I let the clutch out between gears and use engine to help.

 

Yep, what he said!

 

One is not fully in control of the vehicle if one is coasting. This is generally a bad thing.

 

Not a lot of truck drivers here, I see.

I am a certified CDL driver trainer. NEVER "coast". ALWAYS have your vehicle in gear, the clutch is for starting, stopping and shifting, not coasting.

 

always downshift. always have. always will.

 

I downshift/engine brake as well. The only time I don't is when someone in front of me slows quickly or I come to a sudden stop.

 

One has no braking control over the rear wheel when you engine brake. You are at the mercy of engine compression, the rest of the power train and the road surface or whatever is on the road surface. Adding engine braking to a rear wheel braking event creates chaotic stopping ability especially on a non ABS bike. And ABS cannot help you with an engine braking event on its own whatsoever. ABS modulating the rear brake doesn't do anything to the engine.

Downshifting (selecting the right gear for your speed) as you are braking without engine braking is the proper technique. This gives you full control of the rear brake given the surface you are riding on and following the gears down puts you in the right gear for a sudden dump of the clutch for other collision avoidance (brake and escape) after a braking event.

If one continues to use engine braking during normal events...then when it hits the fan you will revert back to those techniques and lose total control of rear wheel braking when you combine engine braking with rear wheel braking.

Downshifting (selecting the proper gear for the proper RPM) and adjusting/matching the RPM for that gear prior to re-engaging the clutch is a normal thing but when you continue to combine engine braking with a braking event you will be asking for trouble in the long run.

 

Down shift and use the engine to help slow me down and that way if i need to take back off i just roll the throttle.

 

Ive always used compression braking bike or car and I honestly can't remember the last time I had to replace brake pads.

 

Same here.......way I've always done it.