I've been asking a lot of questions lately but as I'm new to the Wild World of Motorcycles, I figure the more information I can get the better. I also don't know all that much and want to be as good to my engine as possible so if some of my questions seem dumb, sorry. So here's a couple questions for you guys to see what you have to say and what your riding habits are like. P.S. I ride a 2012 Iron so all these questions pertain to that Bike.

1. When coming to a stop do you Pull in the clutch and downshift into first or decelerate through the gears and downshift as you go letting the bike stop itself? Is either method harder on Engine?

2. If you just pull in the clutch, do you wait until you've stopped to downshift through the gears into first or do you do it as soon as you pull in the clutch knowing you're going to have to come to a stop?

3. When coming to a stop, Does anybody just pull in the clutch, downshift into Neutral, release the clutch and then coast/brake to a stop? Or is this method bad for the Engine?

4. Is it any harder on the engine to go into neutral from 2nd gear (downshift into neutral) as opposed to Downshifting into 1st then shifting up into neutral?

5. When stopped do you put your bike in Neutral or remain in 1st holding in the clutch?

6. I've read online that Sportsters are geared high so I should Feather/Slip the Clutch in first gear so I don't lug the engine. About what speed do you disengage the clutch completely? I know some will say "listen to the engine" and I'm trying to do just that, but right now I'm using speed as a crude starting point to develop my "Ride Style"

7. I'm a little scared that I've been riding my Bike incorrectly and am damaging it. I'm naturally a paranoid person and even more so when it comes to something like a new Motorcycle that's something I cherish. I've put almost 500 miles on it so far. Are modern Harley engines built pretty damn tough or is it fairly easy to do damage to them?



And a question on wrenching.

-How hard is it to change my Chain Inspection Cover? It seems like it would be just unscrew, replace gasket, screw back in. Is it this simple?



Sorry for all the questions but this forum is the best resource I've found on my Bike.

Thanks so much guys!

 

i am not one to bang thru gears coming to a stop,just ease it.

sittin at a light your best chance to live is to keep clutch pulled in.

and dont lug that motor give her some throttle man

Chain Inspection Cover i know which one that is but do you? 6" round wrong little one with 2 bolts correct

 

I will try to answer your questions as best as I can but I'm sure other will have slightly different views on riding style.

When coming to a stop you want to down shift through each gear individually that way if you do need to hit the throttle for any reason such as getting out of trouble you are able to do so and in the right gear. If you are doing 50, pull in the clutch and down shift all the way to first because you are coming to a red light and something unforeseen happens you are kinda screwed.

When sitting at a light, if I know Im gonna be there longer than about 15 seconds because there's a lot of cars around and the signal is on long cycles I put it in neutral and rest my arms. If i think its going to be a quick light I keep it in gear.

When starting out in first your goal is just a smooth takeoff, don't pop the clutch or rev it high, just find that friction zone of the clutch and when the bike starts to move forward ease on the throttle smoothly.

It should be just as easy when at a stop to go from second to neutral as it is to go from first to neutral. You just need to know how far to move your shift lever.

All of these things are all about feel and how comfortable you are with your bike, which comes with time. You will figure all this stuff out and find your own ways of doing things. As long as you keep up with engine maintenance it will last forever.

 

I'm not a pro, just a guy who's done a fair amount of riding over the years without damaging an engine...

Rather than answer all those questions, I'll just tell you my technique. Honestly, the answer to your questions it probably "it doesn't matter" as far as engine damage. Modern Harley engines are pretty tough.

I usually down shift through the gears when slowing to a stop if I can, releasing the clutch slowly as I go down through the gears. I've heard this increases wear on the tires, but decreases wear on the brake pads, kind of a wash if you ask me. Obviously if I need to stop quickly, I just pull in the clutch, hold it in, and brake.

The only time I shift into neutral at a stop is if I'm at a light I know is long, or a railroad crossing or something. I try not to, because if you think about it, if something happens and you need to get out of the way quickly, like someone coming up behind you not paying attention, you want to be in gear in order to quickly move.

I don't think you damage the engine shifting from first to neutral, or from second to neutral. Taking off from a stop in second gear will lug the engine pretty good, I've done this a few times (not on purpose ha ha).

Feathering the clutch... I try to do it as much as I can at slow speeds, you can't ride in a busy parking lot for example with the clutch fully out without lugging the engine badly. These wet clutches, feathering it like that doesn't hurt 'em at all. I've noticed I have to feather it a lot more when riding two up, which makes sense with the extra load (don't tell my wife I called her an "extra load").

I have an '06, but I think the chain inspection cover is the same. Two screws, hex socket head I believe, and the cover comes off. The gasket fits over the whole back side of the metal cover. I have never replaced my gasket, just wiped it off and inspected it for any tears or damage, then reinstalled it. When I change my transmission fluid, I fill it through that inspection cover.

Best thing you can do for the engine is keep the oil and other fluids changed. Break it in right, it sounds like you are on top of that.

 

So Helpful! I appreciate it guys. I'm just trying to see what the best methods to maintain your engine health are but it sounds like each are equally alright.

Anyone else have any input?

 

Theres a 20 page thread on here that talks about it. Opinions all over the map.........develop your own opinion

 

I agree with the others, you just gently downshift through the gears. I have heard the argument that just braking is less wear on the clutch, and brake pads are cheaper than a clutch pack. I think it's a wash.

I generally shift in to neutral when stopped at a light. Keeping the clutch disengaged does cause some friction heating to the plates, or so I've heard about the big twins. I just find it more comfortable to have stress off my hand while waiting. I can see the other viewpoint too about being able to get out of sudden trouble. This might be a wash, too.

When engaging, just get off the clutch as soon as practical. Different conditions (hills, wet, ice, mud, etc.) dictate different launch technique.

John

 

I think the answer will be depended on how far you have before stop.
1) very far: then shift down each gear to have engine slow down the bike
2) no far and no any possible interruptions:then shift directly to neutral gear and use brake to stop bike
3) less than 10 feet: pull in clutch lever, and stop it with both brake immediately at same time. you probably got no time to shift gear,

 

When I took my motorcycle road test this is the only thing I lost marks for (coasting to a stop with the clutch in). The examiner told me if you need to panic stop it is better to be in a lower gear and in gear.
I didn't even realize I was doing it. Usually I just slowly downshift through the gears when coming to a stop.

 

I shift down through the gears, to always be in proper gear if I need to make a panic acceleration.

If shifting into neutral, you should always downshift to 1st and then back up. I can't really explain the technical reasons for this, but it has to do with the way the gears mesh together.

I do occasionally shift into neutral when sitting at a traffic light. I only do that after a cage or 2 is behind me. I have a Screamin Eagle clutch in my Sporty. That thing is a stiff pull, and gets to be difficult to hold in all the time if in heavy traffic.

As far as that 883 engine, it's tougher than nails. I replaced my 883 engine at 65,000 miles. The inside of that engine looked as good as new. I've showed those engine parts to guys that work on engines all they time. They can't believe the engine had 65,000 miles.

Just don't lug the engine, and do proper regular maintenance.