View Poll Results: How many fingers do you use on brakes/clutch?
Two on each
41
34.17%
Four on each
18
15.00%
Four clutch/two brake
47
39.17%
Other
14
11.67%
Voters: 120. You may not vote on this poll
Two fingers or four???
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 499
From: Kansas City
Two fingers or four???
Despite what you may think when reading the headline, I'm curious how many fingers you use on the brake/clutch during riding?
I know we'll have more than a few schools of thought here especially with so many of us that played in the dirt growing up.
I find myself all four on the clutch and first two fingers on the brakes.
I know we'll have more than a few schools of thought here especially with so many of us that played in the dirt growing up.
I find myself all four on the clutch and first two fingers on the brakes.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,547
From: Way Out West
I'm 2 on brake and usually 3 on clutch. Some people bitch about the VTR brakes on the racetrack, that they fade, and maybe that's valid. On the street, the only reason I'd have to use more than 2 fingers was if somebody was going to pay me half a million dollars to go head first over the handlebars.
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,015
Answered 2 x 2; however i typically only use 2 on clutch and 1 on brake, unless i am grabing a handfullof brake cause i miss-judge a corner or a friggin Deer, Dog, or some other animal like a Cow id in the road.
RUNLEVELZERO #99
SuperBike
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,219
From: Skokie
On the street especially, its SOP to keep the brake covered with 2. I'm hoping with my RC51 MC and F4i calipers that only 1 will now be necessary. If the weather ever breaks, I hope to find out!
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,806
From: Atlanta, GA
4 clutch, 2 brake. I see the magazine guys and racers using 1 on the clutch, but I have never gotten comfortable doing it that way. I have always done it this way, except on an old Suzuki GT500 with drum front brakes where I used all four fingers and both feet dragging the ground to get it to slow down at all.
Member
Squid
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 52
From: Central Illinois
I use 2 on the clutch and 3 on the brakes, so I had to go with other.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 395
From: Alameda, CA
I use three on the clutch AND brake... but not the three everyone else uses...
I keep my index finger wrapped around the bar at all times, both brake and clutch (unless its stop and go traffic) and i use my middle, ring, and pinky to grab and manipulate the levers.
Then that way I always feel like I have a good hold of the bars.
Anyone else ever to that?
I keep my index finger wrapped around the bar at all times, both brake and clutch (unless its stop and go traffic) and i use my middle, ring, and pinky to grab and manipulate the levers.
Then that way I always feel like I have a good hold of the bars.
Anyone else ever to that?
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 714
From: Fredericksburg, VA
I usually try to drop my sportbikes on the left side shortly after purchase. 9 times out of 10 it will bend the clutch lever forward just right creating a nice little 2 finger nook near the pivot while leaving space for my other 2 fingers on the bar. Its even better when the stupid little ball on the end of the lever snaps off too. These mods work well with front brakes as well.
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,864
From: Fort Wayne, IN
I can't imagine taking all four fingers off the bars to operate a lever. The lack of bar control makes me shiver just thinking about it!!
My left index and middle finger are always resting on the lever, never on the bar. On the track I even do that with the brake lever too.
My left index and middle finger are always resting on the lever, never on the bar. On the track I even do that with the brake lever too.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,132
From: Phoenix, AZ
I can't imagine taking all four fingers off the bars to operate a lever. The lack of bar control makes me shiver just thinking about it!!
My left index and middle finger are always resting on the lever, never on the bar. On the track I even do that with the brake lever too.
My left index and middle finger are always resting on the lever, never on the bar. On the track I even do that with the brake lever too.
In traffic I will cover the lever with 2 or 3 fingers, but usually just use all 4 when stopping or starting out.
