What fingers do you cover the brake and clutch with?

[HP]

On my mod 1 which I done on the weekend using youtube videos my examiner warned me about using you index and middle finger on the brake and clutch lever saying i wouldnt be able to stop quick enough and he saids the mod 2 examiner will mark me down, can someone tell me if this is true and also is it a minor or a major because it is a habit which i can't get out of and i feel comfortable and in control of my bike.

Cheers Harry

[Rufus]

how your examiner will see it, god knows. you are expected to use all four fingers when applying the brake or clutch though. whether it's a failing offense to use one finger is questionable if you are indeed in control of the bike, as thats what the test is about.
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CG125 > ZX6r > GSX600F > CB250n + ZX7R+ Bandit 1200

[Handsome]

I was told during lessons to brake with all four fingers as I normally do it with just the first two, four fingers equal more pressure, resulting in stopping sooner...

Still ride with just the two to pull the lever in though, but I've never heard of that though regards the marks and the examiner never mentioned it with regards to my riding...

I did pass before all this Mod 1, Mod 2 came in though...
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Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

[Whosthedaddy]

4 for me, can't seem to get the hang of just using 2.
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[TUG]

Rear brake/Clutch - four fingers
Front brake - two on the lever light braking normally all four under normal to heavy braking.
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Haz ER-5, innit!

[chris-red]

3/4 on the clutch (heavy springs) 2 on the brake. You don't need more than 2 fingers if your brakes are well maintained (on a modern bike anyway)
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[cyberglass]

R1
as above 3-4 on the clutch and 1 or 2 on the brake

Dl650
2-3 on the clutch both hands on the brake and pray to god i stop before i hit anything
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DL650 Vstrom 2004
DRZ400S 2003
Yamaha R1 2005

[HP]

cheers i may go for an hours training before my test to get rid of any bad habits but i practised some emergency stops using two fingers and i looked like i was stopping within the dsa figures so hopefully it will be fine as it feels so much more comportable having two fingers on the lever and the handle.

[Clanger]

For me it's three fingers, but only because I have the tiniest little fingers in the world!!!
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[yen_powell]

[T0MMY]

It's not just about the pressure you can apply with two fingers, it's more about the fact that on many bikes you won't be able to pull the brake lever as hard as possible before it has hit your two unused fingers. I naturally go with 2 but try to use 4. It isn't a problem if your bike has good modern brakes but if they're at all spongy it might be.

Just try pulling the lever as hard as you possibly can whilst stationary and see if you can get it to reach your fingers. I couldn't on my CBR but I can on my XT350.
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[crackfinder]

[Alexio]

All four fingers on both. My clutch and brake cables are getting harder and harder to use and my brake is probably nearing the end of it's life judging by how useless it's becoming anyway

I've noticed I use less on better maintained bikes.
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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

[ms51ves3]

Four on both.

[HP]

yeh cheers for the advice tommy i tried that and i can't make the lever hit my fingers, i also agree that using two fingers will probaly lead to a quick yet controlled stop where as grabbing a handful could lock up thefront wheel. crack finder the stopping distances i was talking about is the ones from the highway code what i remember from my theory is that 40mph is 36m and 30mph is 26m.

[crackfinder]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

1 on the brake, 3 on the clutch, but it's been a long time I've had to worry about riding "properly"
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[The Tot]

4 on the clutch and 3 on the brake. I use my middle, ring and pinky on the lever whilst the index and thumb is used to control the throttle. Dead handy for me when i'm down-shifting and braking at the same time.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
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[CRF_Rider]

2 for the clutch 2 for the front brake sometimes even just 1 on the front brake. I have 2 finger levers and i have come from a trials background too. Also i ALWAYS ride covered.

Find much more modulation and control in two fingers rather than just 'grabbing a handful'. Also the front brake on the CRF is very very keen, 2 finger stoppies are incredibly easy.

One of my friends has to use four as he cant get on with only using 2 fingers. Just personal preference IMO Altough i will say i did break a finger on my clutch hand using two and went down as my fingers got trapped between the clutch lever and the bar. this was on the R6 before i switched to two finger levers like im used to.

I got told to use four on my test an he asked why am i only using 2 fingers so i said "its just how i know, also if it were an emergency im not going to 'grab a fistfull and deck it" so he responded saying that "if they (the test centre) wanted to be technical it could be classed as not in full control of the veichle." He agreed on why i was only using 2 but said "for the test use all four and just get through it. Then go back to using two if ya want."

I'd use all four for the test then do which ever feels more comfortable to you

P.S i find 2 finger levers last longer too as they dont go to the end of the bar so less likely to get snapped in an off
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Current: Honda CRF 450 R Supermotard
Previous: Yam TY250 x2, Gas Gas TXT 200, Sherco 290, Suzuki TS 50,Honda CG 125, Yam SR250, Suzuki DR-Z400E, Yamaha YZF R6 112rwbhp

[Gazz]

[dodger]

Last 3 fingers using the brake. All 4 using the clutch, evidently my hands are too weak to use just 1/2...
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My Bikes: Piaggio NRG| Aprilia RS 125| Suzuki GSX-R 600|Yamaha Fazer Ducati 848
Europe 2008

[Alexio]

[Nixon]

Hmmm what does your examiner actually mean though? strictly speaking in examiner language:

Cover = Holding fingers on or over the leaver in anticipation of braking or operation of clutch.

Operate = Actually physically operating the brake or clutch.

Your examiner shouldnt be telling you to cover the clutch/brake at all, but shoudl be telling you to use all available fingers to operate the clutch/brake

The same goes for the rear brake and IIRC an examiner can give a minor per incidence.

[Pete.]

[crackfinder]