What is the better way to stop on my motorcycle?

Say I'm going 45 and a red light is up ahead, should I squeeze the clutch and then brake accordingly while down shifting accordingly, or just engine brake down shifting to reduce speed until I am nearly stopped. Which is better for the bike?

Yeah I already took the course and have a suzuki 500 gsf. So you are saying I should roll off the gas while applying the front and rear brake slowly, if it is not an emergency stop, until I am at a slow speed then just pull the clutch and stop completely? Thats around what I have been doing but I didnt know if engine braking would mess up anything on the bike in the long run

well, how far are you from the redlight? Either is fine, but depending on the situation, one may not stop you in time.

If you've got to stop in a hurry:grab the front brake, squeeze the clutch lever, downshift to first, hit the rear brake. Do it all simultaneously.

Now, if you're talking about having plenty of time to stop and the easiest way for your bike to stop.. If i'm going 45mph and i need to come to a stop i'd probably just use the brakes, downshift to first and start engine braking and using the brakes when i got to about 20mph. If i'm going slower than 45, i usually don't bother with engine braking. If i'm coming off the freeway or something and going 60+ when i need to stop i'll engine brake all the way down the gears and use the brakes at the same time. Technically engine braking is better for the bike, but it's not realistic to expect to just engine brake all the time. besides, it's bad to lug your engine like you'd probably be doing if you engine braked to nearly a full stop. A combination of conventional and engine braking is best 90% of the time.

I HAVE heard that you can warp your rotors (on my buell at least) by braking hard a lot and using only the front brake, so i wouldn't reccommend only using your front brake when you stop quickly, but that's commen sense...

Edit:
Hmm, guy below me is right if that's what you meant by "squeez the clutch". I said squeeze the clutch meaning disengage the clutch. He's right about riding the clutch; it's terrible on your bike.

Down shifting is the best way for the engine. Also, your brakes will last longer since they are not absorbing as much force.

distance to light, style of bike, size of bike, road conditions driver experience. your question to vague to answer. Clutch is not part of the equation. Free wheeling (driving in neutral) on a motorcycle reduces bikes stability in almost all conditions dramatically.

Never "squeeze the clutch and then brake accordingly". That's called "riding the clutch" and it is a terrible habit to get into for a couple of reasons. 1) It is very hard on the clutch and 2) unless you come to a complete stop, how will you know which gear to go into when you need to accelerate again?

Down shifting to slow a motorcycle is hard on the transmission. Brakes are inexpensive in comparison to a transmission. In a normal slowing to stop situation the procedure should be as follows: 1. Roll off throttle. 2. Apply front brake, while "feathering" the application to the rear brake. 3. As the vehicle slows the engine will begin to slow, before the engine "lugs" apply the clutch. 3. As the vehicle slows to a stop release the front brake, finishing the stop with the rear brake for a smooth stop. 4. Shift to 1st gear so you can take off from the stop. Emergency braking is different. It sounds like you are a novice rider. I encourage you to seek professional training. It is inexpensive through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, http://www.msf-usa.org/. Good Luck and Good Riding.

We were advised in the MSF Rider's Edge course to not use "engine braking" (their term) exclusively. The reason being that using your brakes engages your brake light to signal a following vehicle that you are slowing down. Giving a car some clue that you are slowing down is important.

I would say that not getting rear-ended is better for the bike.

In most cases I downshift to reduce speed, then brake to stop. It prolongs the life of the pads. As long as you're not downshifting to the point that you're losing traction or the bike is screaming, you won't do any damage. I only use my back brake if the stop is really short. With no weight on the back, it locks up quicker.

Downshift as you slow to remain in the proper gear for the speed you are going at the time. Whether or not you use engine braking to assist is up to you. Do not use engine braking alone, as this will not light the brake light and is also hard on the drivetrain. Properly applied as assistance, engine braking is a good method and causes no abnormal wear.

Just pull in the clutch and start squeezing both brakes at about 80% front and 20% rear. It is really that simple. Downshifting as a form of slowing down is a leftover from an older generation. It only adds more wear to the entire driveline. Trust me, replacing a set of $20 pads a month earlier than otherwise is better than getting engine work done that wouldn't have been needed.