I read several posts regarding drivers holding the clutch lever in on long traffic lights. It got me thinking as I shift into neutral while sitting at traffic lights so I don't have to hold the clutch lever and I believe it reduces stress on the clutch components. I am wondering what others do; do you hold the clutch lever in gear or do you shift into neutral? And does it matter?

 

I keep the clutch lever pulled until the car behind me comes to a stop. Once the car behind me is stopped i relax a bit.

 

Oh, there is another dimension to this question of holding or not holding, I am wondering if those that hold the clutch experience high transfer rate of oil between the trans and the primary. As I read about this issue, some experience a lot of transfer, some a little transfer, and many not at all. With today's manufacturing processes, tolerance differences are still there but much better than in the past so I a wondering what else can influences transfer? The new kit seems to resolve transfer in all cases but why doesn't every 17-19 M8 see oil transfer? and why do the rates vary? Some say highway speed, or only high RPM, or just driving across town. Is there a correlation?

 

I don't use Neutral unless it's going to be an abnormally long wait..my transfer got less and less over 34000 miles by doing nothing so I don't think clutch behavior has anything to do with my early issue

 

I'm with Kawickrice, I always stay in 1ST gear until a car stops behind me.

 

Always pop it into neutral saves my hands from cramping up in heavy traffic. Most times at stop lights there is someone in front of you anyway so there is no escape if your going to be rear ended and with my luck if I was first in line and pulled out I would get hit by cross traffic and it would be my fault for pulling out no matter what reason for doing it. JUST MY .02

 

Aside from the safety thing as each intersection does dictate appropriate action, my question was generally speaking do you hold or not hold?

 

do not hold in

 

I hold the clutch in

 

I don't hold the clutch in. The last thing I want is for a car to rear end me, but if it happens I don't want to end up on top of or close to the bike with the rear wheel spinning wildly. I think there is suppose to be a sensor that will shut the bike off if it goes on it's side, but I really don't want to depend on that.

I do watch the traffic coming up from behind me at a light though. It never hurts to plan for the worst.