For some odd reason, I've gotten used to use the engine whenever Im braking, by downshifting and releasing the clutch slowly until I slow down to that gear, and continue my way down on the gear box.

I am also holding the brake at the same time, so the throtle stays pretty much closed during that period. By this I mean that whenever I brake, I used both the front/back wheel brakes + engine brake.

I never tought about this, until the other day when I was engine-braking and heard some 'sputs' coming out of the exhaust pipe while I was engine braking...

my question would be: is engine-braking bad for the GS? and if not, what if I do it all the time?

Of course I don't go from 6th to 3rd or something like that... in fact, it never reveers more than 6k rpm.

What you're calling sputting is probably lean pops - you get those from an engine that's running lean when it's unloaded.

Some people say engine braking is bad for the engine.  I have no practical experience to say it is.  You don't want to rely on engine braking, but it can be convenient around town.  I've done it to some extent on every vehicle I've had.

To be honest, I've become so used to engine-braking that I don't even need to think about it.
In fact, im more than one ocassion I've used it by pure instinct while I was braking with front/rear at the same time.

I learned to drive cars with stick-shift (or is it shift-stick?), and on every 'manual' car I engine-brake by instinct too.

The reason I ask about this is: IF engine-braking is bad for the GS or any other motorcycle, then it's a bad habit I need to get rid of.

And no, I don't rely on the engine to brake. I feel it's more like my third brake pad on the bike.

I do the same.. around town engine breaking is real nice to combine with light front and rearbreak application.  Besides, its just cool sounding when  you come up to a red light , downshift, vrooom, and get all the head turns.

Quote from: subc................... is engine-braking bad for the GS? and if not, what if I do it all the time?...................

I think it all depends on how you do it.  From your description it sounds like you are letting the clutch slip by keeping the throttle closed.  If so, the clutch is wearing more than it should.  If you match the clutch friction surfaces by using the throttle then no problem. Just don't over rev the engine.

I have always used engine braking  in my car and on my bike.  

 I was always told that that is how standard shift transmissions are designed.. in an automatic the downshifting occurs automaticly. But in a standard you need to assist the braking with manual engine braking (down shifting).. is this wrong?

However, now that GAS os soo $$$$ I use engine braking far less. The less  resistance..  the more mileage you get  

Quote from: RoadstergalWhat you're calling sputting is probably lean pops - you get those from an engine that's running lean when it's unloaded...

any1 care to explain about this 'leanness' and 'unloadness'? how do I fix such a thing?
by getting a new bike I tought I wasn't gonna have a problems for at least 4000mi.

Quote from: subcby getting a new bike I tought I wasn't gonna have a problems

It's not a problem.

However,

Quote from: bargovicaround town engine breaking

is.    

lean is usually not a problem... alot lean usually is since your motor will run hotter and you might burn a valve if you love revving to the redline..

Engine braking has never caused any problems with my gs and its up at 40000km .

The engine pops come from the carburetion being lean, meaning more air than gas, while yours does not sound bad, or dangerously too lean, you're currently getting good gas mileage with the carbs set up the way they are now.
Unloading the engine is what happens when you pull in the clutch, disengaging the engine from the rear wheel.

Quote from: scratchThe engine pops come from the carburetion being lean, meaning more air than gas, while yours does not sound bad, or dangerously too lean, you're currently getting good gas mileage with the carbs set up the way they are now.
Unloading the engine is what happens when you pull in the clutch, disengaging the engine from the rear wheel.

well in that case, something else is up.

I got those 'pops' while I was engine-braking... not when the engine was unloaded.
But then again, it only happened once as far as I could tell.

And no... I never revv the engine while doing this. it never goes above 6k rpm on engine-brake.

You'll get those pops when you let off the throttle.  Whether you're engine braking or coasting.  You'll get them more if you're engine braking.

Yep.

You gotta use the clutch for something right?   :lol:

Quote from: subc
I never tought about this, until the other day when I was engine-braking and heard some 'sputs' coming out of the exhaust pipe while I was engine braking...

my question would be: is engine-braking bad for the GS? and if not, what if I do it all the time?

Of course I don't go from 6th to 3rd or something like that... in fact, it never reveers more than 6k rpm.

No, you're fine and it's completely normal. The "sputting" you're hearing is actually a vaccuum created by the engine sucking air back in through the exhaust. Any form of engine braking done by bikes and cars will suck air back in through the exhaust and it's not really bad for it. In fact, the owners manual for my 05-F even gives tips on downshifting and using the engine as a brake. Even has a little table with speeds you should downshift at for beginners. It does reccomend NOT downshifting in the middle of a turn or while the rpms are too high for two specific reasons. 1) Downshifting in a turn can cause the back tire to spin and you to lose control. Believe me, I almost lost the bike not listening to that peice of advice. 2) Downshifting while the rpms are high can cause the engine to overrev (the redzone = too high) and cause engine damage. Which... anytime you're in the redzone you are asking for engine damage.

So, moral of the story... Feel free to downshift sensibly. Avoid downshifting during turns and cornering and don't downshift into 1st from 90mph. =P

I don't engine brake often but I've never heard of it being bad for the engine. In the Canadian military some of the vehicles are still stick-shift and they recommend engine breaking whenever possible from what I've heard from the drivers around the unit. Either way you're trading engine wear for brake wear or vice versa, engines jst tend to take more kms of wear.

AND gas usage! When I don't engine brake, I get 5-7 more mpg in my car.

Strange fact: in a corvette (C4 atleast) they have an instant mpg readout, and when you engine brake, it can leap over 85mpg.

I was told this a long time ago....and I find it to be true....

"its always cheaper to replace brake pads than to replace a clutch...." I still hold ture to that in the regard that I engine brake when I have to.

Quote from: ShadowFireI was told this a long time ago....and I find it to be true....

"its always cheaper to replace brake pads than to replace a clutch...." I still hold ture to that in the regard that I engine brake when I have to.

Much cheaper to replace pads than clutches. However, here's where my line of thinking differs. A quick downshift isn't much different than an upshift. Depending on your technique, the rpms are going to drop slightly when the clutch is disengaged to upshift or downshift. Once the clutch has grabbed, it's not letting go and won't slip unleuss of course you beat on it regularly. What really burns a clutch up is dropping it at a high rpm from a low speed.

My downshifts are quick. I don't slowly release the clutch lever because that would IMO destroy the clutch quicker since it takes longer to make complete contact with the flywheel or whatever bikes have. Of course, I'm no mechanic and am new to the motorcycle world so what I say isn't a certified opinion.  

Well, I'd say if your driving any with a manual tranny and you left off the gas and don't touch the clutch your engine braking...and then when you want to slow more you rev it up and downshift. I do that all the time in my car and on my bike. and on the bike sometimes you won't even need the brakes.