engine using to slow down
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,673
Likes: 2,079
From: Massachusetts
Just dont do a mechanical over rev. Do the downshift into the next lower gear only, to ensure you keep the refs down. O;ce you get good at it you can do multiple gear downshifts...if the revs are low enough.
i use engine breaking all the time, and always have on manual transmission vehicles...and even on my car with paddle shifters.
When street racing my Datsun 240z years ago, I did an accidental mechanical over rev...and it survived. But, I dont advocate doing that. Not all motors can take that,
Edit: Oh yeah. Its best to slip the clutch out after down shifting. Dont just down shift and let the clutch fly. That can temporary key slide the rear tire, and/or throw a valve through the gas tank.
i use engine breaking all the time, and always have on manual transmission vehicles...and even on my car with paddle shifters.
When street racing my Datsun 240z years ago, I did an accidental mechanical over rev...and it survived. But, I dont advocate doing that. Not all motors can take that,
Edit: Oh yeah. Its best to slip the clutch out after down shifting. Dont just down shift and let the clutch fly. That can temporary key slide the rear tire, and/or throw a valve through the gas tank.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,673
Likes: 2,079
From: Massachusetts
Double clutching does more to minimize wear on the synchronizers in the transmission than to save wear on the clutch RPM matching minimizes wear on the clutch but that takes lots of practice and the clutch wears each time until the skill is well established. Any time the clutch plates slip against each other they are wearing regardless if it is an up-shift or down-shift. Years ago I decided that the clutch was primarily to "go" and the brakes were primarily to stop. Brakes are far cheaper and easier to change than clutches. Planning a stop far in advance so you can COAST to a lower speed saves gas AND brakes.
Using a lower gear when going down a long hill is still recommended more to prevent brake over heating and loss of brake function. Many enjoy down-shifting for engine braking as they slow but it saves little if anything in the overall cost of operation. If you blip the throttle to rpm match with EACH down shift, that slightly increases fuel consumption likely cancelling out what you might save on brakes. Motorcycles don't have neutral between EACH gear so double clutching isn't even available. The dog that engages each gear gets slammed pretty hard when down-shifting just as it does when up-shifting adding wear to the transmission as well as the clutch. If you enjoy doing it, that is your choice, but it isn't free.
Using a lower gear when going down a long hill is still recommended more to prevent brake over heating and loss of brake function. Many enjoy down-shifting for engine braking as they slow but it saves little if anything in the overall cost of operation. If you blip the throttle to rpm match with EACH down shift, that slightly increases fuel consumption likely cancelling out what you might save on brakes. Motorcycles don't have neutral between EACH gear so double clutching isn't even available. The dog that engages each gear gets slammed pretty hard when down-shifting just as it does when up-shifting adding wear to the transmission as well as the clutch. If you enjoy doing it, that is your choice, but it isn't free.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 565
From: TX
Double clutching does more to minimize wear on the synchronizers in the transmission than to save wear on the clutch RPM matching minimizes wear on the clutch but that takes lots of practice and the clutch wears each time until the skill is well established. Any time the clutch plates slip against each other they are wearing regardless if it is an up-shift or down-shift. Years ago I decided that the clutch was primarily to "go" and the brakes were primarily to stop. Brakes are far cheaper and easier to change than clutches. Planning a stop far in advance so you can COAST to a lower speed saves gas AND brakes.
Using a lower gear when going down a long hill is still recommended more to prevent brake over heating and loss of brake function. Many enjoy down-shifting for engine braking as they slow but it saves little if anything in the overall cost of operation. If you blip the throttle to rpm match with EACH down shift, that slightly increases fuel consumption likely cancelling out what you might save on brakes. Motorcycles don't have neutral between EACH gear so double clutching isn't even available. The dog that engages each gear gets slammed pretty hard when down-shifting just as it does when up-shifting adding wear to the transmission as well as the clutch. If you enjoy doing it, that is your choice, but it isn't free.
Using a lower gear when going down a long hill is still recommended more to prevent brake over heating and loss of brake function. Many enjoy down-shifting for engine braking as they slow but it saves little if anything in the overall cost of operation. If you blip the throttle to rpm match with EACH down shift, that slightly increases fuel consumption likely cancelling out what you might save on brakes. Motorcycles don't have neutral between EACH gear so double clutching isn't even available. The dog that engages each gear gets slammed pretty hard when down-shifting just as it does when up-shifting adding wear to the transmission as well as the clutch. If you enjoy doing it, that is your choice, but it isn't free.
as for motorcycles, and even in my stang, I don't like coasting out of gear or in wrong gear. If you coast and are in neutral it's that much longer to re engage and get back in to gear if you are needing quick acceleration. And even longer/worse if you are in a high gear and coasting. If you're in 6th and need to punch it while the bike is at 30 MPH....good luck. If you've downshifted and are in 3rd or to me preferably even 2nd, then you have instant power if you need to make an evasive maneuver.
I've been driving a manual exclusively for the last 5 years with my car and then harley's for 3 years i guess. far from an expert or anything but that's my take on it. i downshift at least 90% of the time and blip it. only times i absolutely dont is if I'm by a cop while slowing down or maybe sometimes i'll downshift 2 gears and hold the clutch in just a bit longer but that's not at all often
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 2,877
From: Oklahoma
Double clutching came about many years ago, as there was no such thing as synchronized transmissions. You literally couldn't shift the transmission unless you did that ( when using the clutch) As life long driver of trucks,it is far easier to rev match and shift without the clutch altogether than play with the clutch all day. Some trucks have clutch brakes as well, but not relevant to motorcycles.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 2,877
From: Oklahoma
Quote: "
as for motorcycles, and even in my stang, I don't like coasting out of gear or in wrong gear. If you coast and are in neutral it's that much longer to re engage and get back in to gear if you are needing quick acceleration. And even longer/worse if you are in a high gear and coasting. If you're in 6th and need to punch it while the bike is at 30 MPH....good luck. If you've downshifted and are in 3rd or to me preferably even 2nd, then you have instant power if you need to make an evasive maneuver."
Never meant to suggest coasting out of gear, just closing the throttle far enough back from the stop so the engine can slow you down for awhile before applying the brakes to complete the stop. In 60+ years of driving I have never had to use a sudden burst of power to avoid an accident while slowing for a stop. I'm not saying the situation is impossible, it just has never happened to me. Rationalize your driving technique as you like.
as for motorcycles, and even in my stang, I don't like coasting out of gear or in wrong gear. If you coast and are in neutral it's that much longer to re engage and get back in to gear if you are needing quick acceleration. And even longer/worse if you are in a high gear and coasting. If you're in 6th and need to punch it while the bike is at 30 MPH....good luck. If you've downshifted and are in 3rd or to me preferably even 2nd, then you have instant power if you need to make an evasive maneuver."
Never meant to suggest coasting out of gear, just closing the throttle far enough back from the stop so the engine can slow you down for awhile before applying the brakes to complete the stop. In 60+ years of driving I have never had to use a sudden burst of power to avoid an accident while slowing for a stop. I'm not saying the situation is impossible, it just has never happened to me. Rationalize your driving technique as you like.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,915
Likes: 5,929
From: NorCal
https://www.influencive.com/how-to-r...ginners-guide/
and this one...
https://cruisingape.com/should-you-downshift-when-stopping-motorcycle
and this one...
https://cruisingape.com/should-you-downshift-when-stopping-motorcycle
Last edited by brakeless; Mar 23, 2022 at 06:43 PM.