Engine braking with 1st gear?

[MotoDan]

Is it safe for the engine to engine brake using 1st gear?

[i3randon12]

i was told to avioid it, but i have slipped and done it a couple of times... i dont think it will do much                just i try to avoid it

[perfdrug]

i don't do it in my car, i won't do it on my bike

personal choice tho, dunno if it's correct or not.

[Ed_in_Az]

 

[scratch]

I engine brake in every gear and have never had to replace a clutch in any of my bikes. You just have to match engine speed(rpm's) to actual speed(mph). Is it a skill? I  :dunno:

[Eklipse]

I usually try not to. All it does is make the wheel skid even when i'm going fairly slow. Sure I can feather it out, but still I try not to unless I have to stop hard.

[CasiUSA]

I was teaching a friend of mine to ride, and he has a Hawk GT. I told him downshifting into first was a BIG nono. He pointed out to me however, that the Honda Manual said something along the lines of "...and if you need to slow down, you may use the brakes, or even shift down into second or first gear and let the engine slow you down"

I have 2 qualms with this:
1- Engine braking into first may put too much of an abrupt stop to the rear wheel, causeing tail slipping.
2- Isn't it bad for the transmission? I know most cars have a lockout to prevent this, perhaps the 6 puck clutch of the GS can handle it?

So I dunno, even if it is OK, I don't do it as a precaution.

[scratch]

Cush-drive, baby! Nah, the rubber blocks in between the bolts of the sprocket and rim act kindof like a cushsh...ion.

[JohnNS]

I could see how it could get one into trouble if you just shifted and dumped the clutch. If you get into the habit of "blipping" the throttle as you downshift though, it's all very smooth..even down to 1st once you get the hang of it.

Like Scratch said...it's all about matching the RPMs to your speed.

[JamesG]

engine braking doesn't put any more stress on the engine than normal operation, its just the rear wheel driving the crank and pistons instead of the other way around.

Don't slam it down into first at 60 mph, but bliping and going down thru the gears as you slow down both helps you slow down AND saves wear and tear on the brakes (or helps you stop much faster if you use the brakes in anger).  Its fun in the rain on the streets to engine brake and feel the back end fishtail around like a GP bike.  

[Gisser]

FWIW, the old CW was that hard engine braking eats crankshafts. :dunno:

[mp183]

I use the engine to brake in all gears.  I dowhshift into every gear except first when I slow down for a hard stop. If I didn't I would be eating taxi bumpers on a daily basis.  My bike has over 16,000 miles.  I really ride it hard.  I'm surprised how it's holding up.  My 16,000 miles are worth 30,000.   I bet more bikes die a slow death in someone's garage than by being ridden too hard.

[Blueknyt]

you can use engine breaking in all gears the idea is to blip the throttle to match Engine RPM's with the next lower gear, if  at 60mph in 5th, your turning 5krpm. pull clutch in while shifting to forth, give a quick tweak of thr throttle then let the clutch out, it smooths things out.  the are to becarful in is to not OVER REV then engine, dont redline the Rpm's when you let out the clutch dont go down too many gears for the speed your traveling,   @ 50mph you wouldnt shift to 3rd and let clutch out, it would be painful on many levels.