Unless it's a quick stop, I always downshift and engine brake. I was taught that way when I learned to drive so always have on my bikes too.

 

I'm not sure if I dont understand the point you're trying to make, or if you are talking out your ****.

 

I'll take option #2 for $500 Alex.....

 

My dad drove big trucks for over 40 years and taught me how to drive everything from a bike to a truck with 18 wheels.

He always said the same thing when I was learning and have used his knowledge since learning to drive. Always downshift and let the engine do the work for you.

Although I have started tapping my brake lights so others know I am slowing just in case.

 

Can be surprising is exactly right!

 

The OP was talking about downshifting and letting out the clutch lever each time while downshifting through the gears while braking (or coming to a stop) typically referred to as engine braking.

My point is that engine braking is not consistent and most times violently applied to the rear wheel. That combined with rear braking application is not consistent and can not be solely controlled by the operator as with rear brake or front & rear brake application alone.

So if you continue to use engine braking in normal situations...when you get into a needed heavy brake application then you will revert to what to normally do and start downshifting and dumping the clutch at every gear. You need to concentrate on disengaging the clutch, downshifting to follow bike speed (but not dumping the clutch) and proper application of the brakes front and rear. Engine braking will upset the weight shift of the bike when stopping and never be consistent or smooth as you are trying to apply front and rear combination braking. And up to 90% of your stopping ability comes from your front brakes....upsetting that weight shift to the front end to apply maximum front brakes will never happen with engine braking each time you dump the clutch making the bike bounce.

Watch a cop...try to out brake a trained cop with your engine braking techniques. You will lose by car lengths.

Personal potshots..."****" are not appreciated. I bet you guys are the same ones that are experts in "laying a bike down" too.

 

Depends on the situation for me. Sometimes I do sometimes I don't. Sometimes I use every gear for downshifting and sometime I skip a gear or two before letting the clutch out.

I never understood the throttle blip thing. In a normal stop the next lower gear doesn't raise the rpms enough for me to blip the throttle, maybe if you're going from six to third I could see it, but in any normal downshifting scenario I don't get it. Modern trans have syncros to eliminate the need to precisely match engine speed to selected gear.

 

Indeed. Watch a cop, an MSF instructor, or anyone who competes in parking lot rodeos. They all use engine braking in conjunction with the front and rear brakes. Try to out-brake me without engine braking and you'll lose by car lengths.

 

so, you are assuming the majority are dumbass enough to engine brake to avoid an accident because it's a habit? It never would have occurred to me to not use the brakes if I needed to stop NOW. I am pretty certain I cannot out perform a trained professional in his field(no matter what that field is). My unblemished record stands. And by the way, I had no choice but to buy ABS to get the color I wanted, I hope it helps with ins. and resale because I didn't want to pay for it.

for some reason you must think you are better, an instructor, LEO,?

 

Gear by gear, to let the engine BRAKE and slow me down...Not worried about the primary and/or tranny, they are designed for this...