[shisoshin]

this has been well covered elsewhere, eg, cbr250r.net forums..

firstly, dont try to force any gear..
practice feeling for it, gently..

my practice is to ride towards lights without
if possible, taking feet of footpegs, thus
slowing as appropriate [rather than using brakes
at every light, taking off, brakes, off, brakes etc]
that way you will be in second, or first,
still continuing in motion, when light changes..
or, in fist - the most appropriate gear stopped -
for a shorter time before lights change..

if there is a car behind me at lights
meaning i have not been able to filter to front,
no way will i sit there in neutral[!]
waiting for the car behind to slam into me..
- rear end smashes are a common car on bike smash -

filtered to the front, between front cars, at least
they cant get you from behind, thru those cars..

if for some reason i must use my left hand
simply start releasing clutch, then as it
moves a bit, withdraw clutch lever
and move gear lever up into neutral..
[then when visor moved or whatever,
back into first, clutch in, ready]

even if lights do as you say take '5min' cycles,
[a man can run a mile in under 5min]
it is still best,, to hold clutch in...

riding a motorcycle happens to also be
an excellent all-body movement exercise..
simply holding clutch in for half a second
changing gears over and over, will,
tone and strengthen your fingers, hands
and muscles of forearm.. easy..

holding clutch in at lights etc,
is just another variation of that
excellent conditioning form..

most people have weak hands today..
most novice riders experience discomfort
or pain when first riding their motorcycles..
pain is a natural signal for brain,,
thus brain takes it seriously,, it seems
something serious..

yet,, the fact is that all motorcyclists
will, easily, develop their fingers and hands
within a short time - depending on riding -
to the extent that clutching, gears, throttle,
braking [etc] all become normal, automatic,
and - easy - just as walking became easy
for all of us,, when we first started..

for babies, just the practice of trying
was/is enough to strengthen the legs
for walking to become automatic..

for us, our hands will already be at least
usable, if not strong..
and clutching etc, will also become
automatic.. no problem at all..