Neutral at Stoplights?

[Longcat]

I had a buddy of mine tell me that if you're going to be stopped at a stoplight or non-moving traffic jam for a while (over 15 seconds) you should just put the bike in neutral. He says that it wears the clutch too much if you keep it in for a long period of time, and I just wanted to know if that's true. I know a lot of people do it for comforts sake but I was wondering if it is actually bad for the bike.

On a side note, today at a stoplight I couldn't seem to shift from neutral to 1st. I did the normal motion but it seemed stuck or something and took me several tries. Normally I just flick it with my toe, but I eventually tried using more force which didn't work either. Was the shifter jammed or something?

[ceemes]

Keep the silly thing in gear.....just in case you have to boot out of the way of some silly arse in a cage who has failed to see you stopped in front of him....

The time spent idling at a stop light with your clutch disengaged shouldn't do it much harm.

At stop light always.

1) Be in first gear
2) Have either your right foot on your rear brake peddle or front brake handle, ensuring your brake light is on
3) leave an escape route just in case you have to bolt. even if that means dropping the bike and scampering away like a scalded cat.
4) keep an eye on what is happening behind you.

[ofblong]

hmm replace a clutch cable once in a while and be sure I can get away at a stop light if need be or get rear ended replacing more than an occastional cable as well as hospital bills? Ill stick with staying in first gear. Honestly I cant see why keeping the clutch pushed in on a bike for 15 or more seconds will hurt it anymore than doing the same thing in a car. Its not gonna hurt it. But im no expert.

[Kal]

I had a buddy of mine tell me that if you're going to be stopped at a stoplight or non-moving traffic jam for a while (over 15 seconds) you should just put the bike in neutral. He says that it wears the clutch too much if you keep it in for a long period of time, and I just wanted to know if that's true. I know a lot of people do it for comforts sake but I was wondering if it is actually bad for the bike.

Your friend dosn't know what he is talking about. With the clutch fully engaged the plates aren't touching. There is nothing happening to damage any clutch, wet or dry.

Lot of folks here will suggest you have it in gear in case someone slams into you from behind - at lest then you have a sporting chance of getting out of their way.

Personally I leave it in gear because I am first away from the line. Hate being stuck behind a car which waits for the lights to turn before checking it is clear, putting the car into gear and then soooooo slowly pulling away. It's like waiting for them to come out of comas.

If it's been a long day I'll bang it into neutral so I can stretch out, by the time the lights are changing though I am back in gear and ready to roll.

On a side note, today at a stoplight I couldn't seem to shift from neutral to 1st. I did the normal motion but it seemed stuck or something and took me several tries. Normally I just flick it with my toe, but I eventually tried using more force which didn't work either. Was the shifter jammed or something?

Happens sometimes. Try releasing the clutch and then engaging it again.

[acritzer]

I don't understand why people think it's hard on the clutch or transmission? It's like an old wives tale or something.
I only sit in neutral if it's a LONG light and there are a couple stopped cars already behind me.

[jonnythan]

I don't understand why people think it's hard on the clutch or transmission? It's like an old wives tale or something.
I only sit in neutral if it's a LONG light and there are a couple stopped cars already behind me.

It's because of the clutch throw out bearing.

The bearing is only in operation while the clutch lever/pedal is pressed, and the bearing is not designed for continuous use (who knows why that is). In cars, it's a little common for the bearing to start dying if you step on the clutch pedal too much.

So, that's where that comes from. Not quite an old wive's tale. Not sure how it applies to bikes, but considering I've never heard of anyone on a bike having to replace it, I wouldn't worry about it.

I only put it in neutral if there are already several cars stopped behind me.

[Sev]

I don't understand why people think it's hard on the clutch or transmission? It's like an old wives tale or something.
I only sit in neutral if it's a LONG light and there are a couple stopped cars already behind me.

It's because of the clutch throw out bearing.

The bearing is only in operation while the clutch lever/pedal is pressed, and the bearing is not designed for continuous use (who knows why that is). In cars, it's a little common for the bearing to start dying if you step on the clutch pedal too much.

So, that's where that comes from. Not quite an old wive's tale. Not sure how it applies to bikes, but considering I've never heard of anyone on a bike having to replace it, I wouldn't worry about it.

I only put it in neutral if there are already several cars stopped behind me.

The reason the throw out bearing goes in a car but not a bike is because you've got a dry clutch in a car so the bearing is only lubricated by whatever grease the engineers decided to jam in there. Meaning it can superheat given enough time with the clutch not engaged. The bearing itself is worth maybe $15, but it's a 5 hour job to get it in there.

On a bike it's just a plain rollerbearing that's oil lubricated. Wet clutches are pretty spiffy imo.

[Scott58]

I don't understand why people think it's hard on the clutch or transmission? It's like an old wives tale or something.
I only sit in neutral if it's a LONG light and there are a couple stopped cars already behind me.

It's because of the clutch throw out bearing.

The bearing is only in operation while the clutch lever/pedal is pressed, and the bearing is not designed for continuous use (who knows why that is). In cars, it's a little common for the bearing to start dying if you step on the clutch pedal too much.

So, that's where that comes from. Not quite an old wive's tale. Not sure how it applies to bikes, but considering I've never heard of anyone on a bike having to replace it, I wouldn't worry about it.

Even with that, my car has over 100,000 miles and shows no sign of a problem.

I only put it in neutral if there are already several cars stopped behind me.

The reason the throw out bearing goes in a car but not a bike is because you've got a dry clutch in a car so the bearing is only lubricated by whatever grease the engineers decided to jam in there. Meaning it can superheat given enough time with the clutch not engaged. The bearing itself is worth maybe $15, but it's a 5 hour job to get it in there.

On a bike it's just a plain rollerbearing that's oil lubricated. Wet clutches are pretty spiffy imo.

Even with that, my car has 100,000 miles on it and shows no sign of a failure yet.

[Kal]

It's more of a problem if you ride the clutch in a car. Depress the clutch all the way and it's fine.

[slimcolo]

Not much of a problem for clutch and tranny. BUT can you say Carpel Tunnel!
At least with the Panhead I can lock the clutch engaged or disengaged.