Engine Braking Sucks(?)
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 763
Likes: 1
From: North Edwards, CA
Duh
By the same token then, according to your logic, during normal riding conditions, acceleration (or even just maintaining a steady speed against air resistance, rolling resistance, etc) generates excessive wear on the engine, transmission, primary chain, and final drive belt.
1. The act of reducing your speed (either by using your brakes, or your drive train) requires
the body in motion (your scoot) to lose momentum. The brakes accomplish this with
friction (which generates heat and wear on the brake pad). Engine braking is not a free
lunch either (Their isn't one). It generates wear on the drive train. It can even generate
more force on the drive train (Depending on speed/load/distance/time) than the engine
does.
2. Several folks have attempted to draw a comparison between bikes and 18 wheelers.
There is a reason the Jake Brake was invented. Trucks can have too much load for
brakes to stop them without overheating. A Jacobs Engine brakes uses compressive
force in the cylinder to slow the truck. That saves wear and tear on a drive train.
3. During normal riding conditions your brakes (which happen to be less expensive & easier
to replace than any component of your drive train) are very capable of stopping your
bike.
In closing...yes normal riding generates wear on your drive train as well. I'm not sure how
that was "part of my logic". It is in fact true...I was just speaking about the wear of
braking. In any case, you're more than welcome to jam your throttle WFO...max out the
gear...and back off if you like. It'll make some big noise for ya. I just chose not to.
-clutch-
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,423
Likes: 0
From: Southern California High Desert, here and there....
OK, so we agree that normal riding such as accelerating or maintaining a steady velocity against the normal and various resistances to forward motion pose a wear and tear element to the drive train, and so does engine braking. Where I was being cute was in disagreeing with your assertion that engine braking under normal riding conditions constituted an excess wear and tear on the drive train. I contend that the drive train is engineered and designed to be well within normal operating parameters with engine braking under normal riding conditions. Furthermore, the amount of reverse load borne by the drive train under engine braking conditions is primarily a factor of the degree to which the reciprocating and rotating drive train components are resisted in their deceleration by the mass and momentum of the bike. The engine and other drive train components want to inherently slow down during engine braking due to their internal frictional losses, while the forward momentum of the entire bike including the drive train, occupants, and luggage conspire to try to keep the thing moving. Again, I contend that in so doing, under normal riding conditions, the drive train is operating within its design specifications, and therefore, the amount of wear and tear sustained is no excessive.
Now then, when do we set up that video shoot, then you owe me a few cold ones over at Norma's or Coaches, and a trailer lift back home
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 763
Likes: 1
From: North Edwards, CA
Cold One HOOAH!
-clutch-
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,423
Likes: 0
From: Southern California High Desert, here and there....
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,892
Likes: 2
From: DUNDALK,MARYLAND
By the same token then, according to your logic, during normal riding conditions, acceleration (or even just maintaining a steady speed against air resistance, rolling resistance, etc) generates excessive wear on the engine, transmission, primary chain, and final drive belt.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,423
Likes: 0
From: Southern California High Desert, here and there....
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 763
Likes: 1
From: North Edwards, CA
Ya lost me, not sure I understand the point you're trying to make. The bike is still moving forward during engine braking. Roll off a steady throttle even partially without pulling in the clutch and there is engine braking. The odometer is still logging miles. Next, why not argue you don't countersteer..
I think he must have been in one of them wrecks you talked about...cause from where I'm standing I heard him say, "uh eh 2 dogs um er fried taters movin speed"...what's hard to understand about that???
-clutch-
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Peoria, Illinois
Don't know if downshifting wears on tires, drive belts, or effects mpg. Don't know if it saves on brake pads or not......really don't care either way. When I am slowing down from 70 to 0 for a rural intersection I want to be in a correct gear at all times just in case I need to jump on the throttle for an emergency. Grew up driving stick shift cars/trucks the same way.
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