What To Do On A Red Light...

[FJRocha]

Since my left hand gets tired from pulling the clutch on stop-and-go traffic, I have opted for stopping on neutral at red lights. The unanticipated consequence is that, then, I have two free hands for a few seconds. Oh boy, what to do, what to do... I found that if I scratch the top of my helmet (as one would scratch one's scalp) I can get some laughs from the cagers around me. This might be comical, but at least I know they see me and are aware of my presence. Sometimes, I would accommodate the tools (away from the heat of the tank). At times I would pretend that I'm pulling a bugger out of my helmet (kids are particularly found of this one). I figured that anything I can do to call attention to the cagers, and let them know I am around them, is a good thing.

What do you guys do at the red lights? BTW: Just standing there like road decoration is not the right answer.

 

[radman]

If at all possible, I try to pull up alongside the car that last tried to kill me. Since it's rare that someone hasn't tried, this happens more often than you think. I then pick my nose and fling the result at the miscreant. This does not, admittedly, get laughs from anyone other than me, but it's something to do.

 

[lawinter]

Since my left hand gets tired from pulling the clutch

My left has gotten stronger from the clutch cuz I don't trust the idiots behind me to stop or the idiots turning in front of me to miss me.

If i'm stopped at a light or SS I am in first gear wondering which ***** is going to try and kill me next.

Larry

 

[FJRottie]

I stay on the clutch because I don't trust the cagers.

I pick my nose with the right hand.

 

[nusman68]

Concur...I stay on the clutch as well. Once Mr. or Mrs. Cellphone is done pulling up behind me & I feel reasonably safe for the moment, I look around....if there are kids in cages next to me, they always stare in amazement.....to a kid I guess I look intimidating geared-up with my armored gloves, full face & dark smoke visor on...I take the opportunity to give them a wave...they seem to get a kick out of that...if adults stare I sometimes give them a 'nod'. Invariably when a couple sees me, the man will noticeably & immediately start talking to the wife...I have a pretty good idea it's something like...'Damn, I've always wanted to get a bike...' or 'Check it out, that's an FJR!' They wife then gets a preturbed look on her face......

They seem even more amazed when they see my 7 year old on the back with all his gear & black full face on...he loves the attention, loves 'gettin' the wave' from other riders....

Outside of that, I'm always looking in the intersection for oil patches, A/C condensation water puddles, and stupid crap like 8-track tapes, (WTF? who still has listens to those?) CD's, bird cages (don't ask!) boxes of nails (believe it) etc.....

 

[snowmonkey]

Usually I'll relight my roach and take a pull off a beer.

 

[Geezer]

As others have stated, I only put it in neutral and release the clutch when I feel comfortable that I won't need to escape in a hurry. That is when I have some space in front of me and the guy behind me has also left a decent space once he is stopped. Then I usually put both feet on the ground and stand up as best I can to stretch my lege and back. I always notice the people in the cages around me and I smile, nod, or wave depending on circumstances. I do not intentionally antagonize the cagers.

 

[FastJoyRide]

Ditto most of the above, but I'm also constantly looking for escape routes - IF. I've never been rear-ended but just about everyone I know has been and I've had a couple of close calls where the armour I had behind me (stopped cars) absorbed the impact forces before getting to me.

Ride as if you have a target painted on your back and you'll be about right! (Loved the helmet scratching gig - will try that soon)

 

[FJRocha]

@nusman68,

when they see my 7 year old on the back with all his gear & black full face on...

My daughter (8yo) would love to ride with me, but since I didn't know there was gear for her size I didn't let her. Where can I find gear for her size?

The current gear I have for her might not be suitable for the FJR

 

[Bounce]

Since my left hand gets tired from pulling the clutch on stop-and-go traffic, I have opted for stopping on neutral at red lights.

:stink: Since I wasn't raised a limp-wristed sissy, I use the clutch when at stop signs. :trinibob:

Even if you have a car stopped behind you, that doesn't guarantee that another car can't hit it and cascade the middle car into you.

 

[BlueHammer]

If at all possible, I try to pull up alongside the car that last tried to kill me. Since it's rare that someone hasn't tried, this happens more often than you think. I then pick my nose and fling the result at the miscreant. This does not, admittedly, get laughs from anyone other than me, but it's something to do.

Rad, wasn't it you who related a story of kicking in a miscreants body panels when (she?) came into your lane whilst chatting on the phone? If so, perhaps you could've done it at a stop light? :lol:

 

[nusman68]

@FJRocha

I bought my son an HJC full face street helmet in 'youth' size 'large'; he has a big head...it's funny as my wife wears an adult XS but same brand/style and hers nearly fits him...but of course his fits properly, and the helmet shell is proportionately downsized as well..not cheap, think it was $110..(CycleGear)...DOT/Snell approved, of course; I'm sure mail order would have been less...it was hard to find though; most kid sized helmets are for dirt bikes.

Gloves: Got him some armored dirt bike gloves, closeout at CycleGear; (Yamaha no less!)

Jacket: Got him a plain leather jacket (no, it's not armored, could not find anything like that) but it is adequate; you could get a chest plate/'roost' armor setup that the off-road crowd wears, though)

Boots: Found some good quality size-appropriate hiking boots at Academy Sports & Outdoors

AND LASTLY

As you might imagine, being a parent yourself, when I have him on the back, I go for a NICE ride...I don't even think about keeping up with the kids on crotch-rockets...well, okay...I might think about it, but I don't do it... :lol: I have 'accelerated' a little bit with him on the back, but nothing EXTREME, for sure....he always enjoys our rides, we take breaks & talk; and I guess my values pay off; we'll see a 'typical' Harley rider go by, wearing nothing but a do-rag (no offense to any HD owners reading this) and my son will say "that guy isn't very smart...he's got no 'tection (protection) on!"

Regards & enjoy the family!

 

[FJRocket]

First thing I do when I stop is try to touch the ground. IF that is successful, then I usually try to peal the seat out of my crack. After that, I try to relocate my boys to a location north of my sphincter.

Of course if there's someone coming up behind me, I try to be ready to relocate. Me AND my boys!

I'm too cheap to buy a brake modulator, so much of the time, I'm playing morse code on my brake lever to the beat of my XM. Sometimes I wonder if the cagers can figure out what song I'm playing. Of course if they come up next to me, they can just read what I'm listening to.

BTW, some of you boys and girls must be in da beeg seety. I don't get much opportunity to perform for the car next to me. Usually, those are parked and empty next to the curb here in stixville. I do occasionally have someone facing me stopped in the oncoming lane. You think they can see me reaching down my drawers to relocate the furniture?

 

[Vulcan]

Try the clutch level adjustment...it can make it easier to hold in at a light if you are having trouble.

 

[Coyote]

I rev the engine repeatedly and make Harley sounds with mouth.

Brrrrrm .... Brrrrrrrrrm ........ Brrrrrrrrm ..... Ratt-tat-tat ... cough cough.

I suffer from antique envy.

 

[Rogue]

I get off and ask the nearest cager if he has any Grey Poupon.

 

[FJRocha]

Try the clutch level adjustment...it can make it easier to hold in at a light if you are having trouble.

It's not that the clutch is too hard; the problem is that I ride to work every day on SLOW stop-and-go city traffic. I figured the traffic planners get comissions per light depoyed; there are about 20 of them in my nine miles daily ride, and of course ALL RED :angry03: The first nine or ten light are ok, but by the eleventh, my wrist starts bothering me, and by the fifteenth it is outright pain. Since everyone else is going slow from stop to stop, I resolved to use the neutral at the lights and rest my wrist. It is perfectly safe, because ALL the cagers can see me (yeah right!... dilusional!!!). Anyhow, when I come to a red light, there is always a cager right behind me cursing my bones because I am coasting slowly to the stop and he cannot "swooosh" by me... if he was to hit me, he would have done it long before I stopped.

If I am on a long ride and have to stop on an occasional red light, then I do pull the clutch, with first gear engaged, right foot on the brake, right hand ready to roll, and eyes in scan mode to all directions.

Anyways.... lets go back to the subject... what do y'all do at the lights?

I found the riding height to be a handy advantage around campus streets when comming to a stop next to a low sport car ... lots of short skirts and lifted legs... :dribble:

 

[zorkler]

pick my nose . and then spit a couple of times ... maybe scratch my nuts sometimes

 

[Woodstock]

pick my nose . and then spit a couple of times ... maybe scratch my nuts sometimes

That was you?!?