Two finger shifting and braking- DAS Mod 1 & 2

Two finger shifting and braking- DAS Mod 1 & 2

Author
Discussion

Bumblebee7

Original Poster:

1,527 posts

74 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
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Hello,
I'm booked in for my Mod 1 & 2 in early October and keen to hear thoughts on using two fingers or the whole hand for pulling in the clutch/front brake?

I've been riding a geared 125 for about 10 months now and naturally found myself drawn to this method. Clutch is fully in and brakes at full tension long before they hit my ring finger/pinkie. Had a bit of a read online and it seems I'm certainly not the only one that does this and many even fit shorty shifters for this.

Does anyone have an opinion or better still specific knowledge on whether I am able to use this method without being penalised in my practical exam?

I didn't think anything of it until I went in for an assessment of my riding in preparation for my DAS training and I was pulled up on it as a 'bad habit' I'd gotten into.

Thanks!

MrGman

1,585 posts

205 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
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From my mounting biking days i've always ridden with two fingers, when doing my training and test i was told i needed to use 4 fingers. Got into the habit for the sake of my test.
Now i use a combination depending on how and what i'm riding.

Rubin215

3,985 posts

155 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
It's a bad habit that the nasty Mr Examiner will fail you for.

catso

14,771 posts

266 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
Depends on the bike - I only use 2 fingers on the brake on my Ducatis as that's all that's required for as much braking as you'll ever need but the old Guzzi requires the full hand to stop quickly. As for the clutch, I always use the full hand for all of them due to heavy lever action.

I have no idea what you 'should' do for a test etc. (when I started riding you certainly needed the whole hand to brake any bike) but I imagine it's probably looked on like 'push-pull' steering or handbrake use at traffic lights during a car test? Something you do for the test because you are expected to but then develop your own system later if you're a free thinker.

Pothole

34,367 posts

281 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
Do as you were told after the assessment. That's what it's there for. Pass the test then do as you please.

Alternatively, if you've found this simple concept taxing and burdensome enough to ask some randoms on the internet who will happily give you opinions based on bugger all, please stop trying to learn to ride a bike and go far, far away.

black-k1

11,889 posts

228 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
Always use all 4 fingers. It's easier to add less weight on the lever with 4 fingers than to add an "emergency stop" amount more weight when only using two fingers.

James_B

12,642 posts

256 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
black-k1 said:
Always use all 4 fingers. It's easier to add less weight on the lever with 4 fingers than to add an "emergency stop" amount more weight when only using two fingers.
It depends if you can lock the wheel with fewer fingers.

I seem to remember that the greatest control of muscle tension is not up against the lightest part of the strength curve, and it generally makes sense to operate the brake in the range where you have finest muscle control.

tom_e

346 posts

98 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
Do as you're told, pass your test then do as you wish.

Wildfire

9,774 posts

251 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
When I did my test I was told, four fingers for Clutch and braking. The instructor said it may be frowned upon if I was just braking with two.

Now riding I still prefer long levers with two finger braking.

Andy XRV

3,837 posts

179 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
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Some bikes will require 4 fingers so as others have said, learn and get used to using all fingers and then reduce down to suit your bike once you’ve nailed it

Good luck with your test

creampuff

6,511 posts

142 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
I'd really recommend using 4 fingers all the time so that it is permanently embedded in your brain.

Many, most even, bikes require 4 fingers for full braking effort. It is difficult to add fingers if you are already trying to brake hard. Using only 2 fingers will eventually send you into the back of a taxi.

marksx

5,052 posts

189 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
Instructor rigourously enforced four fingers when I was learning. As soon as I passed I dropped into two fingers. Old habits from mountain biking.

5 years in, no issues, can stop plenty fast enough.

Do what's comfortable for you

Edit - do what's comfortable after you've passed. Until then do as you're told!

308mate

13,757 posts

221 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
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I actually don’t know how many I use on either lever. I would have to go down stairs and sit on the bike to find out what I naturally do. I know for a fact it isn’t four though, don’t need it. I can also tell you that you won’t be throttle blipping if you use four, so it must be crap. Don’t do it.

Bumblebee7

Original Poster:

1,527 posts

74 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
Pothole said:
Alternatively, if you've found this simple concept taxing and burdensome enough to ask some randoms on the internet who will happily give you opinions based on bugger all, please stop trying to learn to ride a bike and go far, far away.
Thank you for the very useful feedback. I thought I'd try and ask a motoring forum a question relating to motoring instead of relying solely on the opinion of one instructor. If I had listened to the advice of my driving instructor 10 years ago I would be using the colour of people's skin as a deciding factor in whether or not they have right of way when on the road.

Thanks everyone for the genuinely useful replies. It seems most have been told to use all four for the test but have reverted to whatever feels most comfortable once they have passed. I shall do the same thumbup

Tiggsy

10,261 posts

251 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
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I ride a 701 enduro and always single finger the clutch - I want to be holding the bars with every other finger!

My other half just passed her test and now rides with 2 finger clutch use - switched straight after her training so got through the test ok then switched.

Cardinal Hips

323 posts

71 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
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I use both hands on my cable operated drum braked 50's triumph. And it still doesn't stop.

Two fingers on a street triple RS I rode, and my balls were crushed on to the fuel tank.

Ask your instructor what to do. Afterwards you can do what you like and start all the bad habits. Maybe become one of those riders that look like geese coming in to land on water whenever they stop or move away. Legs akimbo flint-stoning away from the lights or up to a roundabout with both feet off the pegs. biggrin

Edited by Cardinal Hips on Wednesday 22 August 14:39

Dog Star

16,079 posts

167 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
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I use whatever is appropriate for the brakes on the bike - my R1 is two fingers, one on my previous F4 was more than enough.

If I was doing my test I'd do what the instructor tells you and the examiner expects. I'd not be asking on here.

moanthebairns

17,918 posts

197 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
quotequote all
I got pulled up on this by my examiner, I was two or one finger braking. When I did mod 1 I went to do the emergency stop two finger braking and I noticed the examiner going straight for his clipboard, I immediately changed to 4 and he put the clipboard back down. So they do look for it.

I four finger clutch but 2 or 1 finger brake, go figure. I don't buy the fact that 4 fingers is the way forward as my palm is a fair size but my fingers look like they have been injecting thalidomide. I physically can't 'light' brake using my pinky and ring finger.

If you can't exert enough to lift the rear using two fingers upgrade/fix your m/c.

telecat

8,528 posts

240 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
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Using Two fingers appears to be an Off-Road technique. No Trials Rider uses all four for example or you lose control of the bike. When a Junior takes their test they usually do the four fingers to get though. Strange really as it is as effective on modern bikes.

308mate

13,757 posts

221 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
quotequote all
moanthebairns said:
If you can't exert enough to lift the rear using two fingers upgrade/fix your m/c.
Exactly.

I checked this morning: I am index and middle finger on clutch and on the brake I use middle, ring and little finger. Works for me 55 miles a day across central London and that's a lot of stop/start.