Holding clutch in or put in neutral
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,415
Likes: 6,366
From: Honah Lee
If you know the red light and it's long, pop it in neutral. That little lazy Suzanne needle bearing is pretty small But be ready to go.
If you get nailed from behind, 9 times out of 10, there will be little you can do .
i do lift on yellow lights to slow them behind me. Don't care how much it aggravates those who charge yellow and red lights no less.
I'm retired and no longer even have a watch.
If you get nailed from behind, 9 times out of 10, there will be little you can do .
i do lift on yellow lights to slow them behind me. Don't care how much it aggravates those who charge yellow and red lights no less.
I'm retired and no longer even have a watch.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 454
Likes: 134
From: Martinsburg, WV
I don't know how many of y'all have had a clutch cable break, but just in case... here's a oldrider's caution:
Periodically lookfor galling of the clutch cable right up next toyour clutch lever and replace the cable ASAP if you ever notice any. Naturally, keep the cable lubed.
BTW - learned this lesson back in '71 on a '69 Norton Commando that I had bought new. Of course the old Britt bikes were somewhat notorious for lots of bottom end torque and a rather flimsy clutch cable, but you sure don't want to do a launch into cross-traffic on a HD either.
Steve
Periodically lookfor galling of the clutch cable right up next toyour clutch lever and replace the cable ASAP if you ever notice any. Naturally, keep the cable lubed.
BTW - learned this lesson back in '71 on a '69 Norton Commando that I had bought new. Of course the old Britt bikes were somewhat notorious for lots of bottom end torque and a rather flimsy clutch cable, but you sure don't want to do a launch into cross-traffic on a HD either.
Steve
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 5,691
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From: Olean, NY
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,399
Likes: 8,509
From: Spartan Country, Michigan
I have one traffic light/crossing I will put the kick stand down and shut down. But then it's a railroad crossing so.....
but I do pay attention to things around me, so when the last car comes through the bike is upright and running, and i'm ready to go
but I do pay attention to things around me, so when the last car comes through the bike is upright and running, and i'm ready to go
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,928
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From: Edmond Oklahoma
I hadn't though about it until another poster mentioned it, but once I put my Harley in gear after starting it, it stays in gear until shutoff at the end of the ride. The wet clutch makes that an easy choice. I might do it different on a bike with a dry clutch. I get at least 200,000 miles on my cars without replacing a clutch because I put them in neutral when I'm stopped longer than 3 seconds.
Beary