Does anybody else sometimes use their clutch as a brake - as slower speeds ? Accelerate away and you can see you will have to stop again a short distance ahead. So accelerate - then lift the clutch / close the throttle (instead of giving it another gear ) Then drop the clutch which acts as a brake due to the engine compression - which slows you as you approach the stop sign. Is this normal ?
Yes I did on my SS I was taught engine braking after I learnt to drive and out in the van with an old boss of mine who was old school and told me never to rely on brakes Still do it with my mini
Its the big reason non racers have slipper clutches fitted to their bikes -to stop the back wheel locking up.
Thank you for your replies - so quite common then. Not all bikes handled it the same. I remember the Ducati Monster would stop almost immediately doing that, whereas other bikes did not have so much engine breaking would roll easier for a bit after dumping the clutch. @Ducbird - never thought of doing this with a car ! It was a useful skill I suppose before anti-lock brakes became widespread. Not sure when anti-lock brakes came out - but pretty sure my Dad's Peugeot 504 did not have them ! @Biot - I bet that is a class bike to ride, sounds like you enjoy riding it @broke - agreed, the sensible thing to do. I feel the same about wheelies actually - stretching the chain, front wheel crashing down. A mate cracked the fork yoke thing on his ZX6R. Just happened to notice a bloomin great crack in it - from doing wheelies - and he is good at them, but it still broke the bike eventually. @chrisw - good point, but somehow the habit is now hard wired - especially on days when you feel a bit more "up for it" ! @MarkTMB - it does depend a bit on the bike - not sure what you are riding. It is a useful trick. Right - it is not raining and a new helmet to test - offski !
I have only just experienced a slipper on my reasonably recent 996...have to admit, don't like it...it feels like I have less control as I can feel the clutch cutting into the braking forces...I do heavily use engine braking.
True enough the engine braking is reduced, but you can drop gears fast, at higher speeds and not be forced into rear wheel skidding. Perhaps after some more time riding you'll come to like like it?
