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I don't think there is a binary right/wrong answer for engine braking.
I always leave the bike in gear until I come to a stop, but I don't go down through the gearbox revving the beejesus out of the motor in each gear for routine stops. Just leave it in the higher gear, use the brakes, leave the clutch out, and as I approach the stop, pull the clutch and shift down to 1st.
But out in the twisties, I'll do typically blip/shift down through each gear to get setup at in the right exit gear for the corner exit.
It depends on the situation. The bike will speak to you and tell you what is normal aggressive riding and what is unnecessary wear/tear if you listen to it. If what you're doing is obviously making a lot of excess noise/racket, I woudln't just keep doing it with a "old dog can't learn new tricks" ratiionale.
I don't own a R1200S, but if a stock bike is truly backfiring on downshifts, that doesn't sound right. A little lean misfire burble maybe, but not a true backfire. But if you've modified intake, exhaust, etc., all bets are off. My guess is that you've got something wrong.
- Mark
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