Which gear when setting off?

[Catcher]

Which gear do most people use when setting off (assuming level ground and no pillion)? The reason I ask is that setting off at junctions etc on my Honda 600 in 1st gear often seems too low - it quickly picks up revs but progress is steady and sometimes not really good enough when making use of a gap in the traffic. Once or twice I've set off in second (sometimes by mistake) and progress is much better away from junctions. I know it depends on circumstances and bike etc but is it common to use 2nd for setting off?
Regards
Catcher

Probably wear your clutch out quicker, cos you'll have to slip it to get moving. That would be ok facing downhill, but not on the flat.

[druidsam]

i always pull away in first gear, otherwise what would be the point of having it



............................Sam

[alfie]

Pull away in first every time

[TGHUN71]

how long do you ride in 1st gear, or do you just fire up into 2nd as you get going ?

[hammerong]

First gear was useless on my madass, I'd hit the limiter within seconds so yeah I used to pull away in second and sometimes third if pointing downhill

[PAULED]

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[rubbersidedown]

i'd have to agree with sam on this, the only vehicle designed to pull away in anything other than first is a lorry, this is because of the extreme variation in weight, on a bike its first all the time in my humble opinion lol

First here too

[stured]

First every time.