are not good for the engine. So what damage does this do?

 

I know lugging is bad. Didn't know it was bad to gear down and use the engine to slow you. I do that all the time. I will listen to the answers with great interest.

 

Lugging = bad. If you keep the rpms up, gearing down is no problem except for first gear. Don't do that.

 

The damage from lugging is to the crank. There's no real damage from engine braking, but you're putting load on the drivetrain as opposed to the brakes. Brakes tend to be cheaper to replace, but for me engine braking is more fun.

 

well the reason I mentioned engine braking,cuz one of the wizard service techs said it was not good to engine brake,I did not ask him why or what harm it does

 

Reasons not to lug your engine
1. loosening up the entire drive train from the compensator sprocket to
the transmission hub to the rear wheel pulley
2. premature wear on chains, belts, transmission
3. damage to the connecting rods
4. overheating & subsequent damage to valves & pistons
5. potential for shifting the flywheels at the crankpin
6. damage to the main bearings
7. dangerously low oil pressure
Downshifting if done properly will NOT damage your engine

 

Lugging the engine puts enormous strain on the lower end bearings in the engine. Many people don't know that bearing surfaces in an engine don't actually touch- there is a layer of oil between them known and a hydrodynamic wedge. When the mechanical load increases to a point where that layer isn't there anymore (lugging, detonation, etc) the bearing surfaces touch directly and begin to wear.

 

This was a great thread. I downshift all the time out of habit. Nice to know I am doing something right...for once.

 

I think the previous posters have explained well enough why lugging is bad and can cause damage.

As for engine braking, it may cause some additional wear that you wouldn't have if you pulled in the clutch and used only the brakes to stop, but I would classify that wear as perfectly normal engine wear just like starting the bike up, idling, cruising and accelerating.

The only actual damage that I could imagine from engine braking is if you downshift to the wrong gear, or otherwise do not match the engine RPM to the vehicle speed when downshifting.

 

Ok I know lugging a motor is bad but what is the point when you are lugging a motor.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe not lugging the motor is when you hit the throttle and you feel the power band right away.