Is Your Bike in Gear or Neutral at Light?

[Ironpig9]

  As I come to a stop I continue downshifting until the bike is in 1st gear. I've noticed other drivers put their bikes in neutral while waiting at stop lights. To me this seems unsafe because if you have to move quickly you spend time getting the bike in first and not the hell outta the way.
Please share you opinions on this. I have to give a safety presentation soon and may use this as a subject. Thanks.
-Ironpig

[egstandard04]

In gear. Unless I know it's one of those real long lights, and it seems safe to be in neutral.

[Maddog]

in gear an one eye in the mirror   been there before an  had to move fast  the car went right by us an through the red light!!  No fooling   

[Dennis The Menace]

Neutral is asking for trouble....always 1st and ready to roll.  Same as Maddog, watch the mirrors.  I tend to watch them more than looking at the signal to change.  I trust nobody.

[marc]

Always in gear and eyes on the mirrors...Those few seconds it takes to lift your foot off the ground and shift could cost you your life...

[Quad D]

   Almost got sandwiched a couple of times due to some loopy guy/gal not paying attention.  I prefer to just split the lane and get to the front as often as possible and where it's legal.  In gear is best IMHO.

[limitedlou]

I have it in Neutral at lights. I've never had a problem. And I know of a few who do the same..

[CraigArizona85248]

In gear.

[76shuvlinoff]

My shovel has always been picky about trying to find neutral sitting still. I can blip it and hit it but long ago I got into a habit of toeing it into N as I roll to a stop. I do this 80-90% of the time. I try to keep my left foot on the floorboard and I watch my mirrors. I even find myself doing it on my TC. I especially do it in heavy stop and go when my clutch hand gets tired.

Last weekend my buddy and his girlfriend swapped bikes. She had his heavier RK right next to me, she somehow got off balance at a stop and tipped it over on the crash bar. I had left my bike in 1st because it was just a stop sign and not a long light. Most times I don't even get my feet down at a stop sign. I wanted to get off and help her but could not hit neutral to save my ass. Eventually I did and helped her stand it up.

[slypig]

In gear and watching behind

[05FLHTC]

Arthritis so I'm in neutral at lights, but I agree in gear is safer 

[HV]

Always in Gear .....and ready to MOVE 

[02roadcling]

In gear, VPC is easy to hold clutch. I've needed to peel out twice already.
Only twice you ask? How many times can I die?

cling

[phatbob]

Always in gear. Remember being in gear doesn't do you much good if you don't leave room in front of you to maneuver, and don't let your guard down. Like others have posted pay attention to your mirrors.

[seattledyna]

always in gear, habit I have had forever! do the same in manual cars

[truck]

In gear and I try to aim the bike to the left of the car in front of me, or the right whichever looks safer. If I get rearended i might not get squashed but just pushed foreword.
I don't really think you can tell if you'll be hit from the rear by watching your mirrors, and if you do see it coming it'll happen so fast you might not have time to react anyway.

[Evo160K]

In gear, watching the mirror and flashing the brake light.

[harleyjt]

In gear, watching the mirror and flashing the brake light.

Always in gear! Never in neutral.  Might have to move and seconds count!
jt

[Ironpig9]

 :up:Thanks for all of the replies. In gear seems to be the safest mode. And I agree with watching your mirrors and making sure you have the brake light on or flash it (just because you're paying attention doesn't mean the cager behind you is - his/her cell phone conversation is important!). Thanks again for the feedback.
Ironpig

[Ultrashovel]

Generally I would be in gear with an eye on the rear view mirrors as others have mentioned. If it's a long light, and I feel that conditions merit it, I will slip into neutral. Mostly I'd be in gear since you never can tell when you may need to move quickly.

[razar]

Has always been in gear for me and I watch the mirrors, have an escape route if needed and leave adequate space to the vehicle in front.  Those that shift to neutral, do you do that when driving your cage too?

[ViennaHog]

In gear and very attentive of the mirrors as long as there are not a few cars behind me to take up the crash impact from some idiot on a cell phone.

[limitedlou]

  Those that shift to neutral, do you do that when driving your cage too?

Absolutly !! 

[76shuvlinoff]

  Those that shift to neutral, do you do that when driving your cage too?

Absolutly !!

haven't had a manual trans car since 88

[War Horse]

Allways in gear with eyes in the mirror and flashing brake lights with anyone approaching, enough room to maneuver. Avoided a few allready, one time I heard brakes squealing and shot to the left, the guy actually hit the car I was behind......