Justin: That's the briefest instruction manual on shifting I've ever read. And it's spot on.
Personally, I enjoy down-shifting whenever I am slowing down.
(Panic braking is one exception)
For me, smooth, rev-matching downshifts add to the fun of riding.
I find it satisfying to flick a series of down-shifts that don't cause jerks or nose dives.
Just one smooth, continuous deceleration down through the gears while avoiding any high engine revs.
It's a challenge that always invites me to improve my skills at it.
I always use the clutch on downshifts because it provides smoother gear changes and helps to prevent
damage or unnecessary wear when I mis-judge the rev-matching.
Part of my down-shifting fondness harkens back to my truck driving days, but I also like the idea of
always being in the optimum gear for my bike speed.