Just a couple of observations while totally agreeing with Shazaam! A single cylinder engine on compression stroke with a shut throttle is basically trying to stall, this effect is reduced by either adding extra cylinders with different firing orders, hence multi-cylinder bikes having less engine braking for a equal compression ratio, or as already mentioned increasing the inertia, ie a heavier bottom end, hence race bikes using lightened and ballanced crankshafts for better engine response. On a race bike more engine braking is often a good thing, especially on a twin when combined with a slipper clutch, as it is easier to change the bikes direction when the engine revs are lower due to the gyroscopic effect of all that mass/inertia trying to travel in one direction. There was something else I was going to add but its slipped my mind at present, poor old brains on over drive preparing two bikes for the TT, 48hrs from now and I will be on the Ferry. |