engine using to slow down
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,915
Likes: 5,929
From: NorCal
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.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,844
Likes: 938
From: Lincolnshire, IL
Sometimes I engine brake and sometimes I don't....BUT....I ALWAYS keep my cycle IN GEAR when stopped at an intersection. I was taught to do that as a safety measure, should I need to move quickly to avoid a rear end hit. Same goes for not stopping close behind another vehicle. Always important to maintain an "escape path" to help avoid a rear end hit.
Last edited by Rob175; Mar 24, 2022 at 09:59 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,131
Likes: 12,691
From: South Carolina
In over 50 years of riding motorcycles I have never worn out any driveline components by engine braking, in fact I never heard of any concerns about engine braking being bad on components until I got the internet.
You don`t just bang the gear down and dump the clutch, that`s not engine braking, that`s abuse.
You don`t just bang the gear down and dump the clutch, that`s not engine braking, that`s abuse.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Mar 24, 2022 at 11:16 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 565
From: TX
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.
I can't speak to your 60 years of driving but around here, between deer, drunks, teens, people not paying attention, people face timing while driving, 18 wheelers cutting people off left and right....it's the wild west.
I've never been in an accident but I wear a helmet. And a jacket/gloves etc.
I'm not saying you're wrong, just pointing out that there are completely valid reasons for down shifting. can be fuel savings, can be other reasons. to each their own
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 285
Likes: 37
From: Idaho
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