Re: Engine braking: To do or not?

Posted by Thorby on Dec 11, 2012; 5:28am
URL: http://vintage-and-classic-hondas.81.s1.nabble.com/Engine-braking-To-do-or-not-tp4033337p4033424.html

All good input, I appreciate it.  Shiny's comment is particularly valuable to me since I cannot afford for my engine to break down too soon.  I am planning 4400+ mile trip (round) this Spring and that makes me particularly careful about whether or not my old '76 can handle it, so taking good care of it is a must.

So,

Brake without engine = mileage free braking for the engine and tranny while instead taxing the brake pads which are cheaper to buy and replace.

Regarding the comment about having to be in the right gear for the speed anyway, I agree, it's what the Motorcycle Safety Foundation teaches but I think being in a "ready" gear while braking is not the same as braking with the gears.  If you follow the MSF, you will brake with the pads while downshifting to match current speed all the while not letting go of the clutch.

shinyribs wrote

If you are real aggressive with it you can slide the rear tire,so watch that,otherwise you're not really hurting anything. I do when I'm out riding hard because I feel the bike corners better under rpm's than it does just idling.Cant explain that,it just seems to make a big difference. Otherwise I don't do it all the time. Any extra rpms=added piston/ring wear/fuel consumption. IMO, I'd rather just swap brake pads.