Down shifting to help brake
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6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 12
Likes: 4
From: San Antonio, Texas
Down shifting to help brake
I'm interested to know peoples thoughts on down shifting. Do you use down shifting to brake? Why and why not? Does is cause undue stress on the engine?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,960
Likes: 1,993
From: CA
I downshift, not so much to help braking, but to be in the appropriate gear and rpm range if I need to go from slowing to accelerating. Been doing it that way for many years and miles, never seemed to hurt the bike. Just don't slam it into first at 70 MPH.
Last edited by deadhawg; Apr 26, 2017 at 01:29 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 13,107
Likes: 13,053
From: Texas, USA
I've been doing it this way for the same reason for years and have not had any problems.
My procedure is:
1. Disengage clutch
2. Rev engine to expected RPM in lower gear and downshift
3. Engage clutch
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 492
From: Heart of Georgia
Downshifting could (maybe?) cause premature clutch failure but it shouldn't hurt the engine as long as you're keeping it off the redline. And yes, I downshift to keep it in the proper rpm range. Been doing it that way since 1976 and it hasn't caused any mechanical failures yet. I drive manual tranny cars and trucks the same way. Come to think of it, my auto tranny cars do the same thing. The factory designed them to downshift themselves automatically.
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 515
Likes: 90
From: Detroit
I always downshift when coming up to a light/slowing down. That way Im in the right gear to get going again
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 661
Likes: 151
From: S/E Michigan
I always downshift and also keep it in first gear at a light until I have at least one car behind me just in case I have to get out of the way to avoid a rear end accident, then I may shift into neutral if it's a long light.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,734
Likes: 9,242
From: Snow Hill, NC
This is what I do as well