Maybe a stupid question but.........

[Vulcanolic]

Today on my way to work, I turned into the street where I work, pulled upto 4th, then back down to 3rd and 2nd.
Now, to get into the plant where I work, we have a swipe card.

What surprised me is when you're actually in motion and you put the bike into neutral, you don't see the green "neutral" light go on.
I've never really noticed it before, I only usually look when I'm at lights etc etc.
So after work, when I was approaching traffic lights, I tried again and nothing.

Is this the case that the light only turns one when the bike is in a stand still position ? Not worried or anything, just curious.
Have any of you noticed this aswell ?

[V-Twin]

In my 900 the light turns on if in neutral moving or not.
What do you ride?

[NCDave]

no, it's not normal. My guess is your neutral switch (that turns on the light) is very sensitive. Mine sometimes does the same thing, but if you move it just slightly without going out of neutral, the light will probably come on.

[Jake '53]

The 1500 won't make neutral from 2nd, something to do with the positve neutral finder, but moving or not, the light comes on when I hit neutral from first

[Vulcanolic]

Originally Posted by V-Twin

In my 900 the light turns on if in neutral moving or not.
What do you ride?

900 Classic.
Don't get me wrong, I love the bike and really never noticed it before.
I'll probably look out for the light even more now.
I wish I never noticed it !

[Vulcanolic]

Originally Posted by NCDave

no, it's not normal. My guess is your neutral switch (that turns on the light) is very sensitive. Mine sometimes does the same thing, but if you move it just slightly without going out of neutral, the light will probably come on.

thats what I thought, very sensitive.
Like i said, when at lights or intersection, I just gaze down and see its in neutral - just to check.

Tomorrow when I leave for work, I'm going to change gears slowly between first and second and see if the light does come on when going forward. If it does, problem solved, if it doesn't , I'll check her out .

[dannyg]

Originally Posted by Jake '53

The 1500 won't make neutral from 2nd, something to do with the positve neutral finder, but moving or not, the light comes on when I hit neutral from first

Hmmm, Interesting. I will have to pay attention to that. Im used to going into 1st then to neutral. I knew you cant shift into 2nd when standing still cause of the positive neutral finder, but I never payed attention to not being able to go into neutral from 2nd. At lights I always keep the bike in gear.

[sketso]

Seeing this, I tested it, and...

my 900 custom neutral light comes on whether in motion or not, and I could go into neutral from either 1st or 2nd when moving around 10 mph.

[buck55]

My 16 classic takes a very light tap to go into neutral from 2nd while moving, but the light always comes on moving or not.

[Jake '53]

Originally Posted by buck55

My 16 classic takes a very light tap to go into neutral from 2nd while moving, but the light always comes on moving or not.

Could be I don't have a light enough tap.

[bluestringer]

Originally Posted by Vulcanolic

thats what I thought, very sensitive.
Like i said, when at lights or intersection, I just gaze down and see its in neutral - just to check.

Tomorrow when I leave for work, I'm going to change gears slowly between first and second and see if the light does come on when going forward. If it does, problem solved, if it doesn't , I'll check her out .

Why would you want to be in neutral when at a light or intersection? That's not a good idea.

[KawabungaOz]

Originally Posted by bluestringer

Why would you want to be in neutral when at a light or intersection? That's not a good idea.

I go to neutral if there are a couple of cars already stopped behind me and the signal sequence is a long one. Saves the wrist and I can have a bit of a stretch.

[SteelMonkey]

Originally Posted by buck55

My 16 classic takes a very light tap to go into neutral from 2nd while moving, but the light always comes on moving or not.

+1 on my v2k

[dannyg40]

Originally Posted by bluestringer

Why would you want to be in neutral when at a light or intersection? That's not a good idea.

There was a topic about that a while ago. A know a few people that also put the bike in neutral at a light. Like mentioned I only do it if I know its a very long light but only to stretch my hand for a few seconds. Im right back in gear before the light ever changes.

[Rubbe]

Originally Posted by buck55

My 16 classic takes a very light tap to go into neutral from 2nd while moving, but the light always comes on moving or not.

+1, on my 1600MS

[buck55]

Originally Posted by bluestringer

Why would you want to be in neutral when at a light or intersection? That's not a good idea.

It is just the relaxed way I ride I guess. I find it easy and quick to tap back into gear if I sense trouble nearby/approaching, and as I stop I make a mental note of possible escape routes. Most of it is second nature when you have been riding 44 years. Rigid rules for everything on a bike are important to get riders through the first few years, and I do not question their practice. As time goes by and experience piles up new ways of flowing in the hazardous patterns of mixed traffic develop. I do not suggest my methods to others as everyone is responsible for their own safety.

[buck55]

Originally Posted by Jake '53

Could be I don't have a light enough tap.

The 16 is the same way; it wants to shift to first while moving unless the tap is very light. Once stopped in second or first the neutral finder is really positive in it's action. I am dating myself here, but the old bikes did not have a neutral finder. Some of them were difficult to get into neutral so you had to get really good at feeling for it with your boot. I kind of liked that better in a way, probably just nostalgic.

[Vulcanolic]

Originally Posted by KawabungaOz

I go to neutral if there are a couple of cars already stopped behind me and the signal sequence is a long one. Saves the wrist and I can have a bit of a stretch.

Exactly, if the lights have only just changed, then I put her into neutral aswel, only to have a stretch.
I'm always back in first gear before the lights change anyway, so whats the problem.?