Riding Style

Pjey0 said:

Looking for advise on using gears for slowing down. I tend to blip the throttle to gear down before hitting the brakes. Is this the how a Rocket is ridden or is it advisable to brake first and then gear down? Also, I hear a loud pop at times during gearing down a high revs. Is this common and ok?

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Hi Pjey.
I was wondering why you asked this question, about how to shift down through the box for slowing down.

So' why you ask the question?
Have you ridden other motorcycles before the Rocket?
Did you brake first and then gear down?
Did you gear down and brake at the same time?

I also gear down a notch, maybe two, when comming up on a curve in the road. Why use the brakes...I will need the lower gear anyway for getting back up to speed, after I have negotiated the bend in the road.

From what I know, it is customary to shift down to slow down a vehicle that has manual shift gears. Whether you tickle the throttle while doing so (foot or hand control) is based on the speed your doing and what you feel as appropriate.

We have a Honda car and I use the little down shift button (on the side of the automatic shift lever) when I need to slow the vehicle down, for example down a steep hill. Saves the brakes a bit.
And you will also see signs that recommend using a lower gear down some steep hills. This is using the engine as a brake...I think quite normal.

Thanks for letting us know the reasons for your questions.

Eric.

the rocket has SFA engine braking ability anyway

R-III-R Turbo said:

the rocket has SFA engine braking ability anyway

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It has plenty of engine braking IF you are in the right gear.

RPMs need to be up near the 5 grand neighborhood.

Hi Out of Taff,The reason I ask is 'cause when I downshift, ocassionally there is a loud pop and at a higher rev it even seems to roll the bike a bit. My previous bikes have been sports bikes which obviously take engine braking very well, but the rocket doesn't seem to.


So my real question is whether the rocket is capable of taking engine braking and handling downshifting at speed or is a specific problem with my bike. If it is my bike, what should I be looking at? Is it adjusting the valves or something else?
Thanks.

slick rick said:

Scot in exile said. forget the un-needed 'posey hero blip crap',leave that for the 'look@me' Hardley wannabes.

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LOL..There's nothing like a Baker Tranny ,it must have been designed for the posey hero..

Do you have the stock exhaust on your bike?

If not, the loud pop you hear is likely the famed decel popping. Its likely even stock piped bikes do it, but they are so well muffled its hard to hear. Its caused by running too lean. Tuneboy, TuneEdit, or Power Commander are your choices for fixing the problem.

slick rick said:

Scot in exile said. forget the un-needed 'posey hero blip crap',leave that for the 'look@me' Hardley wannabes.

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I did I say the darnest things

Pjey0 said:

Hi Out of Taff,The reason I ask is 'cause when I downshift, ocassionally there is a loud pop and at a higher rev it even seems to roll the bike a bit. My previous bikes have been sports bikes which obviously take engine braking very well, but the rocket doesn't seem to.

The beefy Rocket motor produces about 140 brake horse power. I don't think you should high rev down shift. Maybe that is what feels like the "roll the bike a bit" sensation?

You mention the loud pop, I assume your talking about the exhaust popping. Lets say your traveling about 60 mph. You come to a steep hill that you need to ride down, about half way down you find your traveling too fast so you close the throttle. You are not down shifting.
Do you get the exhaust popping sounds during the deceleration? Probably yes!
If yes, then this has nothing to do with down shifting, whether you blip the throttle or not.
Look through some of the threads on this back firing/popping issue. Those who know will tell you that it is tuning your machine needs.

So my real question is whether the rocket is capable of taking engine braking and handling downshifting at speed or is a specific problem with my bike. If it is my bike, what should I be looking at? Is it adjusting the valves or something else?
Thanks.

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I don't know too much about high revving speed machines, I ride my Rocket III very much the same as the bikes I have had in the past; Yamaha Venture Royal (like a Gold Wing), a Virago 1100 and my Bonny. Yes the Rocket is beefier but my riding style has not changed that much.
I think the Rocket has a purpose, but a different purpose than a sports bike and therefore because of the charecteristics, should be ridden differently.
I would not expect a Mini Cooper S to have the same driving feel as a Pontiac.

You ask..."is the rocket is capable of taking engine braking and handling downshifting at speed or is a specific problem with my bike".
I would be careful with that big HP motor and speed shifting down, especially on curves in the road, it may be like applying the rear brake!

These are only my opinions, maybe others can better explain the difference between a ****** rocket (I don't mean to be disrespectful) and Triumph Rocket.

Greetings. Eric.