Should You Keep the Clutch Engaged While Waiting at a Red Light on a Motorcycle?
3 Answers
When waiting at a red light on a motorcycle, you should keep the clutch engaged. Here is some relevant information: 1. Precautions: Slow driving: When riding a motorcycle, you must not exceed the speed limit. Many motorcycle accidents occur due to speeding. Therefore, for safety reasons, never speed and always ride slowly. 2. Relevant regulations: Motor vehicle and non-motor vehicle signal lights indicate: When the green light is on, vehicles are allowed to proceed, but turning vehicles must not obstruct the passage of straight-moving vehicles or pedestrians. When the yellow light is on, vehicles that have already crossed the stop line may continue to proceed. When the red light is on, vehicles are prohibited from proceeding.
When waiting at a red light on a motorcycle, I usually don't hold the clutch lever continuously because it would exhaust my arm. If the red light is short, expected to turn green in about ten seconds, keeping the clutch lever pressed can prevent the engine from stalling suddenly, making it easier to start quickly and reducing the risk of slipping during takeoff. However, for a long red light, exceeding 20 seconds or more, I would shift directly into neutral and then relax my hands for a rest. This is not only a matter of comfort but also helps avoid excessive wear on the clutch cable, extending the lifespan of the parts. In terms of safety, briefly holding the clutch lever aids in responding promptly to the green light, but riding in a fatigued state increases the likelihood of mistakes, so finding a balanced approach is key. It's recommended to adjust flexibly based on the intersection situation, and once it becomes a habit, it becomes much easier.
I always shift to neutral and release the clutch when the red light comes on, so my right hand can rest, making long rides less tiring. Pulling the clutch is for shifting gears, and holding it for a long time only wears the clutch plates faster, while the engine also tends to overheat. In neutral, the engine runs normally and won't stall; when starting, just lightly press the brake to prepare. On this point, I learned from many veteran riders—it saves effort and protects the bike's components. Of course, if traffic is very dense and the light is just a few seconds, I might temporarily hold the clutch just in case, but in most situations, I prefer the neutral method.
