I do a good job of matching the revs with the bikes speed so I like to engine brake most of the time I ride. I just bought $150 worth of brake pads so I kinda want to make them last lol what do you guys think? Does Engine braking wear out the engine??
done with good rev matching little or no effect on engine life. A small increase in fuel consumption of course. One upside of engine braking is that you are automatically in the correct gear to pull away in a hurry if conditions change suddenly. Also easier to downshift progressively while slowing than to change from 5th t o1st while stationary.
you can check it yourself by raising that wheel off the ground then trying to shake it.
Engine braking on a bike is often a necessary thing but t does place wear and stress on the gearbox and clutch. Just as in a car brakes are cheaper than gearboxes and clutches so the brakes should be used whenever safe than engine braking. Some high performance road bikes have slipper clutches which prevent or greatly reduce the engine braking anyway.
To a point, yes, engine braking puts extra stress of certain parts of the engine. It usually isn't all that noticeable in the long run. You might wear out your clutch a couple thousand miles earlier, but your brake pads might last a couple thousand miles longer. Any time you rev up the engine, you are increasing some stresses on the engine over simply letting it idle. Those stresses use up an engine a tiny bit faster. But idling an engine is still using it. I tend to not use engine braking on the road very much. It's easier and cheaper to change out brake pads than clutches, though neither job is all that difficult. I do use engine braking as well as the rear brake a lot in the dirt, but again, clutches and brakes aren't all that difficult to replace. Most motorcycle engines will easily last 100,000 miles and much more if taken care of and not abused. When I can't fix them economically anymore, I sell the bike and find another used one to use up.
If installed correctly the bearing should be fine.
