How do you like to decelarate?

[yamifixer]

...oh yeah, I almost forgot, engine braking with Carbon Termis sounds like Thor is coming, and boy is he PISSED!!!   

That pretty much covers it for me.

[Statler]

wait, so you guys who say you don't engine brake and use brakes only, do you actually pull the clutch in and coast while braking?     other than missing out on one of the great motorcycle visceral feelings, how do you stay in the right gear to accelerate? 

the throttle blip to rev match and motor burble on the way down isn't just for the sound.

[Goat_Herder]

the throttle blip to rev match and motor burble on the way down isn't just for the sound.

+1.  I prefer throttle blip + downshift to engine brake.  Less stress on your transmission and less disturbence to the suspension.  Plus you would be in the right gear to accelerate. 

[SacDuc]

wait, so you guys who say you don't engine brake and use brakes only, do you actually pull the clutch in and coast while braking?     other than missing out on one of the great motorcycle visceral feelings, how do you stay in the right gear to accelerate? 

the throttle blip to rev match and motor burble on the way down isn't just for the sound.

No. I engine brake, but not as a replacement for braking. If I need to decelerate to down shift I will of course roll off of the throttle a bit to get the RPMs in the sweet spot. But I won't whack the throttle closed just to make it sound cool while I'm slowing down. Or even close to it. So really the engine braking isn't braking at all. Its to make your RPMs right for the up coming shift. During that process the brakes should be the work horse for scrubbing off speed. No?


sac

[The Bacon Junkie]

+1.  I prefer throttle blip + downshift to engine brake.  Less stress on your transmission and less disturbence to the suspension.  Plus you would be in the right gear to accelerate.  

^^^  Ya, he said it better than I could..  

And just so there's no question of my other reasons for engine braking... V V V

engine braking with Carbon Termis sounds like Thor is coming, and boy is he PISSED!!!  

[FastAndLight]

When, as a much younger man, I posed this question to my dad, he said,"Would you rather replace your brake pads or rebuild your transmission?"  I've kind of gone with that logic since, although that sweet decel note is hard to resist.

My dad said the same thing.  I give my friends the same advice when asked.  In both my car and on my bikes I rarely touch the brake pedal, all engine braking all the time, unless I no-sh*t need to stop right now.  It sounds too damn good not to.  I'm a hypocrite. So sue me.

[Dr. D]

  I'm a hypocrite. So sue me.

Sue you?  No way -- takes too much time and I would rather be out riding.   

[Statler]

No. I engine brake, but not as a replacement for braking. If I need to decelerate to down shift I will of course roll off of the throttle a bit to get the RPMs in the sweet spot. But I won't whack the throttle closed just to make it sound cool while I'm slowing down. Or even close to it. So really the engine braking isn't braking at all. Its to make your RPMs right for the up coming shift. During that process the brakes should be the work horse for scrubbing off speed. No?


sac

I guess not.  I use the brakes only when rolling off the throttle isn't enough.     

I bet we're talking about different riding conditions and not apples to apples.   

[Monsterlover]

^^

I do what he does.

Brakes, clutches and tires are all wear items.

[SacDuc]

I guess not.  I use the brakes only when rolling off the throttle isn't enough.     

I bet we're talking about different riding conditions and not apples to apples.   

What we are probably talking about difference in rider skill. I kinda suck at riding in general. What I have described above is the easiest way for me to keep my suspension stable while setting up to accelerate through a corner. I make no claims that it is correct or the best way. The title asked, "How do you like to decelerate?" That's how I do it. As usual I've learned a thing or two from this thread.

Cheers.

sac

[R0CKETMAN]

Lot's of torque, so on sketchy areas hard engine deceleration can break the rear if no rpm matching.

My "rule of thumb"
Front brake is for pavement
Rear brake is for gravel or loose surfaces

[WetDuc]

I don't decel vs. brake according to road debris or gravel, but I would prefer the rear wheel lose traction rather than the front.

If I gota stop likitysplit, I'll engine brake hard and use the front brake hard, but this can be really dangerous as I can feel both wheels straining to hold.  It does get the bike stopped as quick as possible.

I've stopped using 2nd gear for engine braking and just shifting through to neut from 3rd while using front brake whne coming to full stop in the city.  As far as hard engine braking for fun goes...I don't think I could ever stop.  The sound and feel is intoxicating.

[Mad Duc]

I've never heard a good reason why engine braking is bad. I've hard a lot of anecdotal info about it but nothing solid. If your engine/tranny can handle 80+HP (or insert your HP here) of acceleration then why is way less than that of deceleration going to do any damage?  I doubt that you get more than 20hp or so of engine braking.

[fastwin]

There's good decelaration... and then there's bad decelaration.

This is the bad kind: http://www.snopes.com/photos/accident/tulsacrash.asp

[The Bearded Duc]

There's good decelaration... and then there's bad decelaration.

This is the bad kind: http://www.snopes.com/photos/accident/tulsacrash.asp

I'm usually a fan of gruesome and morbid but, man, that was rough. I can't believe the authorities in Tulsa let those pics out.

Ride safe everyone!!!!!!!