Engine braking question

It's probably that four strokes have been around for a number of years, and people have simply got used to them.
I switch from 2 to 4 stroke (I own both) all the time, and notice the difference.

In general, it has lessened over the years. The original YZ400F's were actually hard on front tires that were designed with 2-strokes in mind. When Honda released the 2002 CRF450 they made a conscious effort to reduce engine braking. As I recall the cylinder was offset 4mm to the front for this reason? Since then changes in the carbs and then EFI I think have smoothed 4-strokes out even more. They still definitely have more than 2-strokes but it's not as shocking as those original YZF's were.

It's pretty shocking honestly if you're only used to 2 strokes. Just think of it like a car. Clutch out the engine braking if you don't like it.

I've owned a bunch of different four stroke since 2004, can't really say there is a massive difference between brands or models. To me a lot of it comes down to gearing and how high you are in the revs coming into a corner, after a couple hours on a 4stroke you will get use to it.

I have a 125 and 250f it's deffinitly noticeable but not too bad. The biggest difference is getting the 2 stroke to settle in corners for me because I'm used to the 4 stroke engine breaking helping set the bike into the corner.

When I ride a 4 stroke it feels like I slammed the brakes every time I let off the gas. Used to the smooth sailing of a 2 stroke. Always takes me a bit to get used to the transition. Love both though, but I have to say I think I love the 2 stroke just a tad more.

If you pull in your clutch when youre slowing down like youre supposed to you dont have engine braking.

When I went to my first 4 stroke I was shocked the first time I chopped the throttle. When I installed the Rekluse, it reduced it nicely, but still not like a 2 stroke. I actually like the engine braking with the Rekluse.

Throw in a Rekluse. Get any bike you want. Problem solved.

I just purchased a 2016 KX450 for my first fourstroke ever and i was nervous like you were. I thought it was going to throw me over the bars off the lip of jumps or something crazy. I have ridden it twice now and will again today and to tell you the truth its supper easy to ride. It jumps nice and flat, sometimes a touch nose high when im getting tired. The track ive ridden at has a big up hill and down hill with a tight right hander at the bottom, as others have said the added braking from the engine allows the motorcycle to settle into the corner allowing for almost immediate throttle to push it through the apex. The torque is a lot of fun compared to my built 06 KX 250 which you have to really throw around and use more technique... as a old two stroke hold out i truly get it why these things are so popular!

One thing ive noticed over the years is the difference in engine braking between FI 4 strokes and carb 4 strokes. The bikes now are much better about not being as intense with the engine braking but I personally can tell a difference when I go from an efi bike to a carbed bike. the carb (imo) doesn't stop the engine quite as drastically as EFI. The efi really seems to "shut off" when you chop the throttle. Its not a huge difference but just an observation ive made the last few years.

I started riding on a 4 stroke and learned to use the engine braking to my advantage. Went to a 2 stroke and had the hardest time figuring out how to deal without the engine braking. I've ridden 2 strokes for 3 or 4 years now but engine braking is one thing I wish I could get back. I guess I'm weird.

4-stroke engine braking is why I cannot ride 4-strokes. It absolutely kills the enjoyment for me. I hate, hate, hate it. I would seriously rather eat sushi than ride a 4-stroke, and I hate sushi.
I'm seriously surprised that 4-strokes didn't end up in the trash heap after 32 seconds of testing. Not being funny here, I seriously am surprised. I know lots of kids have now grown up on 4-strokes and don't know any better, but a 4-stroke places so much change on the chassis because of throttle position that I can barely steer the things. I'm amazed that Doug Henry didn't stop that YZM400F dead in its tracks in 1997 and say, "Sorry, I'm not racing this thing."

Before you say something about "getting used to" a 4-stroke, I owned a YZ250F in 2004. Raced it an entire season. Hated every minute of it. Especially the two to three minutes I spent trying to restart it after a crash.

In case you didn't get the tone of my post, I prefer 2-strokes. Give me a slipper clutch and I might change my mind. Until then, I'll ride a 250 (a "real" one) and be happy.

Early (1999-2004) it was significant. A lot of people learned the hard way not to chop on the face of a jump including me. My 2000 426 was terrible for that, and not starting when hot....

By 2005 it was almost gone and they have been about the same since. There will always be some unless you modify with a Rekluse.

Your idea of "almost gone" and mine must be very different. I recently rode my buddy's 2016 YZ450F and the engine braking was so intrusive it was almost unrideable. The same is true of every modern--era thumper I've ever ridden.

Funny enough, my buddy and I traded bikes for a bit on our ride a couple weeks ago. I got on his KTM500 exc and he was on my YZ250X. First comment we both had when we switched back was about the engine braking. I nearly went over the bars going down a steep decline and he said he almost lost it from going too fast after he chopped the throttle...

I think it was a bit of an extreme though. I don't remember the engine braking being a big deal on my old RMZ 450, and actually welcomed it when settling into corners. Just don't chop the throttle on the lip of a jump...

My first big 4 stroke was a 1990 Husky 510 that I lightened up for a friend to do the 4 Stroke Nationals on, when I got the 98 YZ400F I couldn't understand what people were talking about. That's not engine braking. Roll on, roll off.

You're right. We have different ideas. My comparison is the 2000 426 to the 2013 I currently ride. In that context it is "almost gone". I have a yz 250 also and get what you're saying.

The OP asked if the 4 stroke engine braking has changed over time and IMO it has.

You're right. We have different ideas. My comparison is the 2000 426 to the 2013 I currently ride. In that context it is "almost gone". I have a yz 250 also and get what you're saying.

The OP asked if the 4 stroke engine braking has changed over time and IMO it has.

Supposed to? Didn't know that was a rule set in stone.

It's not that bad. The only 4 stroke I ever rode with any really crazy engine braking was an old Yamaha XT550 dual sport or some shit.

Takes 2 minutes to get used to. Just stay on the gas off jumps, much like a 125.

Engine braking feels like a bike in the dunes. You let off, the drag stops you. Not a big deal.

yeah didnt you see?

Yeah, for me the engine braking is an enormous problem. Let's say a 1998 YZ400F had 5 times the engine braking as a 250 2-stroke, or 500%. Perhaps the 2017 bikes are improved, but if they still have 400% engine braking, that's still 4 times too much for me.

It really does take longer than 2 minutes to get used to... as I said I raced an entire season on a thumper and never got used to it, ever. It affected my entire riding ability; I couldn't gauge jumps as well because I couldn't race up to the takeoff at the speed I wanted and then shut off; couldn't get the bike to brake slide as easily because it would stall or simply refuse to pivot; couldn't rail corners because the torque stood the bike up in the ruts...

Some things must really bother me much more than they do other people, because like I said, I sincerely cannot believe anyone anywhere thinks that any 4-stroke holds a candle to a 2-stroke as a race machine. There is literally no scenario where I think a thumper is superior. Apparently, I'm an old kook!

I hate the engine braking of a 4 stroke. Letting off the throttle on my KX450 would slam weight on my wrists pretty bad.. especially in braking bumps. I went back to a 2 stroke for this very reason. Manufacturers could easily tune out much of the braking with EFI maps, TPS, and speed sensors. Street bikes have after run tuned in to work more like a carb on deceleration. It smooths out the decell.. Even cars have this. it works in conjunction with speed sensors. If you're moving, the efi will continue to feed fuel/air through the IAC to lessen the abruptness of chopping the throttle. I keep waiting for dirtbikes to catch up.
My buddy (who is a KTM expert on here) told me KTM's have much less engine braking.

Hahaha that is the absolute last thing you want to do, especially on a four stroke.

Engine braking is a huge advantage as it helps the bike to track straight in rough conditions

I rode nothing but 250 2 strokes until I bought a leftover 14 rmz450 last month, and it has no engine braking at all. I rode it for an hour before I realized it didnt have any. Feels like my old 2 strokes. Maybe its there, but I cannot feel it at all.