Neutral Corner

[Gunshots]

I continue to hear the common complaint the finding neutral is a big issue for most (or at least a lot) of Rocket owners. I don't understand the need for neutral unless I pushing the FBG around in the garage.
I don't shift to neutral at a light cause I never know when I may want to make a quick escape.
I don't leave the bike parked in neutral, and because of that it has never rolled off the side stand.
I don't coast down hill in neutral cause it just as easy to pull in the clutch and it avoids the nasty clunk of jamming it back into gear.
I don't ride in neutral because that gage on the right goes way clockwise and it make funny sounds when it hits the rev limiter..
I just keep wondering what everyone is spending so much time in neutral for and if there is any connection between those looking for neutral and the ones claiming fuel mileage in the 20s and low 30s. Stop riding around in neutral all the time and watch your mileage climb.

 

[TxRIIIRider]

lol.. I will say the only time I put my bike in neutral is when I'm parked on a level spot, and that's usually because I've had to roll it back into a spot, or I pushed it from the driveway to the garage. I don't think I've ever had a problem finding neutral..

 

[BigWillie]

How do you guys warm your bike up, sitting on it holding in the clutch or do you just go down the road as soon as it starts? Might be the reason you can't find neutral.

 

[Gunshots]

I confess, I use neutral for the 12 minute tune.
However I'm thinking that those that ride in neutral are also the high tire mileage champs too.

 

[snuffcityrider]

Between 1st & 2nd

I found it!

 

[BigWillie]

If I could get time to hook up a cigarette lighter I wouldn't have to put it in neutral as often.
I do like to take it out of gear when sitting at a light after someone stops behind me, preferably two cars or trucks.

 

[ted1296]

Is there a Neutral in the gearbox somewhere???? well I'll be buggered

 

[tfrazier]

Here's my big issue. I ride to work, and work has a gated entrance to the parking garage that requires me to slide my ID through a card reader for access. Being in the States, the reader is on my left.

My choices are:

A. Put the bike in neutral, let go of the clutch, and swipe my card
B. Reach over with my right hand and grap the clutch handle, freeing up my left hand to do the card swiping
C. Kill the bike, swipe the card, hope to get her restarted and moving before the gate arm closes again

If it happens to be one of the 9 out of ten times that neutral just doesn't want to engage, it can be very frustrating for both me and the ever increasing line of cars waiting behind me.

This is the only time I really have to depend on the ability to put her in neutral, but it is a daily occurrence. I'm actually considering designing and building some type of quick engage/release clamp for the clutch lever if nothing else can be done.

This is the only frustration I have so far with my R3. Of course, I've only owned her for a month so far.

 

[Pig9r]

tfraizer-- How may miles and if bought new, has the break-in oil been changed yet?

 

[tfrazier]

It is new, just changed the oil to Mobil 1 4T Racing 15w/50 last night at 517 miles on the odometer.

Also, after reading this and other threads on the subject, I took it out for a spin at lunch today and was careful not to let her roll backwards at all while stopped at the card reader. She popped into neutral just fine that time.

Perhaps I was pre-mature...seems to be a common theme with me.

We'll see if the kinks work themselves out between me knowing a little more about what specific circumstances trigger the "elusive neutral" condition and normal break-in.