engine braking good or bad
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
From: Carollton, Texas
The only time I use engine braking is when I am driving my truck w/trailer down a hill. Why not use the devices designed to slow down your vehicle?
In a racing aspect-you never use engine braking-That is the one time you can over rev your engine and cause major damage. The rev limiter only works in acceleration.
In a racing aspect-you never use engine braking-That is the one time you can over rev your engine and cause major damage. The rev limiter only works in acceleration.
Using engine braking is fine, just make sure you signal with your break lights.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 840
Likes: 0
From: PNW
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 416
Likes: 0
Thanks for everyones responses... I'll mention that I don't hit 2nd from 70, just normal engine breaking as most here have described. I'll keep doing it!
I learned the first or 2nd day... pulled in the clutch to take a turn at a fairly low speed and let it out in 1st gear instead of 2nd in the middle of the turn... Barked the tire, got sideways, and scared the **** out of me! so I'm all about getting the right gear now before entering the turn.
Thanks Again,
J
I learned the first or 2nd day... pulled in the clutch to take a turn at a fairly low speed and let it out in 1st gear instead of 2nd in the middle of the turn... Barked the tire, got sideways, and scared the **** out of me! so I'm all about getting the right gear now before entering the turn.
Thanks Again,
J
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From:
Engine breaking is fine, however should be done gently ( not chirping the rear tire at every shift like I used to do), because on DECELERATION all the force shifts from the top of the primery chain to the bottom, therefore putting the brunt of the stress on the CHAIN TENSIONER. Hit it too hard too often, ( like I did) it will wear out early, and require replacing in a random small town on a long trip.....(like mine did.....somewhere in New Mexico)
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 564
Likes: 0
From: East Stroudsburg PA
I've used engine braking on my 82 and now on my 07, never really seen a problem and never had a problem with it...my father has an 83 and has always used engine breaking since the bike was brand new in 83 and everything has been fine since...I will use my brake light though for those folks who don't pay attention to the traffic way ahead and just look at the vehicle in front of them
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,718
Likes: 11
From: Punta Gorda,FL
Engine breaking is fine, however should be done gently ( not chirping the rear tire at every shift like I used to do), because on DECELERATION all the force shifts from the top of the primery chain to the bottom, therefore putting the brunt of the stress on the CHAIN TENSIONER. Hit it too hard too often, ( like I did) it will wear out early, and require replacing in a random small town on a long trip.....(like mine did.....somewhere in New Mexico)
Tom
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville, Fl
+1
Also those that say why down shift and just use the brakes! So basically what you're saying is that when you are going down a street at 45mph and you see a red light up a head you pull your clutch and use your brakes?? Because at some point as you slow down you are going to down shift, whcih uses your engine to slow down no matter how you look at it.
Also those that say why down shift and just use the brakes! So basically what you're saying is that when you are going down a street at 45mph and you see a red light up a head you pull your clutch and use your brakes?? Because at some point as you slow down you are going to down shift, whcih uses your engine to slow down no matter how you look at it.
People are creatures of habbit. Whatever you do the most often, you will do when your brain isn't fully engaged. I'm not saying engine braking is a bad thing, just that it has it's place, and IMHO, stopping at a light or sign may not be the best use of your fuel and engine
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 786
Likes: 1
From: Sheridan, AR
That is exactly how I do it. I see the light or stop sign and in comes my clutch. As I'm slowing, I keep dropping down gears, but keep the clutch in. If I hear the dreaded Screech of tires behind me, and I have on a few occasions, I'm in the gear I need to be to escape if I have to. At the end of the stop, I'm already in 1st. The main reason I do this, as mentioned, is to make it natural and something I WILL do when an emergency arises. I won't go grabbing gears to try and slow myself down simply because that's the way I normally do it at stop signs and such. Now, keep in mind I'm talking about stopping, which was what the OP asked. Not tear assing around a race track, running the slolum in the twisties, or generally slowing down to take a curve, but stopping
People are creatures of habbit. Whatever you do the most often, you will do when your brain isn't fully engaged. I'm not saying engine braking is a bad thing, just that it has it's place, and IMHO, stopping at a light or sign may not be the best use of your fuel and engine
People are creatures of habbit. Whatever you do the most often, you will do when your brain isn't fully engaged. I'm not saying engine braking is a bad thing, just that it has it's place, and IMHO, stopping at a light or sign may not be the best use of your fuel and engine
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 928
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From: Redmond, WA
This is what they teach you to do in the Motorcycle Safety courses. As was mentioned earlier, you want to keep within the power band (rpm's to rear tire rotation) so that you are always ready to accelerate if/when necessary. Flashing your brake light periodically while slowing down is part of letting other vehicles know what your intentions are, same as signaling for turns, etc.
