Two fingers draped over the front brake - or not?

**george formby** · 30th November 2009, 19:09

Originally Posted by molmolmol

So what if... say you're going through some twisties in the mountains, do you still cover them while say, leaning the bike through the corner?

Shouldn't it be better to adjust your speed (slow down, brake, change gear) before taking the corner?

Just something that's in my mind atm....

Yup, thats what I found in the twistie mountains today, one thing at a time but quickly. Not too quick though, I did'nt want to apply to much G force to my muffins. Nothing worse than blueberries smeared in the crutch of your panniers.

**NordieBoy** · 30th November 2009, 19:30

Originally Posted by molmolmol

So what if... say you're going through some twisties in the mountains, do you still cover them while say, leaning the bike through the corner?

Shouldn't it be better to adjust your speed (slow down, brake, change gear) before taking the corner?

Just something that's in my mind atm....

With me it's not a concious decision to "cover the brakes". That's just what happens when I'm on a bike.
Bum on seat, feet on footpegs, hands on bars and pointy fingers on the clutch and brake.

It feels weird having all the fingers around the grip. Like I've got less control.

**Hitcher** · 30th November 2009, 19:37

I always ride with both clutch and brake levers covered. Covering the brake forces me to ride with my wrist up, which stops it cramping.

**rocketman1** · 30th November 2009, 19:56

I weigh what I'm doing. If I following another bike / cage a bit close them two fingers on the brake.
Any fast cornering, travelling, all fingers on the bars.
Plus it gets a bit uncomfortable for me to spend hours with fingers over the brakes.
Around the city in traffic always two fingers on the brake and rear brake ready to go and in a lower more controllable gear.

**molmolmol** · 30th November 2009, 20:02

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

With me it's not a concious decision to "cover the brakes". That's just what happens when I'm on a bike.
Bum on seat, feet on footpegs, hands on bars and pointy fingers on the clutch and brake.

It feels weird having all the fingers around the grip. Like I've got less control.

This second nature seems to come from riders with dirt bikes experience, which I do understand that you use alot of lever controls, and of course will carry on to whatever bike you're riding regardless of the situation -

but another poster had previously mentioned- "what seems comfortable, may not be right"

So I guess, coming in as a newbie perspective, is it the right thing to cover the levers at all times or to what's more second nature to you?

I've previously mentioned that I used to cover them when I first started riding, but seemed to have lost that habit over time. I do find it that if I cover the levers at sharp corners and twisties, I dont really feel that comfortable going through it compared to if I didnt cover them.

Hmmm....I'd like to hear more suggestions/comments as to what you experienced bikers would have.

**sAsLEX** · 30th November 2009, 20:34

Originally Posted by molmolmol

This second nature seems to come from riders with dirt bikes experience, which I do understand that you use alot of lever controls,
\

I find I use the clutch and the front brake very seldom in a lot of off road riding...... the front brake a lot more than the clutch

**NordieBoy** · 30th November 2009, 22:06

Originally Posted by molmolmol

This second nature seems to come from riders with dirt bikes experience, which I do understand that you use alot of lever controls, and of course will carry on to whatever bike you're riding regardless of the situation

Actually from road experience.

**Tunahunter** · 1st December 2009, 08:23

Thanks for that - I've had some great advice - all very sensible

**AxN** · 3rd December 2009, 14:50

Just from what I have been taught at riding courses:

Grip the throttle when riding and when braking close throttle and use two fingers to operate front brake.

**kwaka_crasher** · 3rd December 2009, 16:35

Generally all fingers hovering over both the levers around town. Open road - none.

**chasio** · 3rd December 2009, 19:31

BTW braking was covered at length in a long debate when the wiki was first going up. See the thread here.

It is noticeable that the resulting wiki articlehas been pulled, however, as follows:

17:47, 6 September 2009 SpankMe (Talk | contribs) deleted "Braking" ‎ (Author request: content was: 'This article has been written with a view of braking primarily with on-road bikes. Off-road bikes may have quite a different procedure to achieve the best result (stopping in the shortest distance). == Emergency Braking)

The original thread may still be worthwhile further reading.

Cheers - Chasio

**gatch** · 3rd December 2009, 23:04

Originally Posted by crazyhorse

It all depends on whether the open road is full of corners or straights...... its obvious what to do really

Hold your bar with everything ?

Or is that hold your bar with one hand, and two fingers draped on the

**Ducky848** · 4th December 2009, 15:44

I cover the brake with two fingers at all times. Its completely natural and just happens when I get on a bike. I dont need to change this to suit cornering or fanging, I just don't need that much leverage or death-grip to control my bike effectively.
After reading this thread I tried riding with all fingers wrapped on throttle and I found it more difficult to hold a consistant throttle opening and closing throttle to reach the brake takes a lot longer.

I have significant off-road and on-road experience. On the dirt bikes I cover both the brake and clutch.....but not the clutch on road bikes.....odd but its just what I do naturally.