Control "setup"

[FROSTY:Me]

repeating myself here I know BUT
One of the first thing i notice with new riders is the bike controls are not set up for them.The difference between controls set up to suit you and not is HUGE for ride comfort and safety.
Levers need to be in a position so your fingers drop slightly to rest on them
The span need to be set so it's not a reach to pull the lever in.
The gearchange needs to sit so you aren't dropping or raising your foot uncomfortably to reach them. Same with the back brake pedal height.
You will not believe how much easier your bike seems to feel to ride once its adjusted to fit you

[merv]

Agree entirely and as a short arse myself I don't like a long reach to my levers so if they aren't adjustable I buy others to fit that are, or bend the buggers until they are right - just go easy on aluminium if you are doing thsi though.

[Pancakes]

And be carefull that your lever bending doesn't mean the lever hits the grip before it's job is done! Can also pinch your other fingers if your 2 finger braking. I have short as fingers.

[Storm]

Oh , and if you are starting out, 1 finger braking is not necessarily a good thing. If you have an adjustable lever, put it on the softest setting so if you grab a bit more than you meant to, the result hopefully wont be so bad

[discotex]

When I got my ZXR my mate pointed out that the levers were a little high for his liking and that I might want to adjust them down. I could barely hold the clutch in at the lights because the clutch level was so high my wrist had to be really bent.

What he never told me was that I could also adjust my rear brake and gear levers. Being 6' on a wee 250 is pretty cramped but adjusting the rear brake and gear lever to the max extension has made it way more manageable. Now I don't have to lift my foot to downshift!

First thing I'll do on any bike from now on is adjust the controls.

[Pancakes]

I thought thats what everyone does. Get on, wee tootle and then get everything right, get back on and go. I'm way too soft to have my levers in the wrong place, a bit much for my weeney wrists!