Fingers ready to go?

[GPTECHMAN]

So who puts their fingers on their clutch and/or brake when in a turn?

I can see the brake but maybe not the clutch?

[dre_2k2_f4i]

I've caught myself putting my fingers on the brake in a turn numerous times. :(

As for the clutch -- I never have my fingers on it unless I am just about to shift... which I have done in a turn.

[pasta fredo]

When I lane split I've got my fingers on both. The rest of the time I try to keep at least a finger on the brake especially around town. The way I see it if I’ve got a finger on the brake and someone pulls out in front of me that gives me the spit second I may need to avoid a nasty wreck.

[GPTECHMAN]

I agree pasta, but on the clutch?

[shichyea]

Originally posted by dre_2k2_f4i
I've caught myself putting my fingers on the brake in a turn numerous times. :(

As for the clutch -- I never have my fingers on it unless I am just about to shift... which I have done in a turn.

Agreed Dre. I don't cover until I'm about to shift.
And only use two fingers, never four. In the turns I have all my fingers on the throttle, don't want to be tempted to try and trail brake...

[shichyea]

So for some folks new to riding, who maybe find themselves not shifting so smoothly... try using two fingers.
If you use all four, you may be dumping (letting out too fast) the clutch; possibly causing to back tire to skid while down shifting.

IMHO if you do that you can modulate brake/clutch better. Also try using just your middle finger on the brake too and you'll find you have plenty of stopping power, and prolly won't be inclined to grab too much on accident. just my .02

[swll360]

Originally posted by GPTECHMAN
So who puts their fingers on their clutch and/or brake when in a turn?



Had to reenact going throught the twisties at my computer desk to answer that one. I don't have any fingers on the brake or clutch when in a turn....And that's my final answer.

But like pasta fredo said, got'em covered when splitting lanes.

[GPTECHMAN]

I shift with all four fingers, but hear that its a good idea to shift with just two cause the the remaining two fingers on teh handle bar will prevent you from pulling in the clutch too much, as it is not necessary?
is this what others have heard?

[swll360]

Heard the same thing on this side of the street too!...I'm a two finger man myself.

[a43-Dan]

i always keep my 2 fingers on the brake,i think one reason is that it makes entering turns smoother.
ya people say to keep 2 fingers on the left clip so you don't pull the clutch in more than you need, but i personaly always shift with all my fingers. i pull the clutch all the way in,i think i'm probaly the only person that does that.

[GPTECHMAN]

nope ...me too

[swll360]

I use to do the same thing myself but since i adjusted my clutch i can shift alot quicker when i get into situations where i need to come to a screaming holt. One time coming home from work, i was on the silver strand headed towards IB. For those who don't know, there's an S turn right before you get into IB. Anyways, i was doing about 85mph through the S turn and there was this pick-up truck w/ a trailer broke down taken up both lanes. I had to down shift so fast cuz i was in a lean and my breaks weren't gonna cut it. That's when i realized down shift'n quick could be a huge advantage.

[pasta fredo]

Originally posted by GPTECHMAN
I agree pasta, but on the clutch?

Weird as it sounds....yes. Remember this would only happen when I was lane splitting. I'd pull in the brake then the clutch when a cell phone talking cager would pull out in front of me with out looking. I felt like this was the easiest way to prevent the bike from lunging forward when the bike came to complete stop. I spent 2 years lane splitting down the 405 (from the new Getty Museum) to the 710 to master this little move. Not sure if this is the best way but worked for me.

[dre_2k2_f4i]

Originally posted by GPTECHMAN
I shift with all four fingers, but hear that its a good idea to shift with just two cause the the remaining two fingers on teh handle bar will prevent you from pulling in the clutch too much, as it is not necessary?
is this what others have heard?
I just recently switched to 2 fingers on the clutch for all gears except for into 1st. As swll360 said, adjusting the clutch cable out helped. I pull mine in 1/4 of the way and the clutch is disengaged. I still have a lot of practicing to do, though. Yesterday I had to quick stop because some lady decided to not only slam on her brakes, but also cut into a congested lane to turn right directly in front of me. Not enough time to swerve, so I hit the brakes... and dammit I still slid the rear brake, and stalled the bike. I need to practice quickstops with the front brake and pulling in the clutch.

[GPTECHMAN]

Originally posted by swll360
I use to do the same thing myself but since i adjusted my clutch i can shift alot quicker when i get into situations where i need to come to a screaming holt. One time coming home from work, i was on the silver strand headed towards IB. For those who don't know, there's an S turn right before you get into IB. Anyways, i was doing about 85mph through the S turn and there was this pick-up truck w/ a trailer broke down taken up both lanes. I had to down shift so fast cuz i was in a lean and my breaks weren't gonna cut it. That's when i realized down shift'n quick could be a huge advantage.

Im not sure what your riding background is but shifting leaned over is not the easiest way to come to a screeching halt. I mylsef would be more interested in trail braking than worry about blippin into the right gear.

Shifting if not done smoothly or correctly can cause "wheel hop" and have your back end lock up, so to speak due to the heavy engine braking.

[GPTECHMAN]

Originally posted by pasta fredo
Weird as it sounds....yes. Remember this would only happen when I was lane splitting. I'd pull in the brake then the clutch when a cell phone talking cager would pull out in front of me with out looking. I felt like this was the easiest way to prevent the bike from lunging forward when the bike came to complete stop. I spent 2 years lane splitting down the 405 (from the new Getty Museum) to the 710 to master this little move. Not sure if this is the best way but worked for me.

nah I do that too when Im lane splitting...an on my cell phone..hehe:-p

[GPTECHMAN]

Originally posted by dre_2k2_f4i
I just recently switched to 2 fingers on the clutch for all gears except for into 1st. As swll360 said, adjusting the clutch cable out helped. I pull mine in 1/4 of the way and the clutch is disengaged. I still have a lot of practicing to do, though. Yesterday I had to quick stop because some lady decided to not only slam on her brakes, but also cut into a congested lane to turn right directly in front of me. Not enough time to swerve, so I hit the brakes... and dammit I still slid the rear brake, and stalled the bike. I need to practice quickstops with the front brake and pulling in the clutch.

do you like your clutch to engauge all the way out like that. I like mine in further?

so are you saying that we should practice stoppies?:-p

[dre_2k2_f4i]

Originally posted by GPTECHMAN
do you like your clutch to engauge all the way out like that. I like mine in further?

so are you saying that we should practice stoppies?:-p
I used to have my clutch in further; that was when I used all my fingers to pull in the clutch all the way to the handlebar to shift. But if you think about it, adjusting the cable out more has the same effect. If you have the clutch in further, it takes, say, an inch of radial travel at some point on the lever to get it to the handlebar. Now, if you have adjust the clutch further out, you can take that same inch of travel without pulling it in to the handle bar.

For upshifts: I have nice, smooth shifting by loading the shifter, quickly rolling off the throttle, and quickly disengaging than engaging the clutch. But if I think about it too much while riding, I will undoubtedly mess it up. As for down shifting: if I am approaching a turn, I will do the same except blip the throttle while possibly braking; but if I am coming to a stop, I will use all my fingers to pull the clutch in and blip the throttle while down shifting and braking.

[onogsxr]

Same technique here as Pasta when lane splitting. Covering the clutch and front brake with two fingers.

As for down shifting - I use four cause I have a darn stiff clutch spring and that thang is a workout! That also includes a quick blip of the throttle with two on the front brake and a little of the rear to get the bike to sit before a turn.

Up shifting is all about hanging on. My clutch dis/engages at about 1/4 throw - but if it is full throttle fun, I usually shift without the clutch lever and just stomp down (race shift) to the next gear. You just have to be a hair off the throttle when you shift or else it's not as smooth.

My 2cents...:rockon:

[dre_2k2_f4i]

Originally posted by onogsxr
As for down shifting - I use four cause I have a darn stiff clutch spring and that thang is a workout!
Biggest understatement of the year!

[afrothunder]

Originally posted by shichyea
So for some folks new to riding, who maybe find themselves not shifting so smoothly... try using two fingers.
If you use all four, you may be dumping (letting out too fast) the clutch; possibly causing to back tire to skid while down shifting.

IMHO if you do that you can modulate brake/clutch better. Also try using just your middle finger on the brake too and you'll find you have plenty of stopping power, and prolly won't be inclined to grab too much on accident. just my .02

wow! i just started doing this. using 2 fingers. before i used all 4. still trying to adjust to it... but i find that its true in not grabbing too much brake. i concur stroble!

[GPTECHMAN]

you use two fingers on the clutch?

[afrothunder]

yeah i two finger both the clutch and brake.

[GPTECHMAN]

dang, Im two on my brake, but full on my clutch....

tension is a little stiffer on my clutch hand.

what about when you blip?

full or two?

[deno]

you guys pull in the clutch:uhh:

[afrothunder]

when i blip, you talkin' bout my right hand willis?!
i just have two fingers when i blip with my right hand... been working on that. i find that using the two fingers,
i have my pinky and right ring finger to have a better grip on the throttle. i am now clutching it with 2 all the time.

does that answer your question? bofa? LOL :D

[deathblow]

I use two fingers for the clutch and never cover either when in a turn.

[Philo]

:stupid:

(sorry Alan)

[Erlend]

Originally posted by deno
you guys pull in the clutch:uhh:

LMFAO!! Yeah... I was thinking the same thing... um...:errf:

As for the issue though.
I ALWAYS cover my clutch with two fingers. I twofinger the clutch while upshifting, but I full it when downshifting. My clutch is harder than hell (due to the barnett setup) so I want to make shure I hit those downshifts.
I never cover the brake EVER. In the MSF course they would smack ous if we did. Better to pull in the clutch a split second before the brake than the other way around! However, when I am lane SHARING I cover the brake... as opposed to lane splitting where I just tuck behind my fairings and hope that no one recognizes my a$$!

[CjrJAM]

I sometimes tend to cover the brake with at least one finger. It works good for me for trail braking so you don't apply too much pressure on it.

[deathblow]

Originally posted by Philo
:stupid:

(sorry Alan)

I'm used to being called worse by my girlfriend ;).