Two, Three, Four fingers???

[Ed K]

Hey all, when riding non-ABS R1150Rs...

How many fingers do you use to grab Brake and Clutch levers?

[DJ Downunder]

I use two fingers most of the time now..

Maybe it's a dirtbike thing that's stayed with me..when you're bouncing along you need to keep a firm grip on the bars when changing gears and braking.

Unless I'm coming to a stop..I then grab a handful of clutch..and sometimes in panic stops I'll use a handful on the front brake also.

I've found that using only two fingers on the clutch has helped with smoother and faster gear changes and forces me to only half pull the lever.

Sometimes I only use one finger....................................when signaling to a driver of a car that's pulled out in front of me..

DJ

[MIXR]

Stop it!!!! It's all so natural after 30 years of riding that I had to run down to my bike and count bloody fingers! I've got better things to do!!

[Ed K]

I am a two (brake) by four (clutch) kinda guy...

Two for the brake...plenty of force even under panic...and it leaves two...kinda like DJ was saying....for bar control. And it also allows me to blip the throttle which I always do when downshifting. (Interesting to note that I also rode dirt for years before street.)

Regarding the Clutch, I use all four...because although I give a very quick squeeze to shift, I do depress most of the lever's travel and don't want to crush a finger or two!

[R4R&R]

......But I have ABS?!

two and two here. Maybe if I didn't have ABS, it would be two and three?

What about toes on the rear brake?

[Promethean]

Four on the clutch and Two on the brake. The 2 fingers on the brake habit developed while riding my old bike...it would die at intersections without throttle input.

[gelbe Kulter]

Watching Moto GP, it was cool to see Valentino Rossi grab a big handful of brake - all 4 fingers. Even better watching him feather the clutch in the corners.

[DJ Downunder]

About Moto Gp...if you look close you will see that they always have at least one or two fingers on the clutch on every corner..just in case the monster tries to bite them.

DJ

[scottybooj]

i can't grab with two fingers and not smash the other two!

so, without running to the bike, i would say I'm 4x4

[gelbe Kulter]

Scotty, that's when I know it's time for new front brake pads. When the lever starts contacting the other two fingers, that is. It does not seem to work that way with the Evo brakes, as they have less lever travel than I experience on my other bikes.

[popgazer]

Hey all, when riding non-ABS R1150Rs...

Do brakes have a different feel whether ABS or not ??

[leno]

i can't grab with two fingers and not smash the other two!

so, without running to the bike, i would say I'm 4x4

I can't reach with all my fingers so it allways starts off as a grap with three and then four when it's within reach.

[boxermania]

Seldom use the foot brake........

[GeoffJ]

My BMW: Four fingers on brake and clutch lever
My Harley: Four fingers on brake and two fingers on clutch

[yjleesvrr]

On my Roadster, it's four on clutch and two on brake. Unless I want to haul myself down in a jiffy, in which case it's four on the brake too.

On my Suzuki and Harley, it's four on everything.

[Gord]

None of the above.

At the moment I am only thinking of using one finger

[djwaudio]

I have found two fingers covering the front brake when riding the twisties to be helpful with throttle control. Having the two fingers on the lever gives a positive reference point for subtle throttle inputs. This has helped my smoothness and overall control.

Clutching, I use all four and grab just enough to allow a smooth shift.

If I'm in heavy traffic, I'm covering the brake and clutch with all four. I tend to be on the lookout for that left turner who doesn't register motorcycles on his radar.

Reg Pridmore's book has a good explanations/opinions on this subject.