Kill the headlights and put it in neutral...

[Spud]

Anyone like coasting? I do

.

If it's a short steep coast (ie taking off from the top of a pass after a pic) I usually shift up to 5th then just ease the clutch out and ride away when I need power . Holding in the clutch in for very long is not so fun and there's more drag for sure, but on a steep grade the drag doesn't matter.

Dropped into Death Valley this weekend, perfect road for gravity assist. On that descent I put it in neutral and coasted about 10 miles right between 45 and 50 (45mph road). Would not be good to try to grab 2nd even with clutch in at that speed obviously.

It had me wondering--is there any possible harm to the tranny or clutch coasting with the motor off (either in neutral or in a high gear with the clutch in), or "bump" starting in 5th while you're cruising along? I don't "feel" anything bad when I do it...

 

[sporto]

Sounds like a dumb thing to do. Riding has enough inherent risks without purposely introducing additional risk into the equation.

 

[mcatrophy]

... --is there any possible harm to the tranny or clutch coasting with the motor off (either in neutral or in a high gear with the clutch in), or "bump" starting in 5th while you're cruising along? I don't "feel" anything bad when I do it...

First answer: Yes, possible harm because the gearbox relies on oil pressure for proper lubrication - read your Owner's Manual about towing .

Second - no harm that I'm aware of, so long as you don't drop the clutch too severely (don't know if that would do harm, I just don't like the jerk through the whole system).

 

[deagle]

Coasting is fun and quiet....but like mcatrophy says, they warn about it in the owners manual.

 

[ERS]

Where I live the Highway Safety Act doesn't allow coasting for any vehicle.

224. When travelling down grade, no driver of a vehicle shall cause the
vehicle to coast with the gears of the vehicle in neutral or the clutch
disengaged. R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. H-6, s.209.

I agree with Sporto that you're introducing another risk factor unnecessarily if you need to respond quickly to a situation. However sometimes on a long grade I'll pull in the clutch and let the bike pick up speed. Feels good.

I doubt that it would harm the drive train.

 

[TomInPA]

I've done it a few times, and I don't think in neutral there is any potential harm, or at least none I've ever experienced. Death Valley is a good coast, and also a long stretch along Utah Hwy 95 eastbound in Glen River, but I kind of like the bike under power better.

 

[roger dodger]

Yeah , I did it to hear how quiet the ride was down a mountain just west of Glacier NP. Not a car in sight... just silence...

Then we (almost ) ran into a bunch of cattle who were grazing lazily all over the road and ditches!!!

No horn, no lights, so we braked and yelled at them.

Scarry **** for a moment! Then all quiet again.

The only gain is a (slight) boost to your mpg. I'd call it neat, but worthless risk. YMMV

 

[Bugnatr]

Death Valley is king of coasting land! A few years back a buddy broke a chain on his DRZ 400 on Wild Rose road. I used my mighty KLR 650 to pull him up to Aguereberry Point road where coasted all the way to Stovepipe Wells.

19.5 miles!!!!! Been back on the feejeer and clocked it for the record. He got up to 50 mph and even passed some slow car on the way down.

Love coasting on my Supermoto

 

[Fred W]

I'd leave the engine running so you have oil pressure. Otherwise, coast away!

 

[Spud]

Sounds like a dumb thing to do. Riding has enough inherent risks without purposely introducing additional risk into the equation.

I'm guessing holding a phone in one hand to video while you do it doesn't improve your opinion....

 

[Bugnatr]

Sounds like a dumb thing to do. Riding has enough inherent risks without purposely introducing additional risk into the equation.

He's just jealous because Minnesota is too flat to coast.

 

[Geezer]

I haven't coasted in many years, but I do sometimes ride downhill in high gear and feather the throttle to minimize compression braking or acceleration. Similar, but not the same.

 

[lnewlf]

Coasted down Mt. Washington once on my GS Sazook.....warped the hell out of all three rotors...never do that again...

 

[Brodie]

There is a way to work an AE transmission all the way up to 5th gear without fully engaging the clutch. I've done it a few times while heading down a hill. Kinda cool to be rolling around 50 - 60 mph while idling, and then just twist the throttle a bit to continue when things start to level out.

Brodie

 

[mcatrophy]

There is a way to work an AE transmission all the way up to 5th gear without fully engaging the clutch. I've done it a few times while heading down a hill. Kinda cool to be rolling around 50 - 60 mph while idling, and then just twist the throttle a bit to continue when things start to level out. Brodie

I've found myself coasting at 40-50 mph with the clutch disengaged and the gearbox still set in first gear. Now, that's exciting to sort out.
Never tried doing what you suggest, how did you do it? I don't really want to, but enquiring minds and all that.

 

[bergmen]

In neutral with the engine not running, your bevel gears (and the bearings that support the shafts for those gears) and transmission output shaft bearings are running dry since they rely on engine supplied oil pressure for lubrication. It is okay for short runs (a mile or two) but I would not take it any longer than that. Same for chain drive minus the bevel gear parts.

Dan

 

[HotRodZilla]

Coasting with the key off is 'effing stupid.

 

[Niehart]

Spud, a bunch of us did that in Glacier Park. Rolled into one of the turn-outs in stealth mode.The folks that were taking pictures turned around to walk back to their car and about had a heart attack. We were, kind of a been on the road 7 days, grungy bunch. But as you know, we were soon talking with the picture takers and were also in their pictures.

 

[Brodie]

There is a way to work an AE transmission all the way up to 5th gear without fully engaging the clutch. I've done it a few times while heading down a hill. Kinda cool to be rolling around 50 - 60 mph while idling, and then just twist the throttle a bit to continue when things start to level out.Brodie

I've found myself coasting at 40-50 mph with the clutch disengaged and the gearbox still set in first gear. Now, that's exciting to sort out.
Never tried doing what you suggest, how did you do it? I don't really want to, but enquiring minds and all that.

It's easier to do it when cold, but works when warmed up...

When first starting out from a dead stop accelerate slowly, and just before the clutch fully engages - shift while letting up a little on the throttle. The transmission will engage the next gear with the clutch still disengaged. Keep slipping and short shifting until you reach fifth gear. Try it on a down hill portion of road, the object is to be in the right gear for the speed that you are coasting.

I don't do it that much, but it is a neat technique for this bike - it can be done.

Next, I have to figure out how to bump start the thing.

Brodie