Rear Braking & Downshifting?
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: winter spring,fl
Rear Braking & Downshifting?
First I know the 80% of your braking is from the front wheel. I have a 09 Street Glide with ABS
When I am braking hard with my rear brake I cannot downshift without releasing some of the rear brake. Yesterday I needed to slow down quickly so I used both brakes. The only way I could keep downshifting was to release the rear brake? This has happened before? I was taught when braking to avoid something also downshift so you have power to get out of whatever you needed to slow down for. I would think I could possibly use either brake & be able to downshift if needed? Anyone else have this problem/fix? Why is braking effecting the Tranny?
When I am braking hard with my rear brake I cannot downshift without releasing some of the rear brake. Yesterday I needed to slow down quickly so I used both brakes. The only way I could keep downshifting was to release the rear brake? This has happened before? I was taught when braking to avoid something also downshift so you have power to get out of whatever you needed to slow down for. I would think I could possibly use either brake & be able to downshift if needed? Anyone else have this problem/fix? Why is braking effecting the Tranny?
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 886
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From: Virginia
It's not a bad thing taking these classes. I have been riding on and off since I was 11 on dirt bikes. I took the Experienced Riders Course a few years ago and still learned something. If I purchased another bike I would take it again with that bike. It's a wise idea to know as much as possible about controlling your bike and being able to react in panic situations.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
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every military base i was stationed at required you to pass their own advanced riding course to get your privilege to ride on base......that makes 4 advanced riding programs i have attended......i learned something new at each of them and they have saved me from accidents on at least 3 occasions that qualify as panic situations......the only reason i knew what to do was because of those courses....I highly recommend them
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,383
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From: Texas City, TX
First I know the 80% of your braking is from the front wheel. I have a 09 Street Glide with ABS
When I am braking hard with my rear brake I cannot downshift without releasing some of the rear brake. Yesterday I needed to slow down quickly so I used both brakes. The only way I could keep downshifting was to release the rear brake? This has happened before? I was taught when braking to avoid something also downshift so you have power to get out of whatever you needed to slow down for. I would think I could possibly use either brake & be able to downshift if needed? Anyone else have this problem/fix? Why is braking effecting the Tranny?
When I am braking hard with my rear brake I cannot downshift without releasing some of the rear brake. Yesterday I needed to slow down quickly so I used both brakes. The only way I could keep downshifting was to release the rear brake? This has happened before? I was taught when braking to avoid something also downshift so you have power to get out of whatever you needed to slow down for. I would think I could possibly use either brake & be able to downshift if needed? Anyone else have this problem/fix? Why is braking effecting the Tranny?
It's important to downshift as you slow down so don't worry about that. Just try to be a bit more deliberate about catching each gear and then getting completely off the shift lever so the shift mechanisms can reset for the next gear change, whichever direction that change needs to be. We only seem to see this problem while downshifting. I think that's primarily because downshifting is the only time when we're likely to make a multiple gear changes (say, 5th to 2nd) at one time. We almost never do this while upshifting.
Hope this makes sense!
Ride Safe,
Steve R.
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Tourer
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From: winter spring,fl
Hog Yild
The problem is the tranny will not physically let me downshift if I am braking hard with the rear brake (as said I know front is 80% of braking power). I was using both brakes when I discovered the problem. Try braking with just your rear brake & see if it does the same with yours? Any other bike I have had did not do this non do I think it should? Will talk with the dealer next weekend.
The problem is the tranny will not physically let me downshift if I am braking hard with the rear brake (as said I know front is 80% of braking power). I was using both brakes when I discovered the problem. Try braking with just your rear brake & see if it does the same with yours? Any other bike I have had did not do this non do I think it should? Will talk with the dealer next weekend.
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 757
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From: Ontario, Canada
Regardless, if you are in need of braking hard, then forget about downshifting as it is pretty obvious that you are in a more important situation. Once you get your speed down quickly, do your downshifting before you stop, or once you stop.
Last edited by cmhfguy; Sep 27, 2009 at 06:55 PM.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 886
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From: Virginia
Hog Yild
The problem is the tranny will not physically let me downshift if I am braking hard with the rear brake (as said I know front is 80% of braking power). I was using both brakes when I discovered the problem. Try braking with just your rear brake & see if it does the same with yours? Any other bike I have had did not do this non do I think it should? Will talk with the dealer next weekend.
The problem is the tranny will not physically let me downshift if I am braking hard with the rear brake (as said I know front is 80% of braking power). I was using both brakes when I discovered the problem. Try braking with just your rear brake & see if it does the same with yours? Any other bike I have had did not do this non do I think it should? Will talk with the dealer next weekend.
