Do You Need to Hold the Clutch When Stopping at a Red Light on a Motorcycle?
2 Answers
You don't need to hold the clutch continuously when stopping at a red light on a motorcycle. When starting again, simply shift into gear normally. If the red light is only a few seconds away, you can wait in gear. However, if the red light lasts for dozens of seconds, it's better to shift into neutral and release the clutch lever. Therefore, it's advisable to develop the habit of shifting into neutral when stopping, which not only ensures driving safety but also prevents excessive wear on the friction plates. Motorcycles are powered by gasoline engines and are two- or three-wheeled vehicles steered by handlebars. They are characterized by being lightweight, agile, and fast, widely used for patrols, passenger and cargo transport, etc. Motorcycles are categorized into street bikes, road racing motorcycles, off-road motorcycles, cruisers, and touring bikes.
To be honest, I started riding motorcycles as a complete beginner. At first, I always kept clutching at red lights, afraid the bike would stall or lurch forward. But soon enough, my hand would ache terribly, and my fingers would go numb. Later, experienced riders told me it's totally unnecessary. Once you've come to a complete stop, if you're waiting for dozens of seconds or longer, just shift to neutral and release the clutch—the bike will stay perfectly still. This gives your arm a rest and reduces clutch wear since it's not designed to be held for extended periods. Especially during city commuting with countless red lights, developing the habit of shifting to neutral makes riding much more comfortable. I remember being nervous about stalling when I first tried it, but the engine kept running smoothly in neutral, and I just needed to pull the clutch before the green light to shift and go. The key is judging the stopping duration—short stops are fine with clutching, but for long waits, shifting to neutral is the way to go—safe and effortless.
