Say I'm In 5th gear headed for a red light. Can you please explain all of the steps of braking. Tell me if I have it right1. Pull in the clutch, down shift to 4th and ease off the clutch(without applying and throttle)2. Pull in the clutch, down shift the 3rd and ease off the clutch(with applying throttle)3. Pull in the clutch, downshift to 2nd, ease off the clutch and start applying both brakes and then downshift to 1st.I'm a new rider and my msf course didn't really explain engine braking when in 5th gear.
I would stop at 2nd, though. If you're going too fast and you go to 1st, it might throw you off.
im not sure if a dirtbike is the same as a street bike but on the dirtbike i usaully just ease off the throttle hold the clutch in and apply the brake when at the stop sign or red light...but you should probably wait for a person who rides a street bike to answer...i tried to help sorry if it didnt help
You need more training. You can brake in any gear but to come to a smooth, controlled stop at the traffic lights you should come down the gears and approach the lights in 3rd or 2nd and then down to 1st. If you are in town approaching a junction you should never be in 5th gear anyway (unless it'a a tiny little 50cc geared motorcycle, but I presume you are riding a 125 or 250) because either you will be riding too fast or not have enough power. At 30mph on my Fazer 600 I will normally be in 3rd gear.
You are breaking it down into too many sections – in real world riding you do not get the time. First remember that all the controls are progressive not switches. And that your front brake(s) will do most, if not all, your braking. Braking should be concurrent with changing down – at the very least the traffic behind you needs a signal (brake light) that you are slowing – roll off the throttle, apply the front brake, clutch, change down, release clutch, clutch, change down, release clutch to 2nd gear – there is little engine braking from 1st to 2nd on most bikes so you do not get much benefit from releasing the clutch in between 1st and 2nd. Being in 5th heading towards a red light is a little over-eager and will rarely happen.
Almost, Before 1, 00 turn down throttle, let the weight of the bike pull you down to a 4th gear speed, #1 turn down throttle and apply front brake ( Front brake does 80% of all braking) #2 shift to 3rd and turn down throttle, apply or hold front brake, #3 downshift to 2nd and turn down throttle, apply brakes, #4 downshift to 1st and stop, Stay in GEAR until traffic pulls behind you, BE PREPARED to jump if the car behind you doesn't see you or forgets. You can shift to neutral for long lites if you wish. Engine braking is the same in any gear. Don't use a check list, know what you're going to do and do everything at the same time. You asked about stopping at lites, but it isn't necessary to brake or downshift to SL O W down, just turn down the throttle.
