The clutch is directly turning/meshing with the engine, ALWAYS.
When in neutral, the transmission input shaft IS TURNING (with the clutch released)
When you pull in the clutch, your stopping/slowing that input shaft from rotating.(short of some clutch disc drag)
The CLUTCH, when dis-engaged, is the only thing keeping the front engine sprocket from turning with the engine RPM's.
IE, if you shift into first with the engine off, there is NO clunk. Start the bike with the clutch in, no clunk, everything's
already engaged.
As for keeping it in gear at a stop light in traffic, yes its safer. yes you can get out of the way faster if need be.
I stop off-set from the car ahead of me, probably 1.5 car lengths back and slightly offset (so I have an escape route should I need it).
Once there's a car stopped behind me I DO go into neutral (start the flaming!).
It's possibly (not likely) a clutch cable could pop and launch you into the car ahead of you, for me, really just being lazy..
We don't have many inclines here BUT, if you have one your stopped at (and I've had MANY, VERY steep ones in the Smokie Mountains on vacation), simply hold the front brake (just enough) and stay in first gear (running).
When ready to roll, some slight RPMs at the same time you release the brake and clutch. More incline, more RPM's (roughly 3-4k so you don't wheelie!).
As a noob, you can find an incline (slight at first) and practice.
A concrete ramp at the rear of a supermarket works well... Its really not difficult and you should know how to do it, especially if you ride in any area that isn't flat...
Practice, practice, practice, like anything else..
