Mountain Riding Tips #1

Engine Braking – Finding the Sweet Spot

A while back I took two guys from the flat lands out for a day of “spirited” riding on some of my secret mountain back roads. They were on some pretty hot machines and were looking to put them to the test. After ripping through one of my favorite stretches of twisty two lane, I pulled into a gas station for a break to see how they were liking the roads so far. “Thank God you stopped” said one, “My rear brake is about gone”. Sure enough, he’d cooked it to the point of fading and we waited a while for it to cool down again before heading back out. It was hard to understand – I’d barely hit the brakes at all that morning and I’d been the one setting the pace.

This article is not about how to use your brakes properly. That’s another subject. I’m going to explain how to ride at the pace you want and hardly use your brakes at all. This isn’t to say I never use my brakes, or that when you are really pushing it aggressive but controlled braking isn’t necessary. But in most normal riding you can use the resisting force of your bikes engine to not only control your speed, but have more power available and better control of your bike. The key is to find the sweet spot and maintain it.

Engine braking is something you’re already familiar with. Normally, your bikes engine drives the bike forward when you roll on the throttle. The engine pushes the bike. Engine braking is felt when you shut the throttle down. The energy of the bikes motion is now transferring to an engine which is no longer supplying power. Forward energy is being spent spinning the engine and is felt as resistance like a brake. The bike slows. The bike is pushing the engine.

Another example is commonly seen in the mountains, particularly on long downhill sections. About half way down the hill you start to smell it – brakes cooking. Looking ahead at the long line of cars and bikes I see a line of red tail lights. Everyone is riding the brakes to slow them on the downhill – except me. All I did was drop down a gear, sometimes two. Throttle closed, the engine is doing all the braking I need. When that opening in the traffic comes and I roll on the throttle to jump around and pass the line, I’m often right in the start of the power band for my engine and I zip on by.

It’s obvious to see how engine braking works on the hill. It can work just as well at controlling your speed as you carve through the curves. It’s one advantage to having all those gears to choose from. Master it, and you’ll have better control of your bike and save a ton on brake jobs.

One of the most useful places engine braking can come into play is on the Blue Ridge Parkway. With a set speed limit, relatively consistent curves and grades, it’s easy to find the one or two gears which match 80% of the conditions on the road. Top gear is rarely optimum. Seek the highest gear you can ride in that still slows you enough when you ease back on the throttle to enter a turn at the speed you’re comfortable with. Roll into the turn and gently maintain or increase the throttle as you carve through it for good control. Accelerate out of the last part of the turn, then as you approach the next, ease back on the throttle to set up for the next one. It won’t take long to find the sweet spot, and you’ll be amazed at the way the bike handles better than when you’re on the brakes.

It’s all about finding the right rhythm. As you become more adept at the skill, you’ll be more aware not only of your abilities, but how much more your bike is capable of when ridden well. Even when getting sporty, I always look for the sweet spot, just the right gear to carry into a turn so I don’t touch the brakes. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can go, feeling more in control of the bike, and how much more responsive it is. On the occasions where the brakes are needed you’ve got 100% of them in reserve.

Find your sweet spot and you’ll find more control of your motorcycle. Increase your safety and have more fun in riding it.

Wayne@americaridesmaps.com

>> Go to America rides Maps.comhttp://americaridesmaps.com

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