[KemahNightrod]

Is there any negative effects to the engine for doing this? Perhaps messing up the clutch if I downshift to 1st gear at 40 mph a few times... but other than that?

 

[mikep]

Personally I think down shifting is good because it allows you stop faster. Not needed for everyday stopping, but a good habit that will come in handy in an emergency stopping situation. Also if you need to start off again quickly (someone coming too quick to stop behind you) you are already in gear ready to go, as opposed to having to down shift a bunch of gears to get back in first.

I have read a study on emergency braking that says in does not make a difference, but I personally feel it does.

The bad thing about down shifting, is if you do not do it at the right time, you can be creating pretty heavy compression on your engine. And I have been told that this is a reason you will see oil drops along the seems of the case of an engine.

Personally I have a habit of always giving gas with the clutch in while down shifting for a softer shift. The V-Rod's don't have the delayed response of carb bikes that I have owned that made giving gas while down shifting easier IMHO. But still helps, I just need to roll it on a little longer than before where I only needed to give it a small jolt of throttle to down shift smoothly.

 

[KemahNightrod]

Well, if I'm slowing merely to slow down, yes... I give it gas during the shift to make it smooth like you said... but if I'm stopped... I just downshift and slowly let the clutch out while lightly pressing front and rear break levers.

 

[Yajtsa]

I may be way off base, but I've been told that the clutch is "wet" (bathed in oil) it doesn't hurt to use it to slow down. However, in a car, whose clutch is "dry", it does wear down the clutch plate faster and since brake pads are cheaper you shouldn't do it.

 

[Podmore]

Whether in a car or a bike, 'blipping' the throttle to match the gearbox input shaft revs to the revs of the gear selected will both ease the transient load on the clutch and make for smoother downshifts - wet or dry clutch makes no difference and wear considerations are negligible.

 

[KWIKR]

I use mine to slow down all the time but instead of throttle I feather the clutch to pick up the RPM's on the bike whe I am trying to stop I am not wanting to play with the throttle too same thing when I drive big trucks haven't had any issues yet every once in I while I'll squelp the rear tire but I hardly use brakes so it is easliy overcome

 

[VRod RS]

Whether in a car or a bike, 'blipping' the throttle to match the gearbox input shaft revs to the revs of the gear selected will both ease the transient load on the clutch and make for smoother downshifts - wet or dry clutch makes no difference and wear considerations are negligible.

Yeap I do this all the time.. makes for a MUCH smoother downshift and it is very natural to do..

 

[Podmore]

I use mine to slow down all the time but instead of throttle I feather the clutch to pick up the RPM's on the bike whe I am trying to stop I am not wanting to play with the throttle too same thing when I drive big trucks haven't had any issues yet every once in I while I'll squelp the rear tire but I hardly use brakes so it is easliy overcome

If you're "squelping the rear tire" you're actually part way to compression lock-up - not good especiallyin the wet! Feathering the clutch to get the rear wheel to push the motor to higher rpms will defintely increase wear on the clutch - you're technically using it like a disc brake in reverse .... the longer the plates are slipping against each other, the more wear you'll get. You have much more control if you practice the art of rev-matching for a quick smooth downshift. As a truckie you'll no doubt have long ago mastered the art of double-clutching - similar thing really!