coasting downhill in neutral
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 11,175
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From: Nor Cal
It took 0.05 seconds to check ...and it was quite awhile ago
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 4,683
Likes: 3,977
From: Near Yosemite
I may be doing this wrong, but if I have to slam my brakes on for a deer or something, I'm pulling my clutch in automatically so my engine doesn't lug/bog down/stall and add an extra problem into the equation of trying to stop quickly and handle any steering maneuvers that may need to be addressed. So what's the difference between that and slamming my brakes on in an emergency with the bike idling downhill in neutral or in gear with the clutch pulled in? I'm still using brakes only. I also do deer and dogs the same way I do they idiots in the city down in the valley when I need to be noticed....... pop that throttle son! And if you want it really loud, you better have it in neutral or the clutch in anyhow, right? Just my opinion.......... and my bike.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: 48.067222,12.863611
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,264
Likes: 690
From: WESTERN CHICAGO AREA
I was in my office at the time and have to sneak in quick checks every now and then, so I don't have the time to look up every post. I kinda figured I must have, otherwise it wouldn't have popped up in my in basket.
Glad to see you do have the time to look up other people's posts for them. I really didn't think it was that important, but thanks anyway.
Heck, it takes me 4 or 5 seconds just to log in to the web site. For the record, I am computer challenged.
Last edited by GARY DYER; Apr 5, 2018 at 01:25 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 783
Likes: 126
From: East Coast
Coasted down hill a few times, clutch in, 4-5th, selected-maybe 40-45+ MPH. The engine was at idle during the descent. When I coasted up to a stop, clutch dis-engaged, the engine wouldn't idle. Restarted, geared up normally and all good.
Novice
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 16
Likes: 2
I may be doing this wrong, but if I have to slam my brakes on for a deer or something, I'm pulling my clutch in automatically so my engine doesn't lug/bog down/stall and add an extra problem into the equation of trying to stop quickly and handle any steering maneuvers that may need to be addressed.
When I was teaching my wife to ride, she had a habit of just letting go whenever things got hairy. I told her that by doing that, she's not only not braking, but she's keeping power to the rear wheel. Advised her that in an emergency, she should be pulling both levers in to (1) apply the brakes, and (2) remove power from the rear wheel. If she has the where-with-all, she should also downshift to be ready to take off again if necessary.
Just my 2-cents.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,399
Likes: 8,509
From: Spartan Country, Michigan
I don't get to travel mountainous regions much, so if I can pull the clutch in and coast, I'm gonna do that. Engine runs, bike in gear, clutch disengaged. I have ridden several miles like this. If I see that I'm holding up traffic or creating a problem, let clutch out and use the engine to maintain a speed. I have never gone more than a mile or two at a time. I would never shut down the engine nor slide into neutral. And I damn sure don't criticize a person for their resurrection of an old post or the fact they don't post much!
there...I'm done!
there...I'm done!
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Edmond Oklahoma
This is my first time to see this thread. I found it interesting for learning how the engine system works. I do wonder if a pre 08 engine would operate different than the more computerized newer bikes?
Beary
Beary
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,286
Likes: 3,431
From: Idaho Panhandle
From Green Car Reports:
The way a driver operates a car can produce very different fuel-economy numbers, and when driving downhill, two notable techniques come into play.
The first is leaving the car in gear and using so-called engine braking to provide at least some deceleration. But many believe putting a car in neutral uses less fuel, followed by use of the brakes to slow as needed.
Is one way more efficient than the other? There's an explanation, but it depends on the particular driving situation.
Most of the time in normal driving situations, just leaving the car in gear is the best way to maximize fuel economy.
Per a video from Engineering Explained, the engine cuts the fuel injection when the car moves down a hill; at various times, the engine will use no fuel at all to power the engine, since the wheels themselves—connected to a transmission—make the engine spin.
Contrast this with putting the car in neutral and leaving the engine running. Video viewers will notice fuel economy actually drops while moving downhill.
Since the engine is effectively at idle, fuel enters the combustion chamber to keep the engine powered, unlike the engine-brake scenario.
The amount of fuel used is minimal, to keep the engine at idle rpm, but it does result in significantly lower fuel-economy figures while in neutral.
The entire article and video available here.
https://www.greencarreports.com/news...coasting-video
The way a driver operates a car can produce very different fuel-economy numbers, and when driving downhill, two notable techniques come into play.
The first is leaving the car in gear and using so-called engine braking to provide at least some deceleration. But many believe putting a car in neutral uses less fuel, followed by use of the brakes to slow as needed.
Is one way more efficient than the other? There's an explanation, but it depends on the particular driving situation.
Most of the time in normal driving situations, just leaving the car in gear is the best way to maximize fuel economy.
Per a video from Engineering Explained, the engine cuts the fuel injection when the car moves down a hill; at various times, the engine will use no fuel at all to power the engine, since the wheels themselves—connected to a transmission—make the engine spin.
Contrast this with putting the car in neutral and leaving the engine running. Video viewers will notice fuel economy actually drops while moving downhill.
Since the engine is effectively at idle, fuel enters the combustion chamber to keep the engine powered, unlike the engine-brake scenario.
The amount of fuel used is minimal, to keep the engine at idle rpm, but it does result in significantly lower fuel-economy figures while in neutral.
The entire article and video available here.
https://www.greencarreports.com/news...coasting-video
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