Suzuki GSX650F Forum - www.GSX650F.biz

Sled: Don't leave in neutral? Really?

The first thing the original owner told me was to let the bike warm up before motoring off. Tricky to do in-gear. It's also kinda cool pulling up to lights (usually level ground), feet down, sit straight up, hands on tank (perhaps a bit of a drum-roll with the fingers )... That is, relax for a few seconds, a bit of thoughtful pondering.

But hey, as always, I'll consider your advice.

Cheers, Matt

Park it in gear.
Warm it up in neutral.
Keep it in gear at the lights.
That is all.

Somewhere on this site is someone with a helmet cam that gets slammed into from behind by a lady who didn't stop in time. I recommend that when stopped that you keep it in gear and keep checking your mirrors. You need to find an escape route in case you see someone barreling in behind you. I try to stop or move over to the side of the lane that gives me a better chance of somewhere to go. From my flying days I always assume the other guy there is trying to kill me and then plan ahead.

READ tomcats reply ^^^^.
You should be in first gear with clutch in ,ready to escape when you hear a cars brakes lock up behind your your ready to get out of there.


Also when at light ,you should have your left foot on the ground ,right foot on rear brake.
This way you have your right hand all fingers on the throttle and use your rear brake to stop you rolling back ,by doing this your right hand is not trying to slowly let go of the front brake and twist the throttle at the same time...its easier.

Learnt all this at Advanced riding school , like you I didn't give it much thought till I was told the reasons for it, took about a week to get out of my bad habbits and now its just normal ,do it with out thinking.


Warm the bike up ,yes...but you can do that with the clutch in also.

Thanks guys,

Mostly I do as you say; always park in gear ('cept in garage), always with right foot on brake when stopped on any kind of slope (keep it over the brake until the vehicle in front is away - one of the first tips that registered in the training course, along with being invisible).

I only engage neutral when I've dawdled through stopped traffic to front of queue (that is, where there's no chance of being rear-ended) and knowing there's still a minute or two of red light remaining - really just giving the hands a bit of a rest if I've been riding city traffic for a spell.

Otherwise, all good!

Leave in gear when parked in the garage ALL the time ,you only have to bump it ,or your wife -kids bump it and over she goes ,its the main place for bikes falling off the stand.
If you live in the city ,the heavy clutch can be a pain in the hand .
Get some Pazzo leavers.
The have more adjustments and less reach for your fingers.
http://www.bikegearwarehouse.com.au/

They teach it at pre-learners and test it at P's now too - it's called the "Ready Position":

1st gear, clutch in, left foot down, right foot on brake.

And if you've pulled up "properly", you should already be there!

I live out in the sticks. And I warm my bike up, out on the road.

I shortshift below 4k to 6th, and keep it under 40 in 6-th, till I can reach down, and be readily stung by the heat from the case. typically 5 miles down the road or so. then I roll on up to highway speed, and enjoy.

14,000 hard, hard miles, 4 back tires to prove it, still starts, runs, idles, and cuts 1/4 mile times like it did with 2000 miles on it.

Works for me. if you live in the city, just keep the revs down in commuter range til it gets real hot. It'll be alright.

Yeah I learnt it on the L and P lesson ,but with limited time to teach you every thing they can ,they don't go right into the reasons WHY you were taught to do this or that .
Guess if they said... ,ok make sure your in gear and foot on the rear brake ,just in case that semi behind you locks it up and you about to get squashed like a bug.....probaly scare the crap out of a learner
In the stay upright 3 hours defensive riding seminar you do the night before going to the track ,they talk about ,why you were taught this or that...like always being in the ready postion ,to escape.
I think it should be part of the L's or P's course.
http://www.stayupright.com.au/advanced.htm