How do YOU stop?

[chithanh119]

Hey everyone... I'm curious how everyone slows down and stops...

1. Do you downshift until you have to hold in your clutch and brake?
2. Do you just hold in your clutch and use your brake?
3. Do you throw it into neutral and use your brake?

I usually do #1, but I'm not sure if I'm totally the only one... and if it's a bad practice.

[DesertSpeed]

Normally #1, or something like it. There have been a couple of times of just the rear brake to get the rear to come around enough that I can launch out perpendicular to the way I was going. Something I learned in motocross. Also a handy skill on a V-rod.
My last hard stop resulted in a "stoppie" and ended with a broken bolt on my left foot peg. Next time I going to wheelie through the damn golf cart.

[unfknblvbl]

I stop similar to number #1, but I try to downshift while "feathering" the front and rear brake, trying to make it all work in unison so they all get similar amounts of use throughout the stop. It usually works out where I reduce my speed faster than I downshift, so lets say I was doing 40 and in 4th gear. I'll slow down to 30 then downshift to 3rd and so on. Probably a longer explanation than, but hell I confused myself in the beginning.

[JCourneyaP]

All depends on the stop...........

I use my front brake more than my back.

I brake to slow down enough to down shift. Let the engine work, brake somemore, downshift......La de da... Never force a down shift.

Both brakes on a "hard quick stop" lever in down shifting like a mo fo.

I find neutral just before my foot touches down if its going to be a long stop. With one eye looking at whats coming up behind me. I just dont like sitting for a few minutes with tension on the cable and cluth dis-engaged. I also do this in my 4 legged vehicle.

To me down shifting and braking in combination are the norm.

[Motorman7]

usually i like to keep the revs in the correct power band so the engine does not lugg. If i am coming up on a light or an intersection and wish to slow down, but not stop will insure i am in the correct gear and rev range so as to apply more power or be prepared to slow down even further. If i get into a situation where i have to stop ASAP, and i am in a higher gear, maybe third or fourth, i just pull in the clutch and use both front and rear brakes together and go down through the gears untill i get to first when i am completely stopped.

[Rocky]

Never really thought about it, it's just something you do kinda like reflexes. I'll think about it next time I stop though.

[DesertSpeed]

I'm sure the big inch engines are like the high compression Revo in providing plenty of engine braking. I avoid the rear brake when down shifting to keep the rear tire from skidding since I don't have a slipper clutch.
I can also drop the V-rod in to first at 40mph if I rev the engine up to match it. It makes for some awesome riding in the twisties. The Revo redlines around around 56mph in first. Even riding double, first and second gears give me a lot of options in the mountains.
My son used to hate riding behind us in the twisties because I never use the brakes. He's learning. His '82 GL500 is really a good ride for a "rookie" in the hills, even though it is a bit tall. So is he at 6'4". He's already had one rear wheel lock-up by down shifting and using the rear brake. Luckily it was at a stop sign and not on a corner. He took his dirt bike out a practiced engine braking on it. He got pretty good at power braking and launching out.

[EZE RIDER]

#1 most of the time for the reason Steel and others stated. Which is to always be in a gear that you can accelerate away from danger if necessary. Sometimes I get caught with an abrupt stop and there is no time to downshift. In this case I just grab every lever and let my brains antilock kick in.

[Hammerhead Pat]

Mostly use the method described in option #1. I also try to wear a good soled boot in case I'm forced into the "Fred Flinstone" method

[Rocky]

#1 unless forced into abrupt stops.