How many fingers do you use to brake?

[Choicobo]

Thinking back more than 2 years ago, I remeber during a MSF class, a guy asked one of the instructors if it was alright to use 2 fingers (index + middle) to use the front brake.

Then the MSF instructor responded that you should ALWAYS use all four fingers because in an emergency situation, you will be better off being the habbit of using all four fingers than using two when you need to stop.

After that I kept using all four fingers to brake but recently, I noticed before a turn, keeping my thumb and index on the throttle and my other 3 fingers to brake allows me to have a smoother transition into braking and applying throttle to go into a turn.

I noticed that there really isnt any up or down motion in my suspension before going into the turn because right after i brake i can apply throttle and lean over with more stability because i leave a finger on the throttle. Almost like heel-toeing for the bike but enough of me talking. Wondering if other people use less fingers or still stick to the 4 finger strategy, and input on why they use it :teeth

[Devoid]

2 fingers always, and it's rare when they're not covering the brake.
For those who blip when braking, all 4 can't go on the brake anyway, of course some will argue with new slipper clutches you don't need to do this anymore.

[Choicobo]

All four can go on the brake, I've been doing it for a long time, and you dont need a slipper clutch to do it. All you need is good clutch control but thanks for the input :barf

[Sidewalk]

I use two fingers.

You decide how many you should use.

[afm199]

Twenty years ago four fingers were needed to stop a bike. My old Norton needed four and the hardest squeeze possible. Today you can stop a bike with a stoppie with two fingers on many bikes.

No need to use four fingers unless your braking setup is such. I seldom use four, only on the track when I am needing to watch out for wrist pump and sore fingers. On the street I always cover the brake with two and use two to stop. Moving the other two to the lever is just adding another half second to your stopping time, it does not make sense in an emergency.

[DaveToo]

I'm convinced some of MSF's teachings, at least in the New Rider Course, are oversimplified just to keep the new rider from being overwhelmed.

They don't want your throttle and brake fighting while you're learning to ride. But eventually, after you learn to be smooooth on the front brakes, you'll want to be able to cover them while riding in traffic and ultimately to work the throttle to downshift while braking.

Don't cover them if you can't be smooth even while panic-braking. Using two fingers helps you keep from locking them up, but it can still be done if you just grab them hard.

[Choicobo]

gah it feels like ive been doing something wrong the whole time i was riding /cry
doesnt seem like anyone is or used to use the 4 finger method. Damn them! lol

But yes everyone else reading this take MSF because i learned a lot of other good things :teeth

Yea i like my index and thumb on throttle and the other 3 braking method at this point

[Cheung]

Only seemed to use all 4 when I had to use the bikes at my MSF class, drum are slow and you can grab a hand full on them and not worry.

[Apollo]

i only use two normally. and i ride a nighthawk :shhh

but regarding the 4 finger thing, that was probably oversimplification. when i took msf, i was using two fingers. then the ridercoach told me to use all 4 for the nighthawks and save the 2 finger for the sportbikes with better brakes.

shrugs, i find 2 fingers enough even for the nighthawk, but maybe its cuz i have a newer '04 model.

[Jakemate]

I start with my index and add the middle when/if needed. However, they are modern(ish) sportbikes with a lot of brake up there.

YMMV.

[plumber]

Rossi uses 4 and doesn't cover the brake.

I brake with 4 and only cover with 2 in confined areas.

[magyarbetyar]

On the street I use 2 fingers. On the track I use one :wow you might be saying. . I run Honda race pads on the track :teeth They work reeeaaaaall nice like :devil

[jake28]

If you use four fingers and encounter any headshake under braking, you're only holding on to the bike with your thumb.

Non e bueno senor.

[Devoid]

Not sure what you mean Humbug? My point, though maybe inarticulately stated, was that for modern bikes that come with an effective slipper clutch you may not need to blip the throttle when braking.
The other point was that for those that do need to blip the throttle when braking was that, it's takes more than a little practice to maintain consistent/ precise braking pressure with only 2 fingers on the lever while blipping. If you can do it with four, i think you're the exception. Bottom line, if that works for you, cool. :teeth

[brichter]

2 or 4, sometimes one, sometimes 3.

All depends what I'm trying to accomplish.

[squid vicious]

two on the street, one on the track

[Choicobo]

wow one finger, but i guess its understandible for the track, but ha my brakes are no where near that good

[hooligan]

I ride with 1...my middle finger on the brake only. anyone else do this? when i use 2...i feel like i have more control of the brake, but not as smooth blimping...just the opposite with 1.

[dgbernstein]

I kept expecting to see this in this thread...

I use my two middle fingers :twofinger

...c'mon the door was wide open!

[Rayman]

i use 2.....clutch on the other hand i have to use all 4, damn my old ass bike and its stiff ass cable clutch

[Monkey_Boy]

Originally posted by plumber
Rossi uses 4 and doesn't cover the brake.


That's because Rossi is built like a little girl.

:laughing

[6th Gear]

1 or 2 on the brake always, just like motocross. 2 on the clutch. I can react faster with 2 fingers covering the brake. then closing the throttle and getting all 4 fingers on the lever

[plumber]

Originally posted by Monkey_Boy
That's because Rossi is built like a little girl.

:laughing

You really don't get it .....do you?

[Choicobo]

Originally posted by Monkey_Boy
That's because Rossi is built like a little girl.

:laughing

:laughing :laughing

[bmer97]

2 fingers gets it done...BMW 1150R

[Enchanter]

Originally posted by bmer97
2 fingers gets it done...BMW 1150R

But doesn't your 2004 BMW have power brakes?

[Monkey_Boy]

Originally posted by plumber
You really don't get it .....do you?

Guess I don't , enlighten me.

I use two fingers in dry conditions, one finger in the wet.

And I don't cover the brake, either.

:laughing

[plumber]

Originally posted by Monkey_Boy
Guess I don't , enlighten me.

I use two fingers in dry conditions, one finger in the wet.

And I don't cover the brake, either.

:laughing

I use 3..........the shocker.

[slydrite]

Originally posted by plumber
Rossi uses 4 and doesn't cover the brake.

I brake with 4 and only cover with 2 in confined areas.

that's what I do and I've noticed a BIG difference in my braking power and precision on both street and track, when using 4 on stock master cylinder brake systems....although blipping the throttle is harder to be smooth at when braking with 4

[Getnjgywitit]

I use my middle finger on the brake that's it. works fine.

[rumpofsteelskin]

I use fifteen fingers, eleven toes, and one buttock to brake.

[emarkham]

two fingers to stop. four fingers to bleed the brake system.

all my bikes seem to have extra-powerful brakes. i can't imagine needing any more than two fingers.

[mbsv]

on the msf bike i had, you needed 4... because you could crush your other fingers if you didn't have them all on the brake lever.

and that was at MSF range speeds.

[FHK]

2-3

[PhaTeLeSS]

on my mtn bike and my fzr i typically use 1 finger on the brake. i've found the extra control i have on the bars is tremendous. i remember in 99 when i first put V-brakes on my mtn bike, i could use 1 finger, and all of a sudden i was way quicker on the downhills. it's too easy to overpower your brakes as it is, why do you need more than 1 finger, unless you're on some outdated bike with crappy brakes. oh wait, i am!!!

[frab]

only index on street

[Jakemate]

On my new KTM SM.

I am only using the middle finger to brake.

[rdstriumph]

Think about how the brake lever works and how the end of it is located far away from you handgrip. Just to get better braking you need to use four fingers.Also, your other fingers will get pinch when emergency braking is used.

[CorrodedAlien]

3 fingers and 1 foot

[Zed10R]

Originally posted by rdstriumph
Think about how the brake lever works and how the end of it is located far away from you handgrip. Just to get better braking you need to use four fingers.Also, your other fingers will get pinch when emergency braking is used.

:confused I only ever use one finger. You should be able to do stoppies with just one finger. All four? No way. Braking is a delicate excercise and you cannot finesse the brake lever with all four fingers. Nope. Can't do it.

[rdstriumph]

so you can brake smoother with one finger. I would like to see you stop when a car pulls out in front of you. Stoppies have nothing to do with emergency braking.

[Zed10R]

Originally posted by rdstriumph
so you can brake smoother with one finger. I would like to see you stop when a car pulls out in front of you. Stoppies have nothing to do with emergency braking.

The ability to apply maximum braking force - smoothly - while keeping the rear on the groud is exaclty what emergency stopping is about. If you can (and you should be able to) do a stoppie with one finger you should have the ability to control amount of braking power applied to both wheels. You are right..it is not about the stoppie itself.....it is about the ability to feel, guage, and apply the appropriate amount of stopping power.

Of course there are many riders who just grab a fist full of brake and try to get the rear end in the air. I'm not talking about that. That is no way to control your bike.

[tsyoung]

Brake? Do I need one of those?

[rdstriumph]

When I replyed to the question for the first time I was talking about braking not doing tricks. How you ride when you do tricks is different than the way you react in an emergency. Stopping is an art and you need to practice to be smooth. I was just telling a novice rider how to form a good habit so in an emergency he or she will react correctly and stop quickly. I don't think someone with very little experence should try to perform stoppies because they don't have the skill yet and they could get hurt. Tricks should be perform on a closed track/road not on the street with so many factors that could cause serious injury. Agree or disagree

[Jakemate]

Originally posted by rdstriumph
Think about how the brake lever works and how the end of it is located far away from you handgrip. Just to get better braking you need to use four fingers.Also, your other fingers will get pinch when emergency braking is used.

Think about shorty levers. They are made because modern(ish) bikes, with good brakes, don't require as much pressure to reach maximum braking.

IMHO; if you have to use all four to keep your fingers from getting pinched, there is another issue. Either you are on a bike with a less than stellar braking system, or you need a mechanic.

I can stay loose and smooth with 1-2 fingers braking.

Also, I pretty much only use the rear when I'm in the dirt. :teeth

[rdstriumph]

Braking on the street and braking is a lot different than braking on the dirt. Just think about the different use of the rear brake you can't high on the dirt.

[Jakemate]

Originally posted by rdstriumph
Braking on the street and braking is a lot different than braking on the dirt. Just think about the different use of the rear brake you can't high on the dirt.

:confused

I'm not sure what you are saying here.

Yes, I know braking on the street is different than the dirt. Thats why, when I go off track, I use the rear. Well, a little front, not much though.

Seriously, the only bike I use more than two fingers to brake is my wife's old gs 500. Only because it's brakes are teh suck, comparatively speaking.

On the supermoto, cbr900, rs125 there is plenty of brake for 1-2 fingers. At least for me.

Your mileage may vary. If four works for you, it works for you. For me, it doesn't.

:shrug

[Zed10R]

Originally posted by rdstriumph
When I replyed to the question for the first time I was talking about braking not doing tricks. How you ride when you do tricks is different than the way you react in an emergency. Stopping is an art and you need to practice to be smooth. I was just telling a novice rider how to form a good habit so in an emergency he or she will react correctly and stop quickly. I don't think someone with very little experence should try to perform stoppies because they don't have the skill yet and they could get hurt. Tricks should be perform on a closed track/road not on the street with so many factors that could cause serious injury. Agree or disagree


I was talking about braking as well. I don't think tricks deserve any of the praise and attention they get and the example of a stoppie was just meant to be a point of reference. To me, tricks are just a side effect of skill.

I agree that tricks should only be performed on a closed course.

The biggest thing on my mind that keeps me from agreeing with four finger braking is the fact that most modern sport bikes (this is a sportbike forum) have such powerful brakes that if the lever was clumsily grabbed with all four fingers the rider would find him/her self faceplanted quicker than you can think "oh shit".

[Jakemate]

Hmmm..........

The one trick I actually think helps in real life IS the stoppie.

If you can control a stoppie, you can control your brake.

But, I'm weird.

[rdstriumph]

If you grab the front brake you will low side not fly over the handlebars.

[Zed10R]

Originally posted by rdstriumph
If you grab the front brake you will low side not fly over the handlebars.

.....:confused

Are you trolling? I would hate for any nubie reading this thread to think that grabbing an awkward fist full of front brake in panic mode would cause a lowside. I made that mistake when I was just strting out. I KNOW what happens. What you said is flat out false. Unless you are leaned over pretty darn far and hauling ass....or in the dirt....then kinda...the front would just wash out..... :confused

[PhaTeLeSS]

i haven't been able to stoppie my fzr, but that might just be because it's an fzr. i have been doing stoppies, wheelies, all little trials shit for years on my mtn bike and i think those skills have done worlds of good for panic reactions. how can anyone say that a stoppie and a panic stop have nothing to do with each other?! they're virtually the same thing! too much brake in a controlled manner. i think everyone should know how to do a stoppie. that way, you know exactly how much brake you have to work with next time you have to make a panic stop. and to whoever said that braking is a delicate exercise and only 1 finger should be used... i wish i had mojo!

[mlm]

I use the index and middle finger on my mountain bike, but on a motorcycle I use the middle, ring, and little fingers because it just feels natural for working the throttle.
I could never pull a stoppie on my old GPZ 1100...the front break would eventually lock. My new F4 seems ready, but I'm still getting used to it and haven't really tried.

[SaloSV]

after i put EBC HH pads on, i only use one or two fingers. i used to use three or four, but those pads have some serious bite!

[PhaTeLeSS]

now that i think about it, i went to the same pads on my fzr, and it made a huge difference! also, cranking up the preload and damping (spacers and heavier fork oil) improved braking as well as turning

[Zed10R]

Originally posted by Salo2
after i put EBC HH pads on, i only use one or two fingers. i used to use three or four, but those pads have some serious bite!

You should try the white ceramic Galfer pads. $45.00 per caliper, but Ho-le-shit. They stop you. And they seems to work better with heat, so no track induced brake fade. They also have very little initial bite - their stopping power feels directly proportionate to lever pressure.....although very little lever pressure is needed. 'I love 'em. :teeth