When sat at traffic lights ?

[johnte]

Is it OK to sit in 1st with clutch pulled in, or are you supposed to wait in neutral with foot on rear brake, then into gear as lights change (when doing test)

Thanks

[chris-red]

Either is fine whatever you are more comfortable with.
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[DrSnoosnoo]

I asked this same question. I was told, do what feels comfortable. But be ready to go when it goes green or you could be "punished".
____________________
I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[Minty]

OP, when do you blip the throttle? You don't state.
____________________
My fingers smell of your mum.

[petalbriefs]

I was taught to be in 1st and hold the clutch in, but I have since read about a couple of people, who were rear ended at lights and due to being first etc, accidentally wanged the throttle open and sent the bike flying.
Had they been in neutral, they probably would have just fallen off.

Each to their own though
____________________
Proud owner of an R6 + ZXR400
Honda CBR 125 R - Stolen

[Matt B]

For the purposes of the test the examiner would prefer yo to stay in 1st with the clutch pulled in. This is because they always want to see you stopped in the safety position - left foot down and right foot up on the rear brake.

If you go into neutral at the lights you have to come out of the safety position which they don't like. It also saves you from doing the 'Hendon Shuffle' (google it or ask Tef).

Normal riding - do what you want but instructors preparing you for test should teach safety position and 1st gear at the lights.
____________________
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.

[Boxing]

I sit in N at the front of the queue watching the pedestrian lights, when they turn red the cars from the other junction are likely to turn into your road or your lights are about to go green, so get ready to set off.

It all depends how long I'll be waiting really. You can easily swap feet so isn't the end of the world if the light turns green anyway.

[Matt B]

[thx1138]

I try and stand up on the pegs without moving, I rarely make it to the green light though.

[blurredman]

I sometimes use left foot down and in gear if I know the lights will change imminantly, or right foot down, right hand on brake left foot hovering over gear selector. Only takes a second longer.
____________________
CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 51k.

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[stevo as b4]

Either is fine I reckon, though with a heavy clutch if you don't need to hold it in for more than 5-10sec that's gotta be a bonus.

The one absolute thing you should never do at traffic lights and junctions, is put your right foot down, and have the gear change foot on the peg instead.

I just see this as lazy, can't be arsed biker's, who don't give 2fucks. If your rear brake is not applied you have no positive control over the vehicle and keeping it still, especially if someone nudges you from behind etc. It's also good practice to show a brake light when stopped especially when in wet, dark or poor visibility conditions.

There's no need to have your left foot on the peg ever when stationary, unless you have cramp in the right leg maybe?

The same goes for all the wanker car driver's who sit with the foot on the brake everytime they are still. The handbrake is a great and useful tool so use it as much as possible, you won't wear it out!

[Wonko The Sane]

[Barnoe]

If your right at the front, i would personally sit with clutch in.

If your a few cars back then this will give you more time.... as lights change you have a good few seconds before moving away anyway.

As lights go green and the cars at front start slowly pulling away, this will give you plenty of time to get in gear

If the lights change at the front and your in neutral, the quick change looks like a silly dance lol
Not perfect for test conditions :/

If your nervous.... just sit with clutch in anyway
____________________
You know you are old when you're told to slow down by your doctor and not the police.

[bamt]

[johnte]

Ok thanks everyone

I do sit with clutch in, but wasn't sure if this was ok for test purposes- seems it is...

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[stevo as b4]

[bamt]

There's nothing actually wrong with it - except it takes time and is a bit of a dance when you could just smoothly click into gear and go.

[Barnoe]

[stevo as b4]

Perversely should safe and courteous filtering not be a mandatory training module and part of any test these days though?

[c_dug]

If I remember correctly, sitting with the clutch pulled for a prolonged period can damage one of the clutch bearings in some big BMWs. No idea if that applies to any other bikes, but maybe worth bearing in mind.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[ADSrox0r]

I tend to think of it like the handbrake, if a pause becomes a wait then I'll nudge up to neutral. I just gauge it by the light sequence, if they've just changed then neutral but if I'm rolling up and they're on red with a couple of cars I'll likely just stay in first.

I'll be honest though, if I'm in neutral I sit both feet on the deck and relax. I very rarely sit with the rear brake on in first, only if it's a hill start. A habit that no doubt will get tuned out of me the first time I get a nudge in the shitpipe.
____________________
Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[The Disapproving Brit]

Depends on local knowledge for me. If I've just missed the green phase and I'm familiar enough with the lights to know their timings (i.e. if they're on my commute), I'll consider dropping it into neutral and relaxing a bit. If I don't know exactly when the lights are going to change, I'll stay in first and clutch in.

What you don't want to do, doubly so in a test situation, is have a panic moment where the lights start to change and you're still in neutral.
____________________
Current Bikes: 1983 Honda VF400FD / 2003 Honda VT750 Shadow
Bike Test Passed 18/03/09, Car Test Passed 14/05/13

[notbike]

Either one, depends if the traffic light is long or not. Don't fancy being hunched over a stationary bike fondling the clutch lever for more than 10 seconds, it's not as comfortable as using the bike as a chair.