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Engine braking can cause the rear tire to skid , especially in slick , wet , or poor traction conditions . Shifting to a gear lower than is appropriate for the road speed slows the rear tire at a faster rate than is needed , which can cause the rear tire to skid .
Engine braking only works on the rear tire . Since 70 % of braking is with the front tire , why not use all the braking you can ? As a bike slows down , the weight is transferred to the front tire , giving it more grip on the road and more stopping power . The weight comes off the rear tire , causing less grip and , thus , less stopping power with the rear tire .
Engine braking does not work well in quick stops . Riders may struggle with braking plus , changing gears ,
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not realize you are slowing down until they hit you . This is especially dangerous on group rides when the trailing bike may only be one second behind you . A rider β s normal reaction time is one and a half to two seconds from the time they see you slowing down until the time they apply the brakes .
Engine braking is a personal choice . It takes time and practice to be good at it . The basic rider course does not teach engine braking because it is considered an advanced skill . Nick Ienatsch , AMA superbike racer and editor of Sport Rider magazine , wrote , β The purpose of a downshift is to put the engine in the proper RPM range for the future whether that is a stop , curve , or hill .β Keith
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and releasing the clutch several times |
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during a quick stop , all the time concentrating |
California Superbike School , the first |
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bike . At 40 mph , a bike should be able to stop in four seconds or less from when the brakes are applied . It is tough to change from sixth gear to first gear , releasing the clutch between each gear change in less than four seconds . The bike should be in first gear before it comes to a stop . Some riders will not get to first gear before they stop . This can leave the bike in second or third gear , making it harder to pull away from the stop if they must leave in a hurry . A rider can downshift from sixth to first gear without ever letting the clutch out . I always tap the shift lever a couple of extra times to ensure I am in first gear when I stop .
The biggest problem with engine
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said , β The engine is not a brake , it is supposed to increase speed not reduce it . Down shifting is to get the RPMs correct for exiting a curve . The bike doesn β t care what gear it is in when entering a curve , the right gear matters when exiting the curve .β
I use engine braking in addition to my regular brakes most of the time . I do not use it in quick-stop situations . When you go to a lower gear and release the clutch , you are committed to the speed that gear will allow . It is hard to adjust braking at that point . I feel I have more control with my brakes alone , especially at threshold braking , where minor adjustments may be needed . Using the brakes is much smoother than
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braking is it will not activate your |
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braking . |
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brake lights . This is a real danger , especially in heavy traffic or on a group ride . Drivers behind you may |
should be used to enhance regular braking , not as a substitute for the brakes . CMA |
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Mike Phillips is a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation ( MSF ) instructor in Arkansas . | |||||||||