Cavi Mike wrote on 01/10/13 at 18:05:20:I figured someone would argue the point about "being ready" at a stop. If you don't have the reflexes to pop it in gear real quick and take off, you don't have the reflexes to pull away at all.
I care about the longevity of the parts in my bike. Sitting there riding the clutch at idle with zero oil pressure is only going to cause premature wear. No one rides their clutch at stops except for newbies.
I always have it in gear at a stop. It has saved me from getting rear ended once. Someone was coming to a stop behind me, miss judged, slammed on the brakes, and would not have made the stop. If I would have had it in neutral I would not have had time to jog the bike forward enough to avoid being rear ended. What ever wear and tear I add to the bike is far better than wear and tear on my body. That's why the motorcycle safety course teaches it that way.
Also it's the reason the shift pattern designed into all modern bikes when down-shifting is the way it is.
That said- if I know the light is going to be a long one, or I am stopped for a train, and the guy behind me has stopped safely, I will put it in neutral or shut it down as necessary.