Engine braking

[UncleFester]

So i've been hacking 80 miles a day to work on back for the last 6 weeks on the CB500 and it's pretty clear there is plenty of engine braking. What i don't know ( being a n00b) and am interested in finding out is what other bikes are like in this regard.

I know an IL4 won't have anywhere near as much and i'd have to adjust my riding style but what about stuff like Triumph Street Triple - do these offer something similar to the CB500?

I do like being able to roll off the throttle and lose speeed ... equally it's nice to just close the throttle and have it clatter and bang out of the exhaust but that's just me being a noisy git

Is engine braking just a lazy way of avoiding to learn to brake properly or is it genuinely a handy tool to ride with.
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2017 Z1000SX

[robertw95]

I found the daytona 675 to have pretty similar engine braking to my sv, if out on a spirited run I often find myself not touching brakes for miles on end setting speed up purely on engine braking aslongs there is no cars behind
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07 Dt125r, sv650s k8, zx6rr 04

[robertw95]

I found the daytona 675 to have pretty similar engine braking to my sv, if out on a spirited run I often find myself not touching brakes for miles on end setting speed up purely on engine braking aslongs there is no cars behind
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07 Dt125r, sv650s k8, zx6rr 04

[UncleFester]

That's what i've been doing and just focussing on moving along smoothly .... only have to use the brakes for approaching roundabouts or in heavy stop start traffic - the rest of the time i just moderate the speed using the clutch / gears. Quite happy and able to get quickly and fairly smoothly up to speed but it just feels natural to shed the speed without using the brakes unless I have to.

I realise this is not a sports bike approach to riding ... but then i'm really not that kind of biker.

I've also got one eye on the next bike ..... but still love the way the twin gives its power.
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2017 Z1000SX

[orac]

10 mile to work and the brakes only get used on the a downhill section where I need to turn into a junction and at 3 set of light, unless I am having a spirited ride to or from work. and thats on a IL4. the gs5 was did have stronger hold back so you could back off a little later, however any difference is negated by the fact the little 400 is quicker through and out of the bends. it all depends on how you ride.

a buddy rides ducs and reckons the engine braking on them is pretty strong.
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Current rides - 2016 Triumph Street Triple Rx, 1994 Suzuki Bandit 400 VM, TGB 204 Classic 125cc
"with nothing left to lose, there is everything to gain. It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog"

[G]

[Supermoto_Fan]

Chopping the throttle on my SV propels your nuts into the tank. Immense engine breaking from the V twin dropping a cog whilst up in tbe 5 - 6k area.

*probably made worse by tbe poor suspension both front and rear and tbe loud exhaust.
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Yamaha MT-09 - Triple powerrrr

[robertw95]

I also agree much stronger braking on sv compared to my 636
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07 Dt125r, sv650s k8, zx6rr 04

[Albigularis]

In general, more cylinders = less engine braking. Parallel twin engine braking seems to be much more severe on the ER5/6 that I've tried than any other bike I've ever been on. The BMW twin cylinder boxer engines have very little engine braking, at 3k rpm on a cold engine it almost has cruise control if you just let go.
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Biking history so far-
Aprilia RS125 - Kawasaki ZXR400 - Triumph Street Triple R - Suzuki GSXR1000 L3 - BMW R1200GS - Kawasaki Z1000 - Kawasaki ZX10R C1H - Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring - Suzuki Hayabusa

[bikertomm]

[Pigeon]

[lynnnsr]

Barely need the brakes if I plan ahead enough on my NTV (V-twin) - engine braking is often enough
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NSR 125 (with L-Plates) > 1994 NTV 650 > 2015 CB650F > 16 VFR800F

[G]

[kramdra]

IL4 gets similar engine braking at high RPM as more friction. Twins make more vacuum at low rpm.

IL4 sports also go faster than commuter twins, so there is the benefit of high speed drag. Sitting up while shutting the throttle at 140mph, with a large topbox fitted is quite interesting

[UncleFester]

I also wonder how much of this is subjective and relative to experience?

A world where 14k rpm is possible exists in a different dimension at the moment and the point where my skill would be able to utilise it is sat right next to it.
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2017 Z1000SX

[talkToTheHat]

I can ride my 535 on nearly idle and it will cruise leisurely... And fart and go nowhere if I grab a fistful of throttle. Or I can ride it like one is supposed to, keeping it in the upper half of the rev range, and the throttle works both ways to control my speed reasonably precisely, complete with a good dose of crackle and pop, particularly descending a hill in second gear, keeping a constant 30 without touching the brakes. Will put my balls in the tank and unsettle the rear end if I'm properly hamfisted with the downshifts.

Engine braking and regular brakes is tricky to the point where under hard braking I train myself to lose the speed with brakes and *then* shift down so my emergency brake reaction has less to juggle. There's no point engine braking and having to concentrate on modulating clutch, throttle and rear brake so as not to lock the rear when my rear brake is significantly smoother. It's a case of being ble to pick the stratergy that works, but being able to use engine braking is part of being in a responsive gear, which is sensible and safe and what you should be doing.

I had the luxury of riding most of snake pass eastbound when I did my bikesafe with the instructions of avoid using my brakes unless I felt I needed to. Used them at traffic lights midway and to slow for a corner after a brisk overtake and otherwise was an exercise in throttle control. Fuel economy significantly improved.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[Pigeon]

[robertw95]

The Daytona engines are slightly different I beleive so maybe that's why I also only got about 15 mins on it but defenitely had good engine braking a bit less than the sv but not by much
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07 Dt125r, sv650s k8, zx6rr 04