Some Issues Arise, as the Mileage Adds Up...

[treytexag_imp]

You should always keep it in gear when stopped at a light in case you have to get quickly out of the way.

Disagree. If in a hypothetical, someone is bearing down on you...you're not much better off charging blindly into an intersection against the light. And in fact you'd open YOURSELF to liability...instead of that tractor-trailer coming up on you, YOU YOURSELF are now the cause of the accident - by running the stoplight. Which is gonna affect insurance payout, who pays what - and will keep you from suing for damages from any other party.

And anyway, the injuries from a stopping vehicle striking your rear are probably going to be far less than being hit broadside by a vehicle which was NOT stopping and maybe didn't even have time to react.

Keeping the clutch in and a gear engaged, in a car, is hard on the clutch throwout bearing. I don't know the mechanical composition of a motorcycle wet clutch pack; but it's quite possible there's a similar source of wear that could eventually take the clutch out prematurely.

Gentlemen,

Couldn't disagree more with this. I'm coming up on nearly 50 accident free years riding on the street and twice I've had to escape when I was going to be rear ended. Being ready to get out of the way doesn't mean "charging blindly into an intersection", that's a false choice. If there are one or more cars stopped at an intersection a rider should always stop behind a car and to the side such that he can quickly accelerate between or beside that car and let the auto take the hit. Plus that car in front of you is a lot more visible than a bike. If no cars are at the intersection I still don't relax and take my bike out of gear until there is a car stopped behind me.

Late in her life my dear mother rear ended a motorcycle that was stopped at a newly installed freeway on ramp red light. He was sitting there not paying attention to his rear view mirror and there was plenty of room for him to get out of the way. Still, that accident was my mothers fault and the damage to the bike and rider were horrible (he survived) and the stress of the lawsuit killed my elderly mom 6 months later.

Riding on the street is deadly serious business and it's not good enough to "not be at fault". A rider needs to prevent accidents caused by car drivers and sitting at an intersection without a car stopped behind you with your bike in neutral directly contradicts what is taught in street survival motorcycle courses.

Finally, in 50 years I've never had a car or bike damaged by leaving it in gear with the clutch in until there is someone stopped behind me. But that practice has saved my hide twice. And if I'm about to be rear ended in the future I won't be "charging blindly into an intersection", I will have my eyes open and I'll get out of the way as best I can. The last thing I'll care about is liability. Most of us would rather be at fault and alive than ticket free and dead. In this case, what I have relayed here is not JMO, it's the instruction riders receive in street survival courses. Cheers.

Chip

Gentlemen,

Couldn't disagree more with this. I'm coming up on nearly 50 accident free years riding on the street and twice I've had to escape when I was going to be rear ended. Being ready to get out of the way doesn't mean "charging blindly into an intersection", that's a false choice. If there are one or more cars stopped at an intersection a rider should always stop behind a car and to the side such that he can quickly accelerate between or beside that car and let the auto take the hit. Plus that car in front of you is a lot more visible than a bike. If no cars are at the intersection I still don't relax and take my bike out of gear until there is a car stopped behind me.

Late in her life my dear mother rear ended a motorcycle that was stopped at a newly installed freeway on ramp red light. He was sitting there not paying attention to his rear view mirror and there was plenty of room for him to get out of the way. Still, that accident was my mothers fault and the damage to the bike and rider were horrible (he survived) and the stress of the lawsuit killed my elderly mom 6 months later.

Riding on the street is deadly serious business and it's not good enough to "not be at fault". A rider needs to prevent accidents caused by car drivers and sitting at an intersection without a car stopped behind you with your bike in neutral directly contradicts what is taught in street survival motorcycle courses.

Finally, in 50 years I've never had a car or bike damaged by leaving it in gear with the clutch in until there is someone stopped behind me. But that practice has saved my hide twice. And if I'm about to be rear ended in the future I won't be "charging blindly into an intersection", I will have my eyes open and I'll get out of the way as best I can. The last thing I'll care about is liability. Most of us would rather be at fault and alive than ticket free and dead. In this case, what I have relayed here is not JMO, it's the instruction riders receive in street survival courses. Cheers.

Chip
This makes alot of sense to me. Chip, thank you for sharing the story about your Mom - sometimes those sad but true stories clearly "illuminate" an issue.

In the last week alone, I've found myself doing just this - putting the CB in neutral at a light and taking my hands off the handlebar. I will not be doing this any longer. Thing is, I knew this - but I'm older now and haven't been reminded of this important defensive driving technique. So Chip, appreciate the reminder.