Coasting

**marks** · 19th May 2008, 17:20

There is one long downhill that my son and I tend to ride with our engines off and in neutral. It means the brakes get a workout but is great run racing (well.. me trying to catch him - as usual) with no engines.

Are we damaging anything - are the gearbox bearings all getting lubed etc?

cheers

Mark

**Danger** · 19th May 2008, 17:23

The gearbox is not engaged so I can't see any problem.

**Danger** · 19th May 2008, 17:24

Although the powerband does need constant lubing.

**merv** · 19th May 2008, 17:51

Haven't checked my Yamaha out but all my Hondas have had pressure fed gearboxes as far as the oil goes so yes you will be running the bearings short of oil compared to when the motor is running - not a good idea in the long run. There is no load on the box in neutral so probably not a viscious thing to be doing but even in neutral the countershaft is spinning in its bearings in the casing and the gears are in constant mesh so spinning on the shafts while not connected through the dogs to be driving.

I used to run my bikes in Maori for a laugh back in the 70's but after pulling one apart and consulting a workshop manual I thought hmmm these things don't have the oil up at the level of the bearings so not a good idea.

I'd say "done that let's move on a be more sensible and try another trick". One thing to do is just have neutral races with your engine ticking over and oil pump working but no chance of using the power or engine braking.

**B0000M** · 19th May 2008, 18:02

Originally Posted by Danger

Although the powerband does need constant lubing.

lol, yea look out you might stretch your powerband, but that would only be a problem if you're pressing the powerband button at the time!

**marks** · 19th May 2008, 21:15

Originally Posted by merv

I used to run my bikes in Maori for a laugh back in the 70's but after pulling one apart and consulting a workshop manual I thought hmmm these things don't have the oil up at the level of the bearings so not a good idea.

I'd say "done that let's move on a be more sensible and try another trick". One thing to do is just have neutral races with your engine ticking over and oil pump working but no chance of using the power or engine braking.

Thanks Merv

whats the "run my bikes in Maori for a laugh" mean?

dead engine races aren't the same if you are idling in neutral.

I did discover that a WR makes a hell of an expensive sounding noise when it dumps itself on rocks without the motor to hide the sounds...

**kevfromcoro** · 19th May 2008, 21:36

whats the "run my bikes in Maori for a laugh" mean?
Think he means nothing working..ie.. the engine.....
Just thinking about freewheeling down a hill..
Well the chain is still conected and i suppose some of the gears are going around....not to sure if it is going to do any serious damage though....
not sure...comments please....
Personally..wouldnt go down a steep gradiant without some sort of engine braking.....

**merv** · 19th May 2008, 21:44

When I was young it was always referred to as Maori overdrive or Maori for short. I am sure Motu would be up with that saying. You know our cuzzies are cunning people, so if you want to go faster down a steep hill you throw it in to neutral so you can go faster than the motor would let you. Most hills aren't steep enough for that of course, but hey its a good concept, right up there with the kotanga (Billy T James car aerial) and especially when we were riding A100s or SL125s.

My favourites back then when I was in ChCh were Mt Pleasant Road and Dyers Pass Road. Both had nice long runs with a lot of curves. Dyers Pass Road had a few flattish spots on the city side that needed a bit of physical encouragement.

Anyway back to the original point you will starve the bearings of oil and many of them are plain bushes on the shafts so not a great idea for longevity.

p.s. 5 posts to go and I hit 5,000 for about the third time on this forum, but then Spank keeps changing stuff and taking hard earned service from our record.

**NordieBoy** · 20th May 2008, 20:15

Originally Posted by kevfromcoro

Personally..wouldnt go down a steep gradiant without some sort of engine braking.....

That's how I feel about 2-strokes too

**Buddy L** · 20th May 2008, 20:28

its a pain when the bike jumps into netural going a hill, and just takes off on you.
Always when you about to take that corner!

**CookMySock** · 20th May 2008, 20:36

how do you get it in neutral ?

If you are moving along quickly (100k plus) and you are clutching and changing down and down looking for neutral, you will be overspeeding the gearbox quite dramatically, particularly if you actually get it in first gear.

DB

**merv** · 20th May 2008, 20:47

You start a Maori race from a standstill in neutral and getting up to speed in the first place is part of the laugh especially if you don't condone pushing the bike to get it moving.

**Buddy L** · 20th May 2008, 20:49

Ill requote that, when im riding my off road bike, on trails or a motorX track(slow speed). and the bike goes into netural because i have miss judged a gear change
Normaly happends between 1st and 2nd, or even 2nd and 3rd, somtimes 3rd and 4th. the bike just builds speed alot quicker then expected(on a down hill).

Iv'e had my zxr250 flat out changing between 5th and 6th jump into false netural on the race track, at 160+. Now that scared me.