Noob question about riding in heavy stop and go traffic

[Solomon]

I'm very new to riding so this may be a dumb question. I tried searching to see if I could find where someone else asked the same question, I didn't find anything so here goes...

When riding in heavy stop and go traffic, would it be cost effective to kill the engine if you know that you're going to sit in traffic for more than a minute or so without moving and then restarting once traffic starts moving again?

[1990gsx 600]

well if the bike is all tuned right you wouldnt waste much gas at all theses bikes if well kept get 45mpg+ so you sitting in traffic for 5 minutes wont use up that much gas

[JasonChen]

I just love the fact I live in Cali and am allowed to lane split

[1990gsx 600]

I just love the fact I live in Cali and am allowed to lane split

i know it makes traffic so much easier

[Psycho1]

In heavy traffic, shutting the engine off at every red light could cause you to kill the batery cranking it over and over again without enough time in between to recharge the battery between starts.

[Solomon]

Thanks for the input guys. The replies really helped.

[Shreder]

i thought with an air/oil cooled engine, like on my 98 kat, you can't sit in traffic too long or the bike overheats. not sure what you have though. i have no experience with this situation but others have told me if i get stuck in traffic to just pull off to the side and wait for traffic to get moving again. If you could just kill the bike and walk it (depending on traffic speed), i think that would be fine, ya?

[Solomon]

i thought with an air/oil cooled engine, like on my 98 kat, you can't sit in traffic too long or the bike overheats. not sure what you have though. i have no experience with this situation but others have told me if i get stuck in traffic to just pull off to the side and wait for traffic to get moving again. If you could just kill the bike and walk it (depending on traffic speed), i think that would be fine, ya?

I have an '04 Kat 750. I'm not sitting in traffic long enough that I'd think about pulling over so the bike won't over heat. Maybe it will cross my mind in the future now that you mention it. I was just curious what others more experienced riders were doing.

[Wild-Bill]

Anybody remember the opening scene from Office Space?

[Wolfe_UK]

I just love the fact I live in Cali and am allowed to lane split

What's lane splitting?

[coolasice]

riding the white line between two same direction lanes of traffic

[Wolfe_UK]

riding the white line between two same direction lanes of traffic

Oh, like filtering. As far as the Highway Code goes, that's basically just overtaking, and nothing wrong with that

[tejasandre]

What's lane splitting?

It's a great game where you ride between frustrated cagers stuck in traffic. The objective is to see if you can make it through before the cager changes lanes, squeezes you out, or opens a door to get you.

The prize? Couple minutes of time.

[BareKat]

I wish they'd bring that to Ontario.

I just love the fact I live in Cali and am allowed to lane split

[smith]

Let the motor run. Shutting off and restarting only creates more mechanical wear. Keep the oil running through the cooler even if no air flow is taking place. Maybe consider an add-on fan if severe traffic in the heat is an everyday thing for you.

Or, move to CA. Lane splitting? Tempting. Dangerous... But tempting.