Shifting down
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 486
Likes: 35
From: St. Louis Mo.
Shifting down
I was riding with a buddy on back the other day and later he said he did not think it was good for the bike to downshift instead of using brakes. I thought it was the preferred way to ride. What do you think?
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 233
Likes: 9
I shift down very often. I use shift down to slow down bike speed. I shift down only when the speed is slightly higher than the speed I shift up. For example, I shift up to the 4th gear usually at around 45 to 50mph. So I shift down the 3rd gear when speed is about drop to 50mph.
When I have to slow the bike quickly, I use brake and downshift together.
When I have to slow the bike quickly, I use brake and downshift together.
Last edited by hpotter; Sep 9, 2013 at 10:17 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 92
Likes: 7
From: Nevada Sierras
I would recommend you are mindful to do some searching and reading on this ...there are actually numerous factors to consider (being mindful of the different types of situations the rider will face - and that you respond to sudden situations based on how you train). I won't go into specifics because there are excellently thorough and consistent articles and such on the net that you will find from reputable authoritative sources and that need no reinterpretation (are disambiguous).
Briefly... I would caution not to confuse match-rev-braking with "using the engine to brake" a motorcycle - which latter technique 'technically' is not recommended for proper motorcycle handling in the majority of situations, for a number of reasons I am sure you will discover with scant searching.
Sorry to come across 'curt', its an excellent and important question... one I feel is better addressed in depth rather than diminished with oversimplified (or incomplete) replies.
Just my two-sense.
Good hunting ;^)
Briefly... I would caution not to confuse match-rev-braking with "using the engine to brake" a motorcycle - which latter technique 'technically' is not recommended for proper motorcycle handling in the majority of situations, for a number of reasons I am sure you will discover with scant searching.
Sorry to come across 'curt', its an excellent and important question... one I feel is better addressed in depth rather than diminished with oversimplified (or incomplete) replies.
Just my two-sense.
Good hunting ;^)
Last edited by twohawks; Sep 9, 2013 at 10:50 PM. Reason: changed two words
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 486
Likes: 35
From: St. Louis Mo.
I do not watch the speed and I do not have a tach. I just blip the throttle to try to match the engine speed to bike speed by sound and feel, pretty much like shifting up. Most of the time it's smooth, sometimes not. Most of the time I ride like I have good sense, sometimes not. If it blows I'll fix it.
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,167
Likes: 11
From: Belgium
Some riders fear to tear/batter their clutch by doing that way, while this the safer way to ride a bike. The bike is always full in control.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 207
Likes: 4
From: Germany
Nothing wrong with shifting down to slow whatever manual shifted vehicles. They've been built for this and used as such since their invention. You gotta do quite wrong to hurt the material, or in case of motorcycle ride dynamics to put you in danger (too low a gear, know to handle your clutch properly).
twohawks may have wanted to express something along the lines of quick deceleration when confronted w/ a surprise/sudden situation, but it looks to me that the same was not the intention or the OP's question. He may want to provide some of the reference he mentioned but did not link.
twohawks may have wanted to express something along the lines of quick deceleration when confronted w/ a surprise/sudden situation, but it looks to me that the same was not the intention or the OP's question. He may want to provide some of the reference he mentioned but did not link.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 7,138
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From: Southern Oregon
If you have ears who needs a tach... I use the engine to roll and I use it to slow. Other than when coming to a complete stop most of the time I use the brakes its only for signaling the cages behind me. Being able to judge the engine braking force paired with road condition (wet, dry, etc..) & the proper amount of applied brake is the key to avoid rear wheel lockup. If you don't think engine braking is safe its only because you dont know what your doing.