Can a bicyclist explain the box full of neutrals / engine braking importance in bikes. Don't know anything about bikes but interested what happened here 
I've not ridden a bike at anything like the level of performance of these guys, but the principles I was taught by my old man some 50+ years ago still work I think ....
On a bike the power/weight ratio is high, as is the brake ability/weight, the first enables you to do wheel spins with ease, the second to lock the brakes with ease. Light weight of the bike is some of the problem
When trying to slow down from high speed on a bike you are VERY cautious regarding the use of the front brake as several things happen if you over do it .. front brake locks up.... you not only lose the ability to steer but the bike nose dives (even with modern anti dive geometry), the back end gets very light and the rear wheel "may" lift of the ground, and not necessarily in line with the front wheel !! you are now in a great position to go straight over the handlebars .... not a good idea TBH
If you apply the rear brake excessively then the rear wheel locks up and you are simply sliding across the ground with very little braking effect, the maximum braking effect is by slowing the rotation of the wheel without it skidding....... THAT is what engine braking does with maximum efficiency, the momentum of the bike over the ground causes the rotation of the wheel which is resisted by the engine compression, no chance of a lock up (unless the engine seizes) and a high degree of stopping power .. which can then be augmented by the bikes brakes applied very carefully.
No engine braking because the bike is in neutral, either through mechanical failure or rider error means the brakes have to do everything, and they simply cannot achieve it.
To a large extent the same thing happens driving HGVs but for a different reason.. you NEVER, EVER clutch in then brake.. the clutch is ALWAYS engaged whilst the brake is operated ( except at very slow speeds obviously) to obtain maximum engine braking at the rear wheels, this is caused however not by light weight but by the heavy weight causing a large momentum value that the brakes alone would struggle to oppose.
It may well be that things have changed with modern bikes, and if so a younger biker will no doubt correct me, but that's how I was taught, and rode , many years ago .....
Author
Topic: Guy martin.... (Read 3755 times)