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Post by floog on May 2, 2006 16:16:55 GMT
BRAKING: 2 FINGERS OR FOUR?Whenever I look at bike magazines, the road testers are invariably blatting along on public roads with their index and middle fingers covering the brake lever It’s also a practice that most articles on technique, tell us we should adopt It’s a practice that I have tried but never liked nor continued with. Even with the lever correctly positioned, my brain does not like the fact that two of my fingers are positioned between the lever and the grip on braking I use the old fashioned four fingered technique which, for me, works well. I don't cover the brake unless I am in a situation where I believe an element of caution is warranted. I have enough experience to know how and when to apply the brake, and prefer the comfort of the old fashioned system :jerry: All of the guy’s I know who ride, also use four fingers for road riding….so is this just a fad that journalists have brought from the race track to the road, or DO YOU prefer two fingers? I am curious ......AND also very damn nosy
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Post by Les on May 2, 2006 16:27:07 GMT
Now you see I miss read this to start with, I use the four fingers of my right hand for braking (yep Im old skool as well) and the two fingers of my left hand to indicate to the person causing me to brake my displeasure.
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Post by floog on May 2, 2006 16:32:59 GMT
Now you see I miss read this to start with, I use the four fingers of my right hand for braking (yep Im old skool as well) and the two fingers of my left hand to indicate to the person causing me to brake my displeasure. :rotf: :teaspit: OK, new heading to the thread...... BRAKING: 2, 4 OR 6 FINGERS?
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Post by oakspeed on May 2, 2006 17:06:48 GMT
i keep 2 fingers on the clutch. old RD rider, you see. ;D
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Post by phoenix on May 2, 2006 17:55:18 GMT
i keep 2 fingers on the clutch.
Old habits die hard. It's called strokers finger.
Ex KH rider
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Post by lightspeed on May 2, 2006 18:25:48 GMT
Old habit.
When in traffic I tend to cover the brake with two fingers.
Something about being able to get some brake action fast, while still being able to deal with the throttle.
YMMV
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Post by BADGER on May 3, 2006 6:41:29 GMT
If filtering through London traffic , i tend to 2 or 3 over the brake, but most of the time all on or all off. But always got 1 ready for a Mag journos, who takes notice of them anyway
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Post by ZRX Gremlin on May 3, 2006 6:53:44 GMT
I thought I'd give it a try some years back. Works for me and I don't find it uncomfortable. Most of the time I ride around with two fingers covering the front brake lever so if I should need brakes in a hurry I can save a split second or so. There are other advantages too. I was never able to properly control throttle and brake together using the old four fingered method. Hilllstarts are now a doddle, releasing the brake and opening the throttle at the same time. Prior to that I'd have been covering the rear brake as driving schools teach you. I now have two methods at my disposal. Speaking of which, I consider it safer to be covering the front brake rather than the rear at junctions. Using the old approved rear brake method, if you do happen to get tailended by SMIDSY, you'll release the rear brake at the moment of impact as the bike disappears from underneath you. Using ther front, you've got half a chance of remaining in control of the bike. I have had opportunities to try both methods in this situation : > and on the occasion using the front brake it did save me and more importantly the bike from getting pushed into the path of oncoming traffic. Blipping the throttle on the downchange and braking simultaneously is a doddle now too. I never mastered that with four fingers either. I'm sure that adopting this method has actually made me a more proficient rider even though a riding instructor friend of mine frowns upon the tecnique. If you do happen to run into anything, covering your brake in this way, third and little fingers are likely to get crushed is his reasoning for disapproval. As with all the other so called "advanced" riding tecniques, at least try to be open minded about them and give them a try. If they work and you're comfortable with them, fine. If not, there's nothing lost. Oh, and if I do happen to be using four fingers while braking, I'll be using two fingers of my left hand too as per the "Trucker School of Motoring".
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Big Si
Stuck in the saddle
Posts: 405
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Post by Big Si on May 3, 2006 7:57:28 GMT
I'm definitely in the two fingers on the front brake minority here, been doing it for years and just feels more natural and sensitive (I'm still taking about braking) especially with braided hoses as there's so little travel needed on the brake lever anyway. Anything else feels like overkill to me now. Strangely though I use four fingers on the clutch because that lever comes back to the bar.. As for getting fingers trapped behind the lever, well, I'll take that chance....don't need those particular fingers for hand signals anyway though it might make awkward amongst other things
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Post by Kwackers on May 4, 2006 16:54:43 GMT
I finally remembered to remember how many fingers I use today. 4 for the clutch as Im a weakling and 3 on the brake cause my little finger wont reach.
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Post by BADGER on May 4, 2006 18:04:40 GMT
Yes i am the same, 3 for the clutch, 2 on brake , just to knock a bit of speed off, or 3 to stop even in a rush. I also noticed i had a few funny little habits on me bike : I always pull clutch in to start engine. I like to put my left glove on first. Always put my Keys,Phone,glasses, wallet in the same pockets. Any one else got funny Habits ? (get ready i know has a few)
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Post by ZRX Gremlin on May 4, 2006 19:54:54 GMT
Maybe your Rex is wired up differently to mine. I always use the start button to start mine. (Small button, bottom of righthand switchgear, prod with thumb. ) I always put on whichever glove comes to hand first as I'm ambidextrous. Like you, my pockets are a mobile filing system, everything having its proper place. Odd habit include misplacing my keys the moment I decide I'm going anywhere. My oddest habit of all, and I blame my Mother for it is always having to visit the bathroom last thing before going anywhere. This comes from my earliest childhood and I can still hear Mum say, "Make sure you go to the toilet before we go out, Michael". That's formed a habit for a lifetime and I just can't break it.
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Post by floog on May 4, 2006 20:17:46 GMT
Yes i am the same, 3 for the clutch, 2 on brake , just to knock a bit of speed off, or 3 to stop even in a rush. I also noticed i had a few funny little habits on me bike : I always pull clutch in to start engine. I like to put my left glove on first. Always put my Keys,Phone,glasses, wallet in the same pockets. Any one else got funny Habits ? (get ready i know has a few) Just after setting off, I like to do a rossi and stand up on both pegs so I can pull my Kermit the frog leathers outta my Bottychelly :wedgie: ........can be murder as it's only twenty yards to the first junction..... But seriously.......I have no bad habits because I am perfect......(duck and run now FLOOG)
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Post by BADGER on May 4, 2006 20:40:46 GMT
.......I have no bad habits because I am perfect.... I ..... I .......dont know where to start. Just to say : Chocolate, vaseline, Bling, Chicken Strips, long posts. Shall i go on.
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Post by floog on May 4, 2006 20:51:57 GMT
.......I have no bad habits because I am perfect.... I ..... I .......dont know where to start. Just to say : Chocolate, vaseline, Bling, Chicken Strips, long posts. Shall i go on. ........YES...... Long Posts, Moi?? Me thinks you have mistook me for some other personage......
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