Proper way to down shift?
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Upstate, SC
Ultimate HDF Member
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From: Indiana
Well as for wear and tear my dad down shifts through every gear and pulls the clutch in when he's about 20-30 yards from the stop sign or light. He's who taught me and that is how I still ride. He's got a 90 FXR superglide with 80,000 miles and the original motor, trans and clutch, so wear and tear is crap. By then most of us will be on our next bike or have a 103 kit in there and have to upgrade it all anyways.
Elite HDF Member
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From: Northwest
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
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From: CA Desert
One thing i dont do is downshift from 2nd to 1st when stopping i always go down all the gears and then i go from 2nd to N and chill at the light! By the time you would hit 1st youd be almost stopped already
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Northwest
Tell ya what Gary, you do it your way and I'll do it my way. We'll just agree to disagree.... and I'll just shutup there.
Ultimate HDF Member
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From: Indiana
The OP was just asking if down shifting to slow down is ok, not coming to a full complete stop. I'm sure we all pull in the clutch when we are about stopped otherwise some of us might be kissing some rear bumpers. Speaking of the OP I haven't seen him comment on anything. I think he started this to get something stirred up for some excitement.
Last edited by JaronB; Jun 8, 2009 at 11:09 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: great white north
Since this thread was about down shifting, not about coming to a stop, Ill say that I downshift when coming to a curve so I can slow down then power through it. ( I live in mountainous country.) Also I often downshift without the clutch --gasp-- and it shifts smooth as butter.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: harrodsburg
The theory behind downshifting is that if you need to get out of the way quick, and you're in 4th gear but slowing down to 20mph you won't have enough power to accomplish that. Downshifting is a safety issue. Just like not staying in neutral at a stop. If someone is coming up behind you and they're not stopping...you need to be in gear to move QUICK.
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Intermediate
Joined: May 2009
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From: Tennessee
I usually downshift to about 3rd, then if I see that I'm coming to a complete stop I'll use brakes rest of the way and hit 1st just before I stop. And it is against the law here as well to coast to a stop, or at least it used to be. Its really no different that down shifting when going from a 55mph to a 45mph or 35mph speed zones
Last edited by Turn2HD; Jun 9, 2009 at 12:40 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,048
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From: Canada
Ditto that. I have down shifted and compression brake on every vehicle I've ever driven that had a stick. It keeps me ready to respond to changing road/traffic conditions at an instants need.
Also, I never pull up on the bumper of the guy in front of me when at a light because I don't want to have to back up to get around the car infront of me if the clown coming up on my rear isn't paying attention. Maybe my high school 40 years ago was better then today but they used the phrase, "always leave yourself a way out of harms way" and I have for all these years.
Yes Gary, to me "compression braking" is just another tool to be used for stopping with many advantages.
1. It keeps me tuned into my engine.
2. It helps make your brakes be cooler and ready for hard braking when needed.
3. It keeps me practiced in the art of super hard braking of compression and regular braking at the same time.
4. It's all part of the tune I play on my machine and I just love the sound of a well made downshift and think it sounds funny when someone misses one!
Driving without it to me is like wimp driving :
Also, I never pull up on the bumper of the guy in front of me when at a light because I don't want to have to back up to get around the car infront of me if the clown coming up on my rear isn't paying attention. Maybe my high school 40 years ago was better then today but they used the phrase, "always leave yourself a way out of harms way" and I have for all these years.
Yes Gary, to me "compression braking" is just another tool to be used for stopping with many advantages.
1. It keeps me tuned into my engine.
2. It helps make your brakes be cooler and ready for hard braking when needed.
3. It keeps me practiced in the art of super hard braking of compression and regular braking at the same time.
4. It's all part of the tune I play on my machine and I just love the sound of a well made downshift and think it sounds funny when someone misses one!
Driving without it to me is like wimp driving :