Downshifting when hard braking
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Downshifting when hard braking
Found recently when coming to hard stop that the bike "kicks" down to a lower gear on it's own...
Scenario - When coming to a stop a little harder than usual; I pull the clutch in and hit the front and rear brake at the same time... and when this happens, I hear a loud "clunk" from the gear box and the bike shifts into the next lower gear on it's own... Because the clutch is pulled in there is no unsafe effect of lurching etc... it's simply un-nerving when this happens.
What can cause this to happen..?
Scenario - When coming to a stop a little harder than usual; I pull the clutch in and hit the front and rear brake at the same time... and when this happens, I hear a loud "clunk" from the gear box and the bike shifts into the next lower gear on it's own... Because the clutch is pulled in there is no unsafe effect of lurching etc... it's simply un-nerving when this happens.
What can cause this to happen..?
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
From: Castle Rock, CO
I came to a panic stop a couple of weeks ago when a bee flew into my helmet and got behind my sunglasses. Stopped in 6th gear, stayed in 6th gear - 2010 Limited. I guess I forgot to order the automatic downshifting option <lol>
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 963
Likes: 1
From: Bellefonte PA
That certainly does seem unusual. Question, maybe I've been doing it wrong all these years, but why would one pull the clutch in when hard braking? Aren't you better off with the bike still in gear under power using the engine compression to help you slow down?
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,177
From: Oxford, Nc
Not as much of a problem on 03 to 06, and never a problem on 99-02.
To the OP, something sounds WAY too loose in the tranny to shift by itself. Never experienced or heard of that until now.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 963
Likes: 1
From: Bellefonte PA
[QUOTE=Stiggy;8746541]Engine braking to slow down gently on 07 and later models is OK. Severe stopping with the engine 'engaged' can damaged the crankshaft alignment.
Not as much of a problem on 03 to 06, and never a problem on 99-02.
Interesting. Is this due to crank tolerances? I have always been of the mindset with all vehicles cars,trucks, bikes etc, that "neutral" stopping was not ideal.
Not as much of a problem on 03 to 06, and never a problem on 99-02.
Interesting. Is this due to crank tolerances? I have always been of the mindset with all vehicles cars,trucks, bikes etc, that "neutral" stopping was not ideal.