Triumphrat

virtuallyvincent

I find the efficiency of my engine braking to be rather poor, especially when downshifting to first gear at low speeds (don't know for sure maybe ~10/15mph), there seems to be almost no (engine) braking going on and the clutch lever feels slack in that speed range... how can this be changed (if at all)?

Forchetto

Might be a couple of things: Idle speed too high, or the carb is "hanging up" due to maladjustment . If you blip the throttle in neutral, do the revs drop straight away to idle , or do they hang up for a while before returning to idle?.

Clutch lever free-play should remain constant no matter what revs or speed you're doing.

T100Mike

Also make sure that your chain is the proper tightness.

BlackTigNYC

This is another one of those threads where people are going to come up with all sorts of complex explanations when the answer is the simplest explanation. It is probably your technique. You are downshifting too late.... and therefore the engine will naturally not be forced to rev much, thereby eliminating the source of stopping power.

SomethingClever

Do most people engine brake in first gear? I never do. I engine brake in every other gear down to 2nd, then when I'm below 15 or so I just pull in the clutch and drop it to first without re-engaging the gear.

Normal?

Edit: I don't clunk down into first until I'm very nearly stopped.

BlackTigNYC

that is what I do most of the time as well

below 15 you are not going to get much resistance from the engine anyway. That is about when I would begin applying the brakes

danfoz

I don't engine break in first gear either, but BlackBonNYC's advice would be my own.

beemerrich

Clearly a problem with too much flywheel mass. I believe the only real solution here is to split the cases and get the flywheel lightened. Engine braking will be dramatically increased and, as a bonus, the bike will rev quicker on take off.

Regards,

--Rich

shiner

I'm in the habit of at about 10 mph and if i know I'm coming to a stop, I'll put it in neutral while I'm still just barely moving. Once stopped, it's a lot harder to find neutral on all of my bikes. If not moving, some are near impossible. Rarely do I put it in 1st gear until I'm pulling away from a light. Shiner

sweatmachine

whaa???!?? That would have nothing to do with engine braking.

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