Of course increasing RPM's when downshifting does something. It matches the speed of the rear wheel to the speed of the engine/drivetrain. If one downshifts without increasing RPM's of the engine a greater force would be applied to the rear wheel slowing it down quicker as the engine resists the increase in speed. When the rear wheel is slowed like that one runs the risk of losing traction. The purpose is to keep that slowing of the rear wheel gradual, the rpm's go up, shift, let out clutch, the engine speed matches the rear wheel speed, as the rpms go back down the engine breaking occurs without a sudden jolt and a reduced chance of locking up the rear wheel. It is the exact same reason an even application of increased force on the rear brake is much safer then slamming the rear brake on all at once. It becomes more obvious if one is racing a vehicle off road or on a very loose surface. I get some people not doing it because it is not "required", but to say it does nothing is absolutely wrong.

If you do not believe me look up what a slipper clutch does for a race bike, it serves the same purpose. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slipper_clutch

I drove a truck for a while and I always used the clutch when downshifting and I increased engine speed for the same reason I do on a bike. To avoid losing traction on the real wheels and sliding. It had nothing to do with not using the clutch, nothing at all.

 

The only discrepancy I have is that you should ALREADY be in first gear when you stop. OP should take a basic rider's course - you'll learn all about it.

I never engine brake my Harley. I don't want to put the extra strain on it and it's just not necessary. IE: more harm than good.

 

also if you rev the throttle while youre are letting out the clutch...having just dropped to a lower gear.....and you happen to rev to much you will most likely find yourself in some trouble.----make sure youre easy on the throttle.Real easy.



also people are talking about two separate topics here really.....are we talking about down shifting to stop quicker? Down shifting so perfect that no one can feel it? These are similar but not quite the same.

 

I respectfully disagree, as I suspect any who use rev-matching would.
As Reddogg said, it helps you to maintain vehicle stability not only in coming to a stop but in the many situations which arise on the road. For example downshifting at speed before entering an on ramp. Rev matching makes the transition to a lower speed much smoother and by extension makes you a smoother, safer and better rider.
Try it once and ask your passenger if they noticed a difference.
Better yet, don't rev-match the next time you are driving a manual transmission car and watch your passengers heads jerk forwards and back as you just 'let out the clutch' (and understand you are doing the same thing to your vehicles suspension).

I find there are generally reasons why professional drivers universally employ certain techniques...

 

about the best answer so far, no need for "blipping" the throttle, most really do it cuz they think it sounds cool. it is a throwback to unsynchronized transmissions that would do nothing but grind when you tried to shift unless your transmission and engine were within a small difference of speed from each other, so you "blipped" the throttle and caught the gear as it went through the rpm range. doing this will also let you shift gears with out using the clutch.

I myself gear down, but do not blip the engine, I find having clutch and throttle co-ordination makes a smooth transition with no jerking.

Steve

 

I agree. Truth is, I usually am in 1st gear when I stop, but for simplicity sake I explained it the way I did because the OP needs to get the basics down in small bites. It goes back to the old gearbox days when you didn't want to prematurely wear the 1st gear synchros. Truth is I hit first just as I roll to the stop, but I don't rev match like I did in previous gears because I keep the clutch in of course.

On engine braking - When you momentarily blip the throttle (for reasons mentioned by many on this thread) it simply gets your engine up to the same speed as the drivelin - key word - momentarily. You immediately let off the throttle and slow the bike using "engine braking". IT is much smoother, better for the bike, and better for maintaining control of your bike. But, you should always use both brakes in conjunction with engine braking. You don't want that back tire to skid.

To the OP - in internetland you will get all kinds of advice. Good and bad. And as another put it - I don't mean to be a dick but......

I'm sorry, to just let the clutch out is bad form. That is not "engine braking", that is wearing the clutch and exhibiting an unfamiliarity with riding and riding dynamics. You may get away with it for a long time, but eventually, on a rainy day, or on pavement irregularities, the bad form you have gotten used to can bite you in the a$$. Attend any driver's or rider's school and the instructors will be all over your sh*t if you do not rev match. Been there.

Best advice you have received in this thread - take a riders course. Learn from real experts - not internet experts. A book I'm re-reading - David Hough's "Profficient MOtorcycling" covers this topic and more. Money well spent imo.

 

Yeah, I think the only place one can go to ask about motorcycling in which they may get a worse answer then their local watering hole is an internet forum.

 

I guess I never really thought about this much. I just drop down through the gears until I get to 2nd, then come to a stop. I shift into 1st and wait unitl it's time to move on. Sometimes I blip the throttle just to hear the motor bark, but it has nothing to do with the braking and slow down operation. And, sometimes I sit at a stop and blip the throttle a few times just to hear the engine bark some more, but by that time I've already come to a stop, so all I'm doing at that point is being a menace.

I agree with Thundermug, there's no need to blip the throttle, just let the clutch out. The only reason anyone would blip the throttle is to hear the engine bark.

But, someone else mentioned that they like to be in 1st gear before they come to a stop just in case they need to make a quick get-away. That makes sense, so I'll keep that little nugget in mind .... thanks passea!


Mike

 

If I don't downshift the Ironhead, stopping takes a looooong time lol

 

I don't do the rev matching thing, I simply down shift at the proper time, Just like up shifting. Be one with the bike.
When I come to a stop then I rev the engine a few times to get peoples attention.