Down shift or brake?
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 13
From: Fredericksburg,VA
You're right about 99% of that. you missed the two fingers on the front brake; you should always use the front brake when stopping unless you need to brake in a turn on loose material.
also, once stopped, I routinely put both feet down when riding 2-up. My bike, fully loaded with me and my wife on board is pushing 1300 lbs....holding that up with only my left leg is tiring to say the least. nothing wrong with having both feet down, just keep the front brake on.
....and BTW, if that Escalade hits you, you are in big trouble no matter what brakes you might have applied. best advice is to watch the rear view and be ready to move.
for the record, after 40 years and 36 bikes, I'm far from a novice.
Carry on.
Dave
also, once stopped, I routinely put both feet down when riding 2-up. My bike, fully loaded with me and my wife on board is pushing 1300 lbs....holding that up with only my left leg is tiring to say the least. nothing wrong with having both feet down, just keep the front brake on.
....and BTW, if that Escalade hits you, you are in big trouble no matter what brakes you might have applied. best advice is to watch the rear view and be ready to move.
for the record, after 40 years and 36 bikes, I'm far from a novice.
Carry on.
Dave
I'm talking about guys I've seen who put their feet down before they even come to a stop and yes I keep at least 2 fingers on the front brake anytime in the twisty's or a heavy traffic area.
Ride Safe,
TC
Last edited by Thundercloud; Jun 6, 2013 at 08:31 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 535
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach
To say that you should ALWAYS come to a stop with the left foot on the ground and the right foot on the brake is a total crock of ****. Every stop has to be evaluated. If you live by that rule and you get into a good cross wind or a slanted road, then you're going down. I have many different techniques for stopping and they are all situation dependent.
And yes, I often will put both my feet on the ground and rest my arms at a long signal light. Give me a friggin break.
And yes, I often will put both my feet on the ground and rest my arms at a long signal light. Give me a friggin break.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
From: b.c.
From the number of years you've ridden and bikes you've own, I would say you are from a novice, and I agree when fully loaded and with my wife riding with me, I sometimes use both feet when stopped, and let me clarify, just in case she were to ever see this post, she is 4'!!' and about 103 lbs, so i really never notice her on the back. LOL!!!
I'm talking about guys I've seen who put their feet down before they even come to a stop and yes I keep at least 2 fingers on the front brake anytime in the twisty's or a heavy traffic area.
Ride Safe,
TC
I'm talking about guys I've seen who put their feet down before they even come to a stop and yes I keep at least 2 fingers on the front brake anytime in the twisty's or a heavy traffic area.
Ride Safe,
TC
Also to be clear my wife is 5ft 3 and 110, its the 925lb bike, and all the gear, not the little woman!
Cheers,
Dave
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,671
Likes: 11
From: sequim, wa
I shift up through the gears and shift back down. just like a my car or truck! Brake when necessary. Number of transmisions and engines blown to hell by shifting down...(that I have heard of)....0! Amount of fuel saved by coasting to a stop...who the hell cares. 
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 7,138
Likes: 26
From: Southern Oregon
Pastime, I do think that is an interesting post on braking and down shifting. It has really never crossed my mind to multitask like that. Now that is talent. Brake right foot and left hand while clutching and shifting. I would assume you do not match the throttle slightly for that type of downshifting. What gets me is how this can be safe since engine braking is only rear wheel and if you are trying to get stopped in a hurry, ever downshift would require compensation by your right foot.
Note; When I'm engine braking, depending on the situation I do use both brakes at times, especially when the bike is upright and I'm wanting to dump speed in a hurry. Ive eluded a few cops in my days lol
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 7,138
Likes: 26
From: Southern Oregon
transmissions cost less than brake pads????
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As far as I know, engine braking uses nearly no fuel since because the air intake is nearly closed, the ECU makes the injectors to send only the smallest possible amount of fuel.
From what I've understood of engine braking, the engine brakes because of the vacuum created by the lack of air at the intake and I guess that is why engine braking can be noisy since the flow of air is troubled and is probably at a pressure lower than the ambient pressure. (I don't know what happens exactly in the exhaust)
But the oil pump continues to run and lub, and the amount of detonated fuel is low so the stress on the piston/cylinder should be lower than when running at the same RPM in 'normal condition' (going forward by burning fuel).
Also when braking with the engine, the load on the teeth of the gears is on the opposite side of the normal condition : if some gear fails it won't be because of engine braking but because of the wear of normal use. (unless you go into the RPM red zone)
Downshifting also helps keeping the brakes at a reasonable temp and is mandatory when riding/driving over mountains.
Years ago I had two clutch rebuilds on two BMW (bikes), but at the expected mileage (at about 70K km: the mechanic told me in both cases that this was a 'normal' mileage for a clutch rebuild ). I rode the first bike mainly in flat areas, the other mainly in mountainous areas and had to use a lot more engine braking/downshifting than on the first one. And I never had any engine problem (piston/segment/etc).
From what I've understood of engine braking, the engine brakes because of the vacuum created by the lack of air at the intake and I guess that is why engine braking can be noisy since the flow of air is troubled and is probably at a pressure lower than the ambient pressure. (I don't know what happens exactly in the exhaust)
But the oil pump continues to run and lub, and the amount of detonated fuel is low so the stress on the piston/cylinder should be lower than when running at the same RPM in 'normal condition' (going forward by burning fuel).
Also when braking with the engine, the load on the teeth of the gears is on the opposite side of the normal condition : if some gear fails it won't be because of engine braking but because of the wear of normal use. (unless you go into the RPM red zone)
Downshifting also helps keeping the brakes at a reasonable temp and is mandatory when riding/driving over mountains.
Years ago I had two clutch rebuilds on two BMW (bikes), but at the expected mileage (at about 70K km: the mechanic told me in both cases that this was a 'normal' mileage for a clutch rebuild ). I rode the first bike mainly in flat areas, the other mainly in mountainous areas and had to use a lot more engine braking/downshifting than on the first one. And I never had any engine problem (piston/segment/etc).
