Coasting

Its not coasting its just a very very long gearchange ...

If coasting is illegal, where does that leave the old SAAB 92 (two stroke engined car, still to be seen out and about eg on car rallies) ?? That had a 'freewheel' facility built in ....

[punyXpress]

. . as did the mid-50's ' Auntie ' Rover.

I feel like I'm in control when coasting. I can emergency brake if a hazard appears, and shift into a gear quickly if I need too.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Better to select a high gear that gives an rpm with limited/no engine braking and "coast" through roundabouts and such holding just enough throttle to kill the engine braking.

Roundabouts I defo do this, be it car or bike. It's more when stopping at a set of lights or junctions. Shift into neutral, coast braking at a reasonable rate, stop if needs be or choose appropiate gear if lights change,etc.

[Kirkybhoy]

actually being taught as part of driving lessons now teaching to coast up to junctions etc to reduce emissions. comes under eco-driving..

What a crock of sh1te, no one will ever convince me about this, I'd rather spend the extra pennies and be in gear ready to get out of trouble thanks, I'm not that desperate to save £0.20 on a tank full of fuel.

Wanna save money on fuel, buy a small diesel Eco car that does 80 mpg.

Its turning into one of those threads again....

I remain to be convinced by the arguments about coasting, as it seems like you're deliberately putting the vehicle into an unstable state for the sake of 20p of fuel.

When I was learning to drive, the advice was to slow down in the gear you were currently in and then block change to the appropriate gear that traffic conditions required for roundabouts and junctions, and to only change into neutral at traffic lights if you weren't the first vehicle.

True definition of coasting: is it to have the clutch in completely regardless of what gear you're in, or to be in neutral or both? If I cruise up to lights or junctions I might pull clutch in, knock down to first from whatever i was in then stop, again due to laziness. I usually sit in first gear anyway unless I know I'm going to be sat a while. Re: tests, I did it in training and asked about doing it on my test and I was told "If you feel in control then it's not an issue, you are not being taught to ride the bike, just to pass the test"

I would class your example is a block gearchange (X to 1, as 1st is the proper gear for acceleration from 0-10mph). For me, neutral is only appropriate if you're stationary and secure in that state (for example, at traffic lights with stationary traffic behind - if there is a gap behind, keep it in gear to aid an escape if required).

[MisterTommyH]

I coast when I get back home and it's quite late.....try and keep the noise down a bit.

I don't see the point of doing it for any other reason. Most people on here aren't riding bikes for economy, but for fun, so the little bit 'arguably' saved with be completely outweighed when you gun in a mile down the road.