Using Engine Braking on steep hills

[gull_s_777]

Hi everyone...
1. As everyone knows while riding in hilly areas if you rely on your drum brakes, they can get overheat pretty quick resulting in no grip after a shortwhile which can be dangerous if you need a sudden stop.
So while riding on steep hills, i try to use engine braking as much as possible.
But sometimes on very steep hills, even engine braking in 2nd gear is not enough so i use 1st gear which gives me enough braking power. But this lead to very high RPMs in 1st gear, i am pretty sure it will be red lining if i have the RPM meter. So all i wanna know that is it ok??? can it harm the engine??
2. If drums are overheated, is it advisable to put water on them to quickly cool them down??? If No, why???

Thanks in advance

[amjad635]

Gull bro Yes its harmful sudden shift from above gears to first gear/low gears
i can say this as some times by mistake i shift from high to low gear
toh bike buhat zor ka jhatka dete hai aur buhat kharaab awaaz karte hai
which definitely tells shows, engine did not like that at all
So its not the good way to slow down bike and by doing this chain can cut
infact i think its dangerous way to slow down bike. dangerous for bike engine

[devilskreed]

Bhai jaan first of all..Changing gears on steep roads inclining/declining is not at all recommended..It puts extra load on the engine thereby reducing its life..High RPM on first gear is not at all advisedI rpmin red region is dangerous for engine inthe long run).When you are approaching a steep area upward inclined,Increase the throttle before you start climbing,then as you approach the steep end stop the throttle and let the bike slow down via engine break,then apply break..

Also if you think the approaching steep incline would force you to shift on first gear,,slow down and shift to first gear before you climb...

[gull_s_777]

hey guys i am not asking about climbing, just about coming down.....
and there is no jhatka , i shift stepwise and leave clutch gently .....
Lets put it like this,
I am in the 3rd gear going at 30Km/h and descending is started , so i leave the throttle, put the bike in 2nd and it starts slowing down, after a while it is slowed down to 20Km/h, but i need it to be at 10Km/h because there is a turn ahead so i pull the clutch , shift down to 1st gear and leave the cluth gently, so no Jhatka nothing, and i am in 1st gear and bike slows down to 10Km/h nicely, with almost negligible use of brakes. Now like this, i can go on for hours without overheating my brakes but all i wanna know that how do that high RPMs in 1st gear will effect the engine....

[gull_s_777]

Bhai jaan first of all..Changing gears on steep roads inclining/declining is not at all recommended..It puts extra load on the engine thereby reducing its life..High RPM on first gear is not at all advisedI rpmin red region is dangerous for engine inthe long run).When you are approaching a steep area upward inclined,Increase the throttle before you start climbing,then as you approach the steep end stop the throttle and let the bike slow down via engine break,then apply break..

Also if you think the approaching steep incline would force you to shift on first gear,,slow down and shift to first gear before you climb...

wao....
i am guessing you have never been to Northern Areas

[devilskreed]

Never on a bike..But many times on my CJ-5 jeep

[asjdsm]

Hi everyone...

1. As everyone knows while riding in hilly areas if you rely on your drum brakes, they can get overheat pretty quick resulting in no grip after a shortwhile which can be dangerous if you need a sudden stop.
So while riding on steep hills, i try to use engine braking as much as possible.
But sometimes on very steep hills, even engine braking in 2nd gear is not enough so i use 1st gear which gives me enough braking power. But this lead to very high RPMs in 1st gear, i am pretty sure it will be red lining if i have the RPM meter. So all i wanna know that is it ok??? can it harm the engine??
2. If drums are overheated, is it advisable to put water on them to quickly cool them down??? If No, why???

Thanks in advance

i have been numerous times to murree and countless times to pir sohava in islamabad.. jo sohava ki charhai utrai ha wo murree ka rasta ma nai athi.. aik do jagoo pa athi ha laikin itni charai/utrai nai jitni pir sohava ki ha.. and i use first gear and slow rpm and slight brake .. but i never touch clutch .. i have had no issue so far.. rpm khud bakhud nai bar jatah .. they increase if u give race... u can try first or second gear.. i would recomend first gear and speed should be very little...

and do max use of front brake as that provides 70 % braking power and rear provides 30 % .. opposite of what we learned while cycling..

regarding pouring water on drum brakes to cool it is not advisible.. as sudden cooling and heating is dangrous and makes the metal brittle and porous.. instead leave it to cool on itself.. thats the best..

[Automotorsport_Lover]

Use gear to manage speed, but do not down shift suddenly...
Use brake to lower speed, bring down the rpm and then put it in1 st gear...

Brake pads are easy to replace - brakes get cool easily too - so dont put too much strain on ur engine.

[raza1]

Use gear to manage speed, but do not down shift suddenly...
Use brake to lower speed, bring down the rpm and then put it in1 st gear...

Brake pads are easy to replace - brakes get cool easily too - so dont put too much strain on ur engine.

Are u sure? I have heard that braking should be avoided while coming down as ur brake pads may finish in between resulting in fatal accident.

Even in prius there is B mode, which is engine braking mode, so i think engine braking is advisable not the brake pad braking.

Too many najaiz tajawizaat on my Signature Space!

[Automotorsport_Lover]

U misunderstood the meaning...

I am saying that engine is difficult and expensive to rebuild thus u have to take care of it too...
Putting too much load on the engine and leaving the brakes to rest isnt a wise idea...

Contrary to misconception - ur brakes dnt wear out while coming down the hill... they just heat up under constant braking and loose their braking power.

So simutaneous use of engine braking and brakes is recommended where u dont heat up ur brakes and u dnt blow up ur engine!

Auto transmission of prius is altogether another case

[imranbhatti]

^Agreed. Red lining the engine while steep down is not recomended so if the speed is exceptionaly increasing in 1st gear too then rider must use both brakes along with engine braking to slow down the bike to certain level but shud remain concious enough that break leather didnt got heat up if not controlable then shud get bike rest wenever he felt that brakes are loosing grip or feel smell etc.

[gull_s_777]

Never on a bike..But many times on my CJ-5 jeep

you are missing out the fun....
As your running is over now, try to have a mini trip to pir sohawa at least....

[Xulfiqar]

and what to do in case of 2 stroke? - zero engine braking - KALMA SHAHADAT... - BANG - ............................ fateha

[gull_s_777]

and what to do in case of 2 stroke? - zero engine braking - KALMA SHAHADAT... - BANG - ............................ fateha

that's a million dollar question
i am gonna wait for Hidalgo to comment on that

[eyeliner]

Dear friend

I m using Yahamaha YBR 125, when i go to hill road while climing and crossing other car in 1 and 2nd gear my bike is missing. what is the issue ?

Hi everyone...
1. As everyone knows while riding in hilly areas if you rely on your drum brakes, they can get overheat pretty quick resulting in no grip after a shortwhile which can be dangerous if you need a sudden stop.
So while riding on steep hills, i try to use engine braking as much as possible.
But sometimes on very steep hills, even engine braking in 2nd gear is not enough so i use 1st gear which gives me enough braking power. But this lead to very high RPMs in 1st gear, i am pretty sure it will be red lining if i have the RPM meter. So all i wanna know that is it ok??? can it harm the engine??
2. If drums are overheated, is it advisable to put water on them to quickly cool them down??? If No, why???

Thanks in advance

[eyeliner]

Dear friend

I m using Yahamaha YBR 125, when i go to hill road while climing and crossing other car in 1 and 2nd gear my bike is missing. what is the issue ?

[mehran]

Engine braking causes no damage to most engines except 2 stroke engines as very rightly pointed out by our respected Xulfiqar sir. I use engine braking a lot when coming downhill from Muree or in the Salt Range part of motorway. I am sure 4 stroke motorcycle engines behave the same way and no harm comes if engine braking is used. Of course some brake force should be used on very steep slopes. Life is most important!