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Engine braking... Good or Bad?

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Old Aug 29, 2009 | 09:03 PM
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Question Engine braking... Good or Bad?
Alright fellers...(& ladies out there...)

I've been riding off & on for 20 years & just got an 883c (my 1st harley) after a 5 year stretch with no wheels.

Now I'm sure this has come up before... but...

Opinions on engine braking please...

Pros... Cons...

Why &/or why not


Thanks
 
Old Aug 29, 2009 | 09:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Lardog666
Alright fellers...(& ladies out there...)

I've been riding off & on for 20 years & just got an 883c (my 1st harley) after a 5 year stretch with no wheels.

Now I'm sure this has come up before... but...

Opinions on engine braking please...

Pros... Cons...

Why &/or why not


Thanks
Depends on whether you plan on pulling a 40 foot trailer behind it while going down very long, steep grades. You have to remember though, most towns and cities make you turn off the "jake brake" while going through town.
 
Old Aug 29, 2009 | 09:13 PM
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[QUOTE= most towns and cities make you turn off the "jake brake" while going through town.[/QUOTE]

True dat...

looking more for a mechanical perspective, however
 
Old Aug 29, 2009 | 09:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Lardog666
True dat...

looking more for a mechanical perspective, however
Seriously, I see no reason for an engine brake. Seems like wasted chrome money to me. Considering you will probably get close to 30K on your stock brakes, I don't see the money investment.
 
Last edited by JerryL....; Aug 29, 2009 at 09:45 PM.
Old Aug 29, 2009 | 09:45 PM
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Nothing wrong with engine braking. Just don't down shift too soon IMHO.
 
Old Aug 29, 2009 | 10:03 PM
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Are you talking about adding an engine brake (used to run them on moto-x)? That's quite a bit of machining expense and not really worth it IMO... besides they make your bike sound like a goat fart.

Are you talking about regular engine compression while coasting down? That's normal and a good thing for control. Though you might want to buy the video "Ride Like A Pro" cause there are great skills to use on some curves, slow speed, and in crash avoidance situations that are a blend of braking/power/countersteering.
 
Old Aug 29, 2009 | 10:48 PM
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Use engine compression braking all you like! The piston and cylinders work hard under acceleration and can easily assist with breaking on deceleration as lubrication is always present.
 

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Old Aug 30, 2009 | 03:18 AM
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whats easier and cheaper to replace?
Brake pads or Engine?
Ride it the way YOU want. It's your bike.
Personaly, I only engine brake when absolutley nessessary.
 
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Old Aug 30, 2009 | 03:45 AM
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Originally Posted by DZLDR
whats easier and cheaper to replace?
Brake pads or Engine?
Ride it the way YOU want. It's your bike.
Personaly, I only engine brake when absolutley nessessary.
WHAT. "Engine braking" never hurt an engine if done right. It is still going up and down and round and round and going pow pow. There is more wear and tear on the tranny ,primary drive and final drive than the engine when "engine braking". When done in correlation with the brakes that is called "riding."
 
Old Aug 30, 2009 | 04:15 AM
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I do it all the time... though not so much for braking as being in the right gear at any one time... never know when you're gonna have to get out of the way in an instant and being in the right gear can make that move a little quicker.

Charlie D.
 



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