Engine braking

[Fastfreddy]

Buying a goldwing gl1800 trike. I have owned a 750 honda shadow, a heritage classic harley. I got used to down shifting when coming to a stop. I was wondering if its still a good idea to do this with a trike. What do you seasoned goldwing bikers think ?

[tfdeputydawg]

Do it all the time with my trike

[Solidbob]

As the Goldwing is geared higher you don't notice the engine braking as this flat 6 was made for power and highway riding more than for torque and braking. It's still there just not as noticeable!!

[WingAdmin]

As the Goldwing is geared higher you don't notice the engine braking as this flat 6 was made for power and highway riding more than for torque and braking. It's still there just not as noticeable!!

Engine braking is basically the vacuum resistance of the piston pulling air through the intake valve against a closed throttle. The reason you feel so much more engine braking on a small sport bike than you do on your Goldwing is simply that your bike weighs a lot more. The percentage of engine/drivetrain drag during engine braking compared to the overall weight of the bike is much smaller on a Goldwing than on a sport bike.

On a trike, which weighs quite a bit more, you'll notice that engine braking provides even less effect. Not that it doesn't help a bit, but it's not going to bring you down to a stop like you would expect on a much smaller bike.

[Fastfreddy]

Thanks for the reply and info. Like I said totally new to the trike, don't want to sound dum just trying to learn from you seasoned riders. Just makes sence after I started thinking about how you explained it Thanks.

[Big Bee]

I don't engine brake on my Wing very much, or any standard transmission vehicle. My philosophy is that it easier to to replace brake pads than a clutch plate. There are times when engine braking does come in handy.

[WingAdmin]

I don't engine brake on my Wing very much, or any standard transmission vehicle. My philosophy is that it easier to to replace brake pads than a clutch plate. There are times when engine braking does come in handy.

If you are downshifting properly, there is no wear on your clutch plate, thus engine braking causes no wear to any component.

[flogger]

I don't engine brake on my Wing very much, or any standard transmission vehicle. My philosophy is that it easier to to replace brake pads than a clutch plate. There are times when engine braking does come in handy.

I've always done this not only on cycles but also in every standard car I've owned... As WingAdmin said, it doesn't wear or hurt anything and in contrast you save a lot on brakes and brake components.

[Big Bee]

Okay, I'll open the can of worms. In the course of normal street riding in town especially, I mostly use the brakes for stopping and some slowing. Whenever a clutch is used, shifting up or down, it WEARS. We know that city driving puts a lot more wear and tear on a vehicle, hence the increase in servicing requirements. Here the clutch is doing double duty, going and stopping, and wearing even more. In my experience, I'd rather replace 5 sets of brakes over a clutch anytime. Engine braking has its place, and I do use it, especially in the mountains. The other big reason is that when I slow down, I prefer the brake light coming on letting the numbnuts behind me know I'm slowing down. Engine braking is a personal preference, like which beer tastes best, (I'm a Bourbon man myself).

[WingAdmin]

Okay, I'll open the can of worms. In the course of normal street riding in town especially, I mostly use the brakes for stopping and some slowing. Whenever a clutch is used, shifting up or down, it WEARS. We know that city driving puts a lot more wear and tear on a vehicle, hence the increase in servicing requirements. Here the clutch is doing double duty, going and stopping, and wearing even more. In my experience, I'd rather replace 5 sets of brakes over a clutch anytime. Engine braking has its place, and I do use it, especially in the mountains. The other big reason is that when I slow down, I prefer the brake light coming on letting the numbnuts behind me know I'm slowing down. Engine braking is a personal preference, like which beer tastes best, (I'm a Bourbon man myself).

When upshifting, you should not re-engage the clutch until engine speed has fallen to match the speed of the new transmission gear. When downshifting, after disengaging the clutch you should blip the throttle to speed the engine up to the RPM it will be running at in the new (lower) gear before re-engaging the clutch. When shifting this way, there is next to zero clutch wear, because the clutch is never slipping. Pretty much the only time my clutch slips (causing wear) is when I am starting off in first gear. I have used engine braking in every gear in every motorcycle and car I have ever owned, and I have never come close to wearing out a clutch.

Well, except one - that was a 1985 Hyundai Pony, and I did it on purpose, by driving in too-high a gear, and holding the clutch partially in to let it burn. But technically that doesn't count, because I didn't own that car.

[Steve F]

Okay, I'll open the can of worms. In the course of normal street riding in town especially, I mostly use the brakes for stopping and some slowing. Whenever a clutch is used, shifting up or down, it WEARS. We know that city driving puts a lot more wear and tear on a vehicle, hence the increase in servicing requirements. Here the clutch is doing double duty, going and stopping, and wearing even more. In my experience, I'd rather replace 5 sets of brakes over a clutch anytime. Engine braking has its place, and I do use it, especially in the mountains. The other big reason is that when I slow down, I prefer the brake light coming on letting the numbnuts behind me know I'm slowing down. Engine braking is a personal preference, like which beer tastes best, (I'm a Bourbon man myself).

I agree with most of what you said, but when I do the engine braking, the clutch see very little frictional differential between the engine and the trans because I'll try to match the engine rpm's before easing the clutch out on a downshift. Pull in the clutch, downshift, blip the throttle and ease out the clutch with very little stress on the clutch plates.

[flogger]

Okay, I'll open the can of worms. In the course of normal street riding in town...

I couldn't have said it better than WingAdmin just did... Kinda good to have him around... Now depending on the number of stops, amount of traffic, and other conditions- you may not always do it... For me it is very situational. I slow down nicely and easily on a bike not touching the brakes till the end... Anticipate stops too... I've seen drivers on the gas going to a red light and not getting off the gas and using brakes to the last minute... I get an unusually high time in between or high miles in between brake jobs on my Wing and in my car. What we referred to in the air flying as managing your energy and planning while flying...