Does the Spyder SE have engine braking?

[Dubliner]

I’ve been looking around to see if the semi automatic SpYders have any engine braking or is it all dependent on the braking system. I’ve ridden sidecars for years and engine braking and a swift swing of the rear end is often sufficient to scrub off speed. Can the SE models to do something similar or do you have to have the manual model for that?

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I’ve been looking around to see if the semi automatic SpYders have any engine braking or is it all dependent on the braking system. I’ve ridden sidecars for years and engine braking and a swift swing of the rear end is often sufficient to scrub off speed. Can the SE models to do something similar or do you have to have the manual model for that?

I don't think there is any real engine braking effect, because the load is what triggers the Nanny to downshift. Manually downshifting the SE trans. will give engine braking ......Mike .....PS swiftly swinging the rear end of any Spyder will trigger the Nanny and she will cut off the engine temporarily - this will be engine braking because of the electrical dis-connect from Nanny .

[BoilerAnimal]

I’ve been looking around to see if the semi automatic SpYders have any engine braking or is it all dependent on the braking system. I’ve ridden sidecars for years and engine braking and a swift swing of the rear end is often sufficient to scrub off speed. Can the SE models to do something similar or do you have to have the manual model for that?

The SE's have pretty strong engine braking, at least with the 998's. I've only test ridden a 1330 once, so I can't really give an honest opinion regarding them.

Just shut off the cruise at 60 MPH in fourth year on a 998 and you will feel an immediate and pronounced slowdown. And if you do that without warning, your co-pilot you may well give you an ear full of "feedback" if it was done without a good reason.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

The SE's have pretty strong engine braking, at least with the 998's. I've only test ridden a 1330 once, so I can't really give an honest opinion regarding them.

Just shut off the cruise at 60 MPH in fourth year on a 998 and you will feel an immediate and pronounced slowdown. And if you do that without warning, your co-pilot you may well give you an ear full of "feedback" if it was done without a good reason.

I just went out and used your method on my 1330 SE -RT ..... For me I felt nothing like what you did, while maintaining the same throttle application ..... If I released the throttle the Spyder started to slow but I think that's normal if you aren't supplying gas ...... I then brought the Spyder back to 60mph and MANUALLY down-shifted, there was engine braking, but not as much as remember from my MANUAL TRANS. days .....Mike

[Dubliner]

The SE's have pretty strong engine braking, at least with the 998's. I've only test ridden a 1330 once, so I can't really give an honest opinion regarding them.

Just shut off the cruise at 60 MPH in fourth year on a 998 and you will feel an immediate and pronounced slowdown. And if you do that without warning, your co-pilot you may well give you an ear full of "feedback" if it was done without a good reason.

Thanks for that BoilerAnimal, automatics don’t generally have a braking effect in automobiles but I was hoping the Spyder was different as it has a regular gearbox matched to an automatic clutch I believe.

[JayBros]

Thanks for that BoilerAnimal, automatics don’t generally have a braking effect in automobiles but I was hoping the Spyder was different as it has a regular gearbox matched to an automatic clutch I believe.

In any automobile automatic transmission I've owned to take advantage of engine braking I had to manually shift to a lower gear.

In the NC mountains and recently on Iron Mountain Road at D3WR the 1330 engine braking is great but you, again, must manually downshift to get the best benefit. At 65 or so on a highway, killing the throttle or turning off CC the slowing you feel is mainly wind resistance, I believe. Am not an engineer.

[Easy Rider]

I don't think there is any real engine braking effect, because the load is what triggers the Nanny to downshift. .

Wrong again.

Not only is there "real" engine braking, it is sufficient in most cases to bring it from 60 to near zero without any use of the brakes.

And experience makes me believe that RPM is the main factor in the downshifts.

[Easy Rider]

In any automobile automatic transmission I've owned to take advantage of engine braking I had to manually shift to a lower gear. .

BUT.... the Spyders do NOT have an automatic transmission.
They have a manual transmission with automatic shifting.