Down shift or brake?
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 178
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From: Where our Gov. makes our license plates
I usually slow down using both front and rear brakes, front more. While I am slowing I have the clutch in and am downshifting to the appropriate gear for the speed but I keep the clutch in the whole time. I am coasting but if I have to get out of there in a hurry I am in the right gear to do it.
I have several motor patrolmen friends for local and state police and they all teach that you should stop with the clutch in, bike in 1st gear, left foot down, right foot up. I have not become comfortable with that yet, even though I have only tried it a few time.
I keep seeing about using extra gas from downshifting, I understand that the motor RPM's increase when you downshift but its not because of turning the throttle, so does that really use gas? I must be missing something here... Plus, are you really worried about pennies worth of gas while riding your $20k plus bike???
I have several motor patrolmen friends for local and state police and they all teach that you should stop with the clutch in, bike in 1st gear, left foot down, right foot up. I have not become comfortable with that yet, even though I have only tried it a few time.
I keep seeing about using extra gas from downshifting, I understand that the motor RPM's increase when you downshift but its not because of turning the throttle, so does that really use gas? I must be missing something here... Plus, are you really worried about pennies worth of gas while riding your $20k plus bike???
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,059
Likes: 4
From: Florida
If I know I"m going to have to stop, I might downshift till I get to 4th, then grab the clutch. I downshift with the clutch disengaged as the speedo drops to keep it in the appropriate gear in the event i have to get out of the way and leave it in first at the stop. I agree, brake pads are cheaper and easier than clutch plates and somewhat easier on my tranny.
Novice
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Ogden, Utah
Front belt sprocket failure
I had the front belt drive sprocket splines strip a couple of years ago and for a while I wondered if it was due to downshifting, but if that was the case I would think that type of failure would be much more common. I don't feel that I downshift to excess or put more load on the bike then most riders who use a combination of engine and brakes to slow down so I have come to the conclusion that it was a defective part. I replaced the clutch assembly and for a while tried to avoid engine braking, but have since slipped back into the habit. I do try to match RPMs with a throttle blip to relieve the strain but if I have to slow down fast that goes out the window.
I have never come across anyone else who has had that same failure on a touring model...I have an 03 Road King...thus my conclusion that it was a fluke due to a faulty part. The main transmission shaft splines were undamaged, but the sprocket splines were completly gone.
I have never come across anyone else who has had that same failure on a touring model...I have an 03 Road King...thus my conclusion that it was a fluke due to a faulty part. The main transmission shaft splines were undamaged, but the sprocket splines were completly gone.
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hdoilcan
Primary/Transmission/Driveline/Clutch
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May 31, 2020 09:18 AM
