off the mark though, especially at lights or queing. Also there are some places where it is positivly safer when you have to wait to be in nuetral, I'm thinking when turning across oncoming traffic mostly and especially when in the middle of dual carriagway.

I also notice more experienced riders doing it a lot and it looks smooth when they do and to my mind being smooth is always good as far as riding is concerned. Its good to practice feeling your way into neutral with your toe as well. Its all more control which again is always good.