I've noticed a lot of riders pop it into neutral at almost every light... I usually only stick it in neurtral if i know there's a car behind me and i won't need to get away quickly and if it will be a long wait.
so what's the deal here? am i missing something?
I always put mine in first before coming to a stop because it can be a Buddha Loves You to get it in gear when it's not moving
I always leave it in 1st gear and hold the clutch, I do the same in my car so I am ready to go.
In gear, and like you I'll only put it in neutral if there's a car already behind me at a comfortable distance, that the driver isn't routing thru his/her glovebox, paying attention, and there isn't a car coming up behind him too fast (multiple vehicle accident).
People drop to neutral 'cause they're too lazy to hold the clutch in for 2 minutes.
I do it sometimes when I'm tired or waiting for a train... But, I usually keep it in first when I'm stopped.
I go into 1st as well, just to be ready.
But I've been riding my gs only a couple of days (first bike) and last night something strange happened.... going from 2 down to 1st, I found that it stopped at neutral ??? ANd at that point I had to tap like another 2-3 times to get from neautral to 1st. Is that my imagination?
Quote from: gsforme on April 28, 2006, 03:05:28 PM
I go into 1st as well, just to be ready.
:thumb:
I do the same, always to first. I want to be in gear just in case I need to get out of the way of the guy coming up behind me messing with his radio, eating food, and talking on the phone not paying attention.
Quote from: gsforme on April 28, 2006, 03:05:28 PM
I go into 1st as well, just to be ready.
But I've been riding my gs only a couple of days (first bike) and last night something strange happened.... going from 2 down to 1st, I found that it stopped at neutral ??? ANd at that point I had to tap like another 2-3 times to get from neautral to 1st. Is that my imagination?
You didn't put enough effort so it jumped to N. Then sometimes it takes a bit to go from N to 1st. Next time you wanna downshift in 2nd just give a good press. That should help. :thumb:
Quote from: RVertigo on April 28, 2006, 11:42:48 AM
People drop to neutral 'cause they're too lazy to hold the clutch in for 2 minutes.
I do it sometimes when I'm tired or waiting for a train... But, I usually keep it in first when I'm stopped.
It is obvious you have never raced motorcycles, or owned a KTM. I've been on the starting line at different races with the clutch in, in gear, when its starts getting hot and grabby, and pulls you over the line. Back row, buddy. And older KTMs clutches tend to drag a bit, so most owners of them will click into neutral just before they stop.
Most long time riders will drop into neutral before they stop.
Quote from: corndog67 on April 28, 2006, 03:45:37 PM
Quote from: RVertigo on April 28, 2006, 11:42:48 AM
People drop to neutral 'cause they're too lazy to hold the clutch in for 2 minutes.
I do it sometimes when I'm tired or waiting for a train... But, I usually keep it in first when I'm stopped.
It is obvious you have never raced motorcycles, or owned a KTM. I've been on the starting line at different races with the clutch in, in gear, when its starts getting hot and grabby, and pulls you over the line. Back row, buddy. And older KTMs clutches tend to drag a bit, so most owners of them will click into neutral just before they stop.
Most long time riders will drop into neutral before they stop.
Big difference between waiting on the starting line, and waiting at a traffic light, no? I'd like to be able to let off the clutch and go, if I see a car coming up too quick behind me. Sure it's only a split second difference, but I'll take any advantage I can get. Just my $.02
Quote from: corndog67 on April 28, 2006, 03:45:37 PMIt is obvious you have never raced motorcycles, or owned a KTM.
TOTALLY!!!!!
you calling me lazy?
Quote from: TragicImage on April 28, 2006, 05:52:43 PM
you calling me lazy?
whatcha gonna do bout it? :2guns: :o :laugh:
oh nothing. I was just asking.
its totally true, I'm one lazy fucker.
Quote from: TragicImage on April 28, 2006, 06:00:51 PM
oh nothing. I was just asking.
its totally true, I'm one lazy f%$ker.
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: If I wasn't so busy putting off studying for finals and browsing GSTwin, I'd invite you to take this outside, so we make something of it! (sound familiar?)
I've got finals on Thursday.... and... the wrapper is still on my text books....
I'm looking for a big score.
Hahaha.. I have finals Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Yay. If I can pull a 95% on my ECE final, he'll forget the fact that I have a D in the class, and give me an A. Yay!
oh puh-shaw.
Whatever ECE stands for... I"m a pro at it.... more than likely.... if it involves sleeping.
Sounds to me like Electrical and Computer Engineering. That's what it stands for here.
oh, then I can totally sleep during those classes, cause I"m good at sleeping in front of computers.
I always put it in neutral at lights, I guess I'm just lazy
Quote from: TragicImage on April 28, 2006, 06:22:47 PM
oh puh-shaw.
Whatever ECE stands for... I"m a pro at it.... more than likely.... if it involves sleeping.
early childhood education is where i mostly have seen ECE
for me it depends on how long I am stopped, the situation, etc. There are a lot of variables to consider, and you have to choose what is right for you for that particular circumstance. :thumb:
I don't know much about wet clutches in motorcycles, but I've read that with clutches on most cars if you just clutch and leave the car in gear, it will wear out the throwout bearing. I dunno how true that is, or it it applies to bike clutches, but thats some food for thought.
Eh.
Quote from: Phaedrus on April 28, 2006, 08:07:06 PM
for me it depends on how long I am stopped, the situation, etc. There are a lot of variables to consider, and you have to choose what is right for you for that particular circumstance. :thumb:
I don't know much about wet clutches in motorcycles, but I've read that with clutches on most cars if you just clutch and leave the car in gear, it will wear out the throwout bearing. I dunno how true that is, or it it applies to bike clutches, but thats some food for thought.
Eh.
HOW DARE YOU!!!
trying to get this thread back on topic.
Quote from: Phaedrus on April 28, 2006, 08:07:06 PM
for me it depends on how long I am stopped, the situation, etc. There are a lot of variables to consider, and you have to choose what is right for you for that particular circumstance. :thumb:
I don't know much about wet clutches in motorcycles, but I've read that with clutches on most cars if you just clutch and leave the car in gear, it will wear out the throwout bearing. I dunno how true that is, or it it applies to bike clutches, but thats some food for thought.
Eh.
Cars (and Ducatis) have dry clutches. That means they aren't soaking in oil, as wet clutches are. For a car, if you leave the car in gear with the clutch depressed, that means the clutch plates are spinning and wearing as they stick together. For a bike, since it's all soaking in oil, it doesn't matter near as much because the parts are lubricated. However, since parts ARE lubricated they tend to slip more. That's why motorcycles have more clutch plates than cars.
A nice Wiki article on a clutch: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clutch
Now I don't feel so bad with going back on topic, since Alpha went and threw in actual facts. :icon_razz:
facts don't prove anything.... pssssh....
I wave my genitals in the direction of your facts.
As a long time rider of over 40 years, I am in the habit of shifting into neutral at stop lights.Its mostly because I always do it in my cars to save wear on the throwout bearings, throwout fork etc.I too have owned motorcycles (Bultacos) that, when hot, the clutch would not release properly, and the bike would creep. But I understand completeley nthe reasoning behind leaving the bike in 1st for a quick gettaway should the need arise.I do keep a vigilante eye on the car behind me, and to be sure they come to a stop before I relax a bit though.
JJN
Quote from: corndog67 on April 28, 2006, 03:45:37 PM
It is obvious you have never raced motorcycles, or owned a KTM. I've been on the starting line at different races with the clutch in, in gear, when its starts getting hot and grabby, and pulls you over the line.
Unless it's grabby enough to skid you forward, applying the brakes might help prevent such an embarrassment. If it's grabby enough to push you forwards regardless, or else kill the engine, then I get your point.
If your clutch starts dragging, it usually gets worse in a hurry, putting the brakes on most of the time results in a stall. And Birdmove, I used to own (and race) a Bultaco Astro. Now that is a bike with a weak clutch.
I'm not being argumentative, well maybe just a little bit, I'm just stating what I do.
And I still regularly ride an old KTM.