One of the questions on the test in Ontario is how often one should check the mirrors. I watched a national safety program on driving years ago and the suggestion was every 6 seconds. The answer for the driving test is 5-7 seconds. Your point SF, is an excellent reminder. It's likely more important at a stop light or stop sign.
Non Mechanically Minded Female Rider Question
Sorry, this is probably a dumb question… Please don’t flame me
I’ve been riding a while but not mechanically minded at all. I just brought a new KTM 890 which is great. I’m still running it in so trying to do everything right.
Today, for some reason, I totally forgot I was in 1st gear (brain fart) at a traffic light and just let my hand off the clutch. The bike lurched a bit and then stalled out. I actually have a bad left shoulder so it yanked on my shoulder a bit which probably made it feel worse.
The bike was at operating temperature and at idle. My question - Is there any risk of damage to the clutch or transmission in the scenario? I know it was basically a stall, but usually, in a stall, you wouldn’t just release the clutch all at once.
TIA - Lilly.
I’ve been riding a while but not mechanically minded at all. I just brought a new KTM 890 which is great. I’m still running it in so trying to do everything right.
Today, for some reason, I totally forgot I was in 1st gear (brain fart) at a traffic light and just let my hand off the clutch. The bike lurched a bit and then stalled out. I actually have a bad left shoulder so it yanked on my shoulder a bit which probably made it feel worse.
The bike was at operating temperature and at idle. My question - Is there any risk of damage to the clutch or transmission in the scenario? I know it was basically a stall, but usually, in a stall, you wouldn’t just release the clutch all at once.
TIA - Lilly.
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That's why it's not a good idea to stop in the middle lane. It is also not a good idea to ride in the center lane as you can't "block" both lanes at the same time. On a three lane road/hwy., ride in the right lane in the left tire track or in the left lane in the right tire tract.When you stop in traffic if there is a car in front and one to each side you are trapped like a sardine in a can. The little bit of movement you may have isn't going to save you by being in gear!
That's just a few @Steadfastly, your turn.....
Yeah, I'm sitting there thinking " time to check the mir...... BAM ", got me. He did stop for the red light, about 9 yards into the intersection. The 6 second rule. Good idea.One of the questions on the test in Ontario is how often one should check the mirrors. I watched a national safety program on driving years ago and the suggestion was every 6 seconds. The answer for the driving test is 5-7 seconds. Your point SF, is an excellent reminder. It's likely more important at a stop light or stop sign.
S F
Wrong, wrong, semi right.Never, never, never put the bike in neutral. If someone is going to hit you from behind and you need to exit in a hurry, those extra couple of seconds can mean the difference between life and serious injury or death. It does not hurt the clutch to keep it engaged and once you have it in, it takes very little energy to keep it engaged.
Every situation is different, sometimes putting the bike in neutral is the right thing to do, sometimes leaving it in gear is the right thing to do.
Explain why it is wrong to keep the bike in gear so an exit is quicker in an emergency.Wrong, wrong, semi right.
Every situation is different, sometimes putting the bike in neutral is the right thing to do, sometimes leaving it in gear is the right thing to do.
Speaking only for myself, maybe "wrong" is not the right word. Maybe "unnecessary" is better. Holding in the clutch when not necessary simply shortens the life of your throwout bearing. If I'm stopped at a light and I see there are some cars stopped behind me, I judge that keeping the bike in gear is not necessary. On the other hand, you obviously choose to keep your bike in gear. That's fine, and I would never try to persuade you to do otherwise. And this discussion is a good one, as it gets us to thinking about the risks and evaluating them, rather than just blindly and thoughtlessly doing stuff.Explain why it is wrong to keep the bike in gear so an exit is quicker in an emergency.
There are many times when leaving it in gear is pointless.Explain why it is wrong to keep the bike in gear so an exit is quicker in an emergency.
Once traffic behind you is stopped, why leave it in gear.?
If there is no traffic coming behind you, why leave it in gear?
If you don't have a clear path in front of you, why leave it in gear?
If your not intently studying the road behind you for signs of impending doom coming your way, why leave it in gear?
If you prefer not to wear out your clutch bearing prematurely, why leave it in gear?
If you need your hand free to scratch on itch or something like that, you can't leave it in gear.
Sometimes there is a reason to leave a bike in gear at a stop, but more often than not it's pointless to leave your bike in gear, it sounds good in theory but it makes just about as much sense as "Loud pipes save lives".
Some of us workers of the world, have bashed our left hand quite often. Often enough that there have been several injuries over the years. That left hand deserves a rest now and then. Sitting in neutral helps.
If stopped, the defensive driving class says to be aware of vehicles behind, and use your brake light, on and off, to get there attention. I have only been rear ended once, and that was on my bicycle by another bicycle.
I stopped to look about before turning right at a red light. Most dopey bicycle riders do not. I stayed upright, and rode aware. Dopey augured in and lay in a heap.
If stopped, the defensive driving class says to be aware of vehicles behind, and use your brake light, on and off, to get there attention. I have only been rear ended once, and that was on my bicycle by another bicycle.
I stopped to look about before turning right at a red light. Most dopey bicycle riders do not. I stayed upright, and rode aware. Dopey augured in and lay in a heap.
Once traffic behind you is stopped, why leave it in gear.? - What if someone hits the cars behind you and you see it coming in your rearview mirrors? I had this happen in my car.There are many times when leaving it in gear is pointless.
Once traffic behind you is stopped, why leave it in gear.?
If there is no traffic coming behind you, why leave it in gear?
If you don't have a clear path in front of you, why leave it in gear?
If your not intently studying the road behind you for signs of impending doom coming your way, why leave it in gear?
If you prefer not to wear out your clutch bearing prematurely, why leave it in gear?
If you need your hand free to scratch on itch or something like that, you can't leave it in gear.
Sometimes there is a reason to leave a bike in gear at a stop, but more often than not it's pointless to leave your bike in gear, it sounds good in theory but it makes just about as much sense as "Loud pipes save lives".
If there is no traffic coming behind you, why leave it in gear? - Because there might be the next time you look.
If you don't have a clear path in front of you, why leave it in gear? - Always leave an exit. If you don't, it's stupid.
If your not intently studying the road behind you for signs of impending doom coming your way, why leave it in gear? - That is stupid.
If you prefer not to wear out your clutch bearing prematurely, why leave it in gear? - That does not happen. The clutch is disengaged.
If you need your hand free to scratch on itch or something like that, you can't leave it in gear. - Scratch with the other hand.
The throwout bearing only gets worn when using it. You use it once whether you hold in the clutch or let it out. Actually, letting it out, you use it twice.Speaking only for myself, maybe "wrong" is not the right word. Maybe "unnecessary" is better. Holding in the clutch when not necessary simply shortens the life of your throwout bearing. If I'm stopped at a light and I see there are some cars stopped behind me, I judge that keeping the bike in gear is not necessary. On the other hand, you obviously choose to keep your bike in gear. That's fine, and I would never try to persuade you to do otherwise. And this discussion is a good one, as it gets us to thinking about the risks and evaluating them, rather than just blindly and thoughtlessly doing stuff.
Your 100% wrong there without a question. The bearing is loaded when there is pressure applied to the clutch lever, that is when it wears.The throwout bearing only gets worn when using it. You use it once whether you hold in the clutch or let it out. Actually, letting it out, you use it twice.
1) So your going to be not only looking at the car behind you but the car behind the car, must be nice to have X-ray vision.Once traffic behind you is stopped, why leave it in gear.? - What if someone hits the cars behind you and you see it coming in your rearview mirrors? I had this happen in my car.
If there is no traffic coming behind you, why leave it in gear? - Because there might be the next time you look.
If you don't have a clear path in front of you, why leave it in gear? - Always leave an exit. If you don't, it's stupid.
If your not intently studying the road behind you for signs of impending doom coming your way, why leave it in gear? - That is stupid.
If you prefer not to wear out your clutch bearing prematurely, why leave it in gear? - That does not happen. The clutch is disengaged.
If you need your hand free to scratch on itch or something like that, you can't leave it in gear. - Scratch with the other hand.
2) If traffic is coming up from far off you'll have plenty of time to put it in gear if you feel threatened..if your looking.
3) So you would never stop without a clear path in front of you.. what would you do if there were 2 cars close together in front of you then and traffic stops? It happens.
4) So you spend all your stopped time staring behind you? What if something is coming from the side, or the front? Or your looking around at something else?
5) Learn how a clutch throw out bearing works.
6) I like using both hands
@mike721 Your discussion of alternatives at a stop is with a preacher who's serman is in stone. Your points are well taken, but I wouldn't expect any recognition on his part.
Correct. However, it wears while you are using the clutch to put it in gear as well. A throw out bearing can be replaced. A life cannot.Your 100% wrong there without a question. The bearing is loaded when there is pressure applied to the clutch lever, that is when it wears.
BTW, I always hold the clutch in on both my bikes and cars and have never had to replace a throw out bearing.
throw out bearing ?
I'm only familiar with Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki motorcycles and ATV's. Trying to picture what and where the throw out bearing is in those brands. My small block Chevy had a throw out bearing. Worked with, in conjunction with the clutch release.
Generally the Japanese brand bikes have a bearing behind the clutch that is on the primary transmission shaft. Totally different than what I think of as a throw out bearing.
Anyway,
Can't see that bearing having a problem with being in gear or not in gear while sitting at a stop. Do BMW's have a throw out bearing like my old Chevy had? Other brands? (I don't "speak" BMW and am a little rusty about what H/D did/does). Hey, don't remember how G Wings are set up. Hummm
S F
BTW. The argument over "in gear or not in gear at a stop" could be correct either way, depending on situation and everything else, IMO.
And nobody is stupid in their opinion about this. EVERYBODY could be right. Again, Depending...
Just Sayin
I'm only familiar with Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki motorcycles and ATV's. Trying to picture what and where the throw out bearing is in those brands. My small block Chevy had a throw out bearing. Worked with, in conjunction with the clutch release.
Generally the Japanese brand bikes have a bearing behind the clutch that is on the primary transmission shaft. Totally different than what I think of as a throw out bearing.
Anyway,
Can't see that bearing having a problem with being in gear or not in gear while sitting at a stop. Do BMW's have a throw out bearing like my old Chevy had? Other brands? (I don't "speak" BMW and am a little rusty about what H/D did/does). Hey, don't remember how G Wings are set up. Hummm
S F
BTW. The argument over "in gear or not in gear at a stop" could be correct either way, depending on situation and everything else, IMO.
And nobody is stupid in their opinion about this. EVERYBODY could be right. Again, Depending...
Just Sayin
This ^^^^^^^^^BTW. The argument over "in gear or not in gear at a stop" could be correct either way, depending on situation and everything else, IMO.
And nobody is stupid in their opinion about this. EVERYBODY could be right. Again, Depending...
Just Sayin
What I've often heard most when growing-up and learning to ride, is to put in neutral at stops and let out clutch-lever because IF clutch-cable breaks, you don't want to get pushed into cross-traffic.BTW. The argument over "in gear or not in gear at a stop" could be correct either way, depending on situation and everything else, IMO.
And nobody is stupid in their opinion about this. EVERYBODY could be right. Again, Depending...
Just Sayin
Lots of interesting comments here .
I was run over at a red light and nearly killed, I didn't notice the speeding taxi coming up behind me at night, oops .
ALL clutches have throwout bearings, in older bikes it can be a simple hardened steel ball bearing on the eng od the clutch lifter rod .
The friction plates also wear rapidly when you're in gear whilst stopped idling .
I was run over at a red light and nearly killed, I didn't notice the speeding taxi coming up behind me at night, oops .
ALL clutches have throwout bearings, in older bikes it can be a simple hardened steel ball bearing on the eng od the clutch lifter rod .
The friction plates also wear rapidly when you're in gear whilst stopped idling .
BMW boxers before 2015 {I think} have a dry clutch, with a throwout bearing similar to your Chevy. My 2003 BMW has a hydraulic clutch. The slave cyinder is on the back side of the transmission. Inside the piston is the throwout bearing, that pushes a rod that runs through the transmission input shaft and pushes on the center of the pressure plate. While I'm holding the clutch with the engine running, that bearing is spinning under load at engine RPM. If the bearing fails, it causes the piston to spin inside the slave cylinder, which almost instantly causes it to start leaking hydraulic fluid, which then travels up the push rod and ruins the clutch.Do BMW's have a throw out bearing like my old Chevy had? Other brands? (I don't "speak" BMW and am a little rusty about what H/D did/does).
Some Japanese machines have an actual bearing in/at/with the pressure plate that works with the release mech. depending on design. Some use only a "ball" with a push rod that runs thru the transmission main shaft. Never seen a failure in that area (alone) and never heard those parts described as a throw out bearing for a Japanese motorcycle, till now.
S F
S F
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