Question 4 the group

Here goes fark it.... flame suit on.
Long time lurker with a question 4 yas
I have never noticed any Harley riders using engine braking to slow down, is
this because they can't or are already slow enough or does it have something
to do with high compression or something or what??.

 

madmick wrote:

What happened to questions 1, 2, and 3?

Theo

 

Question makes no sense, sorry. How can we generalise across a group of
riders with wildly differing experience and styles of riding ?

Harleys provide as much engine braking as the next large capacity twin,
if the rider doesn't use it, it could be for any of a number of reasons,
lack of requirement to do so, inability etc or it could be they are but
you aren't noticing it.

JL

 

Or maybe they are aware that brake pads are much cheaper and easier to
replace than pistons, cylinders and gearboxes.

Theo

 

Goats on bridges.

Theo

 

That would be it.

 

Can't say I've noticed that they don't use engine braking. I've noticed
a lot of cruiser riders that don't ever seem to use the front brake,
though.

---
Cheers

PeterC [aka MildThing]
Before an accident, most city drivers say "****!", whereas most country drivers
say "Hang on to this stubby, mate, while I show you some awesome driving"
'81 Yamaha Virago (XV) 750H (work in progress)
'01 Yamaha FJR1300

www.dmcsc.org.au
http://eladesom.com.au/ulysses/
# 37181

 

This may not really be the answer you are looking for, but I ride an
VX250 Virago, and up until owning and riding it, I used to do a lot of
engine braking (on various sports bikes I owned)...but ever since I've
ridden a cruiser, I've noticed that, even though its a 250, I get
ridiculously consistent rear wheel lockups when trying any half decent
amount of engine braking. Surprising from a weak 250, but not entirely
unexpected.

 

I got the same response when I went for a job driving a concrete agitator
and used the gear box to slow down for a corner
the owner of the truck said it was cheaper to replace brakes than the
gearbox even though I got it down through the gears without mixing them up

 

you are not looking that hard
Show me a cruiser rider who doesn't use the front brake and I will show you
a cruiser rider who has had multiple rear wheel lock-ups

 

Not really.

I've seen quite a lot of cruiser riders who use engine braking, without
a rear wheel lock-up.

Most cruiser riders cruise, so they don't need to go for lots of engine
braking and down shifting, merely backing off the throttle can be quite
adequate.

The cruiser rider who doesn't use the front brake is much more likely
to, eventually, be in an "Oh Shit!" circumstance, and lock up the front
wheel in panic.

regards,
CrazyCam

 

I think it gives their loud pipes an opportunity to make even more
noise
Isaac.

 

Does that go with the small cut off open face helmet = no brain theory.

 

I ride a Virago as well, bought it new as a commuter.
When I first got the sucker new it used to nearly lock up when downshifting
and engine braking, it engine brakes much better now its only 3000 from new
though.
I do punish the poor thing a bit though.
I have been downshifting and using engine braking on it as on all my
previous bikes.
Thats why I asked the question about the Harleys and engine braking I am
thinking of getting an 883 an never seem to see any Harley riders using
engine braking.
Was wondering what the reason was.
I thought it might have more to do with the big compression ratio they have.

 

<raises hand slowly>

In normal riding I rarely use the hand brake but my back wheel never locks
up. Maybe because my bike doesn't have 'multiple rear wheels'?

Theo

 

If you downshift and release the clutch and the back wheel locks up, you're
probably doing serious damage to your gearbox. Take some riding lessons
please.

Theo

 

my bike doesn't have a hand brake...

just front and rear brakes

 

Try it down the Toowoomba range and you'll be due for the brake replacement
about a third of the way down!

 

Both are footbrakes?

 

You've got to be able to peel off any of the labels on the helmet as well.

justAL