1st Gear or Neutral when at a red light?

[ajcadoo]

Nuff said.

[mholme]

Always in gear at a red light. Always head/mirror check at red lights. Always be ready to roll out at red lights.

[Whiskey]

Advantages & disadvantages to each one.

Neutral:
Doesn't wear the clutch as much, no risk of the bike launching forward if cable snaps
Takes a little longer to go if you have to
Use it if you've filtered to the top of the line, know the junction well & have time + something big & heavy stopped behind you.

1st:
Wears the clutch a little faster & there's a risk of the bike jumping forward if the cable breaks or your hand slips
You're good to go if you have to evade a dopy cager who wants to play biker bowling
Use it if you have no protection to the rear, don't know the light's sequence or just have that gut feeling

[ajcadoo]

Originally Posted by Whiskey

Advantages & disadvantages to each one.

Neutral:
Doesn't wear the clutch as much, no risk of the bike launching forward if cable snaps
Takes a little longer to go if you have to
Use it if you've filtered to the top of the line, know the junction well & have time + something big & heavy stopped behind you.

1st:
Wears the clutch a little faster & there's a risk of the bike jumping forward if the cable breaks or your hand slips
You're good to go if you have to evade a dopy cager who wants to play biker bowling
Use it if you have no protection to the rear, don't know the light's sequence or just have that gut feeling

how common is it for the clutch cable to snap?

[KawiKid860]

First gear for me, unless its a long light or I know the cycle well enough to know I'll be sitting there for a while. Usually pop it into neutral after theres a few cars behind me already just in case of a rear end accident.

[Sigma.40]

Originally Posted by ajcadoo

how common is it for the clutch cable to snap?

+1 Now I'm curious

Originally Posted by KawiKid860

First gear for me, unless its a long light or I know the cycle well enough to know I'll be sitting there for a while. Usually pop it into neutral after theres a few cars behind me already just in case of a rear end accident.

Me, too. I know the cycle of every light in town and theres a few LONG ones.

[menikmati]

Always 1st gear for me just in case something happens and I need to move.

[akshay11]

Depends how long until the light will go green. If I saw it go red I'll sit in neutral and press the brakes.. otherwise stay in gear.

[hoodadooda]

Originally Posted by Whiskey

risk of the bike launching forward if cable snaps

I usually leave it in 1st and keep my foot on the rear brake. If a cable did snap, the worst I would get is a jolt without actually going anywhere.

[Liist]

I voted neutral because most of the time I'm in neutral if the red light is long enough.

[cuong-nutz]

Neutral. The lights are pretty long.

[NathanUc]

I keep it in first and hold the rear brake. Seems like a waste to fiddle around with neutral and limit your mobility at each light.

That being said, I'm the only one I know who does that. Other people I ride with usually comment on it as being weird. Maybe the difference is I never had a manual car (or automatic for that matter) so maybe it's a habit picked up from cars?

[squaregamer476]

depends on the sequence of lights for me. If the light just turned red, then ill shift to neutral. If i feel that its almost green, i leave it in gear.

[Error_mage]

Originally Posted by NathanUc

I keep it in first and hold the rear brake.

+1 but started with a manual car and now often drive an automatic when it rains xD

First most of the time. Neutral when there's no traffic around or I know I won't be moving for a while, also tend to just lay back on the bike or stretch on those occasions.

[FrugalNinja250]

Missing the third poll option, "Depends on the situation"

[oreX]

Always first gear, never know when the cops wanna race.

[CalvinAmI]

Originally Posted by oreX

Always first gear, never know when the cops wanna race.

+1

[Bosgarage57]

Im always in first unless I know the lights, then I wait for a car to pull up behind me, after that (and I know if I have enough time) I'll put it in Neutral to stretch my hand or whatnot.

[diablos991]

First with foot on the rear brake... Always unless I am stretching.

[adouglas]

Depends on circumstance. Generally speaking, first gear and positioned with an escape route until a car pulls up behind me. Then I put it in neutral, sit up, stretch a bit and relax.

If there's nobody around, I typically just put it in neutral.

["A"]

Over 250k mi. ridden in 12 years, I've stopped at red lights with my bike in neutral, never gotten rear-ended.
If I ever get rear ended, I'm staying on the pavement until the ambulance pulls me away.

[cbdallas]

I stay in first until the first car stops behind me. After that, if the light is long, I slip it into neutral.

[Whiskey]

Originally Posted by ajcadoo

how common is it for the clutch cable to snap?

I've heard of it happening on a couple of occasions (not necessarily on a 250) it's recommended that you carry a spare one if you're going touring, just in case it does go.

[cuz]

Man forget 1st or neutral always in 6

[Kygirl]

Neutral for both the truck and the motorcycle. Haven't had to replace a clutch yet!

[saxnbass]

I'm in first if there is nobody behind me. Once someone is stopped behind me, I go into neutral. That way, if the dopy cager doesn't notice me, I'm in first to evade. But if he's there, I can give my left hand a break. Riding in traffic with tons of red lights in this city and staying in first the entire time for every one of them gets annoying and painful.

[Whiskey]

Originally Posted by trixter

Whats a red light?

Go to Amsterdam & find out

Possibly NSFW pic link

[kevlar250]

Originally Posted by Whiskey

no risk of the bike launching forward if cable snaps

Ninjette at idle, cable snaps, engine would die instantly.

I go neutral on the 250 'cuz it's so easy to find. Not so much on the Buell, you have to hunt for it at times.