| Author |
Message |
    
Chase12s
| | Posted on Monday, May 11, 2009 - 10:42 pm: | 
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Oh man I love it. Nothing like engine braking hard into a turn and let that ass end dance around a little bit, then just pop it and ride out of it on the back tire. I love this machine. |
Wardamneagle
| | Posted on Monday, May 11, 2009 - 11:48 pm: |
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I just put my heels on the ground and drag them till my bike stops. No need to wear out the brakes or engine |
Blake
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - 12:43 am: |
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It's not that stresses are greater, but that they are reversed and affecting other structure, like connecting rod bolts and such. In compression there is zero stress in the connecting rod bolts, yes? But in engine braking, the forces are opposite on the connecting rod, tension instead of compression. Connecting rod and bearings like to be in compression, with no need to rely on connecting rod bolts and the free end of the rod bearings. Try to yield a plug of steel by 0.02% in compression versus tension and you'll start to appreciate the difference. |
Corporatemonkey
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - 04:14 am: |
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Blake, I understand what you are saying, but does anyone put enough miles on their vehicle for this to be a real issue?
I figure if that Brit magazine couldn't kill their buell motor, how could a conscientious rider really do any damage? |
Ratbuell
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - 08:04 am: |
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The key is CONTROL. If you're downshifting and using engine braking, and something happens requiring you to give it a squirt forward or around something...you're already in the "right" gear and able to react more quickly.
Like others, I downshift everything - bikes, Jeep Wrangler, turbo Dodges...everything except my mother in law's Nash, because it's not synchronized. If I use the "tow/haul" button on our diesel Ram, *it* downshifts itself (diesel/auto/4x4). I have yet to notice any increased wear on anything, nor any catastrophic failures. |
Slaughter
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - 08:45 am: |
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Downshifting to match your speed while braking - v. - downshifting as a means of braking.
2 different animals.
Keeping your engine "in the power curve" by shifting UP or shifting DOWN all the time you're riding is good. |
Glen
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - 08:54 am: |
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i just feather the clutch a bit while downshifting, it stays in the correct gear and im not stressing the engine at all as im using the brakes to stop/slow the bike.
anyone who rides 4 stroke dirt bikes knows what the trans smacking back n forth does to both the clutch and the countershaft bearings. |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - 09:31 am: |
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There is an unloaded "non-bang" cycle every other rotation. |
Boltrider
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - 11:27 am: |
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When downshifting with a slipper clutch, you don't have to rev match, correct? I've never ridden a bike w/ a slipper clutch.
(Message edited by boltrider on May 12, 2009) |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - 11:44 am: |
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Don't have to rev match as much. You can still break a tire loose with a slipper clutch.
The race bikes have adjustable race slipper clutches to give the rider the right amount of slip. |
Redbuelljunkie
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - 12:05 pm: |
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Two schools of thought on downshifting- slipping or blipping. Most riders "blip" the throttle to match revs, while others "slip" the clutch and use the engine to raise revs/decelerate. I have always been a "slipper", and it's most likely due to my first sport bike having a 1203cc twin with a heavy flywheel. In fact, I guess I'm challenged because I have never been able to "blip" successfully (even on 600cc I-4's). I also have no use for a slipper clutch- what good is it if it doesn't slow the bike down? Of course, I also enjoy laps at the track without using the brakes. To each their own, I reckon. |
Blake
| | Posted on Thursday, May 14, 2009 - 08:37 am: |
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What Steve (Slaughter) said.
I doubt anyone has been harder on a Buell engine than me. But I don't rely on the engine to slow the bike. That said, the engine was absolutely designed to endure the rigors of engine braking. I just prefer to stress the brakes instead.
Jeremy,
Downshifting, especially under closed throttle can impart some very high stresses to the drivetrain and bottom end; there is significant inertial loading involved. The more aggressively the clutch is engaged, the higher those stresses will be. Also there is a significant difference between the load on the piston during an intake stroke with throttle open versus throttle closed. |
Sayitaintso
| | Posted on Thursday, May 14, 2009 - 02:00 pm: |
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I've been thinking about this same thing ever since the Lugging thread over in BB&D.
To me it seems like engine breaking is the opposite of lugging the motor. Neither really being very good for the motor as you are forcing it to run outside of its "normal" range of operation.
Lugging - Too much fuel, not enough rpms
Engine breaking - too many rpms, not enough fuel
Or do I have things all bassackwards? |
Redbuelljunkie
| | Posted on Thursday, May 14, 2009 - 04:37 pm: |
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I look at it this way:
Running an engine- causes wear and tear
Not running an engine- causes wear and tear.
These things were meant to be run. Every part of a motorcycle wears when used. Everything in the universe wears just by existing. Do preventative maintenance, repair things when they break, and enjoy the hell out it. It's their purpose in life. |
Blake
| | Posted on Monday, May 18, 2009 - 11:42 pm: |
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Well said RBJ! |
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