Seems to be a debate on use of clutch when stopped

ludwig said:
It seems self-evident to me to select neutral at every stop.
If I feel the stop will last one minute or longer, I cut the engine.
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Considering that many traffic lights in Germany have (had?) a light to tell you to shut off the engine and when to turn it on, that's something a German and other drivers would find normal. Waiting for a green light in the US and then kickstarting your bike - not a great idea!
 
marshg246 said:
Considering that many traffic lights in Germany have (had?) a light to tell you to shut off the engine and when to turn it on, that's something a German and other drivers would find normal. Waiting for a green light in the US and then kickstarting your bike - not a great idea!
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In the UK I have noticed signs going up on some traffic lights 'advising' (at the moment at least) people to turn their engines off whilst waiting at traffic lights
Let's see how that goes
I always shut my engine down when waiting at my local railway crossing
It's never crossed my mind to sit at traffic lights in gear
I simply wait in neutral until I see the traffic flow stop moving from the other lane or lanes
Then select gear and wait the few more seconds for the lights to change then pull away
 
worntorn said:
Some of the newer vehicles automatically shut off on stopping and then restart on first touch of the accelerator pedal.
I've several had old bikes and cars that had this technology built in decades ago.
The only part missing was the automatic restart.

Glen
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Same here
Especially with shagged out amals !!
 
Anytime I am stopped at a light, regardless of in neutral, or in gear, my eyes are on my mirrors.
One of our Forum members, xbacksideslider, suffered horrible injuries while waiting to turn and some yahoo ran over him.

Good luck with your recovery, John.

Slick
 
texasSlick said:
Anytime I am stopped at a light, regardless of in neutral, or in gear, my eyes are on my mirrors.
One of our Forum members, xbacksideslider, suffered horrible injuries while waiting to turn and some yahoo ran over him.

Good luck with your recovery, John.

Slick
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Yes. Also being ready when the light turns but do not trust that the cross street people won't run it.

In other words trust no one to see you and/or give you the right of way.
 
marshg246 said:
Yes. Also being ready when the light turns but do not trust that the cross street people won't run it.

In other words trust no one to see you and/or give you the right of way.
marshg246 said:
Yes. Also being ready when the light turns but do not trust that the cross street people won't run it.

In other words trust no one to see you and/or give you the right of way.
Click to expand...

Never trust a cars turn signals either, especially in the South. And yea, Stop Signs and Red Lights seem to be a "suggestion" to a lot of drivers out there........
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I tend to go neutral at lights in the car or on the bike ................................. I`ve paid for the neutral selection so I`ll use it . It also frees my hands up scratch ,adj etc. .
 
I leave it in gear with the clutch pulled until a car settles behind me...and sometimes even then I will keep the clutch lever squeezed with bike in 1st...I want the option of a quick throttle twist/popping the clutch to get out a potential jamb always available.
 
I do something similar to several of the last commenters. Normally I will find neutral and coast into the red light while watching my mirror. I'll watch to see if anyone is coming up behind me, and if they are I'll put it in gear with the clutch lever in until they are stopped behind me and giving me some protection from the next one. Then I'm back in neutral watching the perpendicular lights and waiting for them to turn orange, while keeping an eye on what's going on around me. When the perpendiculars are orange I click into first and am ready to roll as soon as my light turns green a few seconds later.
 
A lot of modern bikes and Harley's with forward controls make a loud or noticeable clunk when putting the bike into first gear, hearing that clunk at every stop light if put in neutral when stop would drive me nuts, but I fine my Norton to have a nice click when putting into first gear.

Ashley
 
ashman said:
A lot of modern bikes and Harley's with forward controls make a loud or noticeable clunk when putting the bike into first gear, hearing that clunk at every stop light if put in neutral when stop would drive me nuts, but I fine my Norton to have a nice click when putting into first gear.

Ashley
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So true. I had a 2003 Fat Boy. I hated that clunk upon shifting. It was like two hammers banging together. Mechanical sympathy was telling me it can't be good long term. I love the snick-snick shifting of the Norton gearbox.

Oh, and to add to the thread, I always select neutral and release the clutch lever when stopped at a light. It's a great time to stretch my back!
 
Anglophile said:
So true. I had a 2003 Fat Boy. I hated that clunk upon shifting. It was like two hammers banging together. Mechanical sympathy was telling me it can't be good long term. I love the snick-snick shifting of the Norton gearbox.

Oh, and to add to the thread, I always select neutral and release the clutch lever when stopped at a light. It's a great time to stretch my back!
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BUT, it clunks because it's big & heavy.
Unlike a Mack sliding gear transmission, the dogs are big.

So, be careful what you wish for.

Seems to be a debate on use of clutch when stopped

Seems to be a debate on use of clutch when stopped
 
Last edited:
ashman said:
A lot of modern bikes and Harley's with forward controls make a loud or noticeable clunk when putting the bike into first gear, hearing that clunk at every stop light if put in neutral when stop would drive me nuts, but I fine my Norton to have a nice click when putting into first gear.

Ashley
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With Harleys if you hold the clutch lever a couple of seconds then select gear you won`t hear it going in
 
marshg246 said:
I've never put a Norton Commando or unit construction Triumph, or BSA in neutral at a stop light - never even thought to!
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Mick Hemmings mentions in his gearbox rebuild video that while the bike is in gear but not moving, the mainsheet bush (I think it was this one) is not being supplied with oil and it can be damaged if you sit for long periods in gear with the engine running and the clutch in.
It generally just feels wrong to me to be sitting holding the clutch lever waiting for the lights to change, but each to his own.
 

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