Topic: Engine braking vs. Brakes

[Jonesy]

I've engine braked because the owner's manual (for my cb750 anyway) says it's perfectly OK to do so, as long as your engine doesn't make a foray into the red zone on the tach..

[dusterdude]

me 5.

[cb350f_rider_73]

Do you mean the maximum amount of brake needed to stop you in a reasonable distance, or do you mean a tire-howling, barely controlled stop at every stoplight?  To me 'maximum braking' means the latter, and I only use it when a car or deer threatens me with imminent destruction.  I do use the engine, front brake and rear brake for every stop so that it is an automatic action.  That has saved my bacon several times when an emergency stop was accomplished without having to figure out what to do while approaching an obsatcle.

Max amount needed to stop in a reasonable distance.  A tire-howling, skidding-every-way-but-loose stop is rather dangerous, and not good control at all.  Most of the time, you don't need all the braking the bike is capable of, so you can just sorta ease in for the stop.   

Wayne

[Gordon]

I'm gonna agree with Bob on this one (anything's possible ).  I generally downshift once I'm in the speed range for the next lower gear.  It slows the bike down some, but mainly it's just to keep it in the right gear for the speed I'm currently traveling.

[dusterdude]

good god,the worlds goin to come to an end.

[mick750F]

   Add me to the both brakes + downshift gang. It's just a more balanced way to ride. It's important to be in the gear you need to be in if you have to accelerate quickly. As has already been mentioned the front brake has much more stopping power than the rear but the rear should be used also.

   Years ago a guy I rode with told me that he only used the rear brake. He was convinced that you didn't need the front. Something about hitting them too hard and flipping the bike. Nothing I could say would get him to change his way of thinking. It was that day that I decided to never be in front of him when riding. I don't ride with him anymore but I sometimes see him and wonder if he's figured it out yet. It has to be pretty hard stopping that Road King with just the rear brake.

Mike

[cb350f_rider_73]

They make bikes nowadays with linked and integrated brakes just for folks like him, I guess.  Hit the rear brakes and you get all of 'em.   

Wayne

[Bob Wessner]

Some even have ABS. 

[Quail "Owner of the comfortable k8"]

good god,the worlds goin to come to an end.

"Cats and dogs sleeping together!"

[Quail "Owner of the comfortable k8"]

Brakes are cheap, Clutches are not.

I will say it again.  Front brake pads 20.00 clutch pack and front pads 120.00.  Time to replace front pads 10 minutes.  Clutch pack and front pads 1hr 10min.

I down shift as the bike slows so that I am in the right gear, I just never let out the clutch.

[Buffo]

I am terrified of the rear brake. I almost never use it to stop the bike. I mainly use mine to keep the bike stopped once stopped at a light or where ever...

I dont really engine brake ether, I shift just to keep it in the proper gear...mainly I just use the front unless the poop hits the fan then I will use all three...I know how to use the rear...I am just more comfortable using the front...

Most people dont realize how well their brakes work so the tend to over brake and brake to often

...with cars, in the olden days you engine braked because brakes failed a lot so it was better to slow down with the tranny, but here in 2005 brakes are a bit better so for most applications engine braking is a personal preference not a nessesity...

[Quail "Owner of the comfortable k8"]

I use the front brake a lot more than the rear also.  Not in a corner or when on gravel of course but most of the time.  i can clamp it on and it will almost slid the wheel so I know I have 100% braking in the front.  I use the rear if i want to stop even faster.  Again front pads are cheap.  i am cheap.