I have a question for some experienced riders...... When I took my MSF class the instructors kept getting on my case for only using 3 fingers on the front brake. I was only using a 250 Ninja for the course which maybe had a single 280mm front rotor at best.  I am now riding a 696 with TWO 320mm front rotors! I am only using two fingers to stop the bike and maybe three if I really need to get on it.  I then attended the demo Hypermotard ride last week and the Ducati Rep said use 2 fingers on the brake and if you use 3 you are going to have a "real exciting time!".  What do some of the more experienced riders do here?

Regards,
Ryan

Whatever is comfortable for you.  You just need to be able to use the brake and the throttle at the same time.

Personally, I brake with 2 fingers on most bikes including a ninja 250 race bike ('cept for an occasional 1 finger when I'm trying to steer with trail braking).   I find it easier to regulate how much brake presure I'm applying and also control the throttle when I've got two fingers on each control.   With three fingers, I find it harder to blip the throttle while controlling my level of braking.  When people warn against 3 fingers, it's often because they're concerned that you are accidentally going to use too much pressure and lock up the front.  But that's concern only if your regular practice is not 3 finger braking.   

If you're used to braking with 3 fingers and can still comfortably control the throttle, go for it.  But it's worth playing around with 2 or 4 fingers (I don't mean that in a dirty way) to see what works for you. 

Quote from: Spidey on February 03, 2009, 05:50:20 PM

If you're used to braking with 3 fingers and can still comfortably control the throttle, go for it.  But it's worth playing around with 2 or 4 fingers (I don't mean that in a dirty way) to see what works for you. 

hahah ... thats funny..

Racer.. i always feel more comfortable using 2 fingers on both .. gives me more grip on the bars and some more control if needed ..

I've never gone for the two or three finger thing. I just fill the glass until.....oh wait....nm....

one finger can lift the rear of my bike but I have much more fine control with two...so it's not allways about the power/strength.   

If two gives you enough force with your brakes on your bike I think that's the way to go.

Hmmm... I've been using 1 finger on my 696, but maybe I should try to use 2.

Quote from: swampduc on February 03, 2009, 09:10:29 PM
Hmmm... I've been using 1 finger on my 696, but maybe I should try to use 2.

Try it out for a few days.  You'll might find you like it.  You should be able to brake a lot harder with 2 fingers and with more control.  The 696 doesn't have the stopping power or control of--for example--Statler's s4rs or a 1098. 

the MSF course i took MADE me use 4 finger else i didn't pass, but normally i use two. that's why i am thinking about buying shorty levers. if necessary my hands are small enough to grab the shorty with 3. plus i had a habit of also clutching with 3 and crushing my pinkie.

MSF taught 4 as emergency braking. so you wouldn't get on the throttle etc. someone here had an accident starting his bike. i didn't read the whole thread but if he had four finger braked while starting the bike, i doubt he would have had the accident.

so in the end there is a use for the 4 finger, 3 finger (for our great breaks), 2 finger for normal braking and 1 for trail braking.

hmm guess i didn't give a definitive answer.

i use 1 finger for brake when approaching fast corners.it gives me more control and balance with the thorttle at the same time.But of course i wouldnt recommend braking while turning.

Totally a preference thing. I brake with the middle finger/ring finger (no index/pinky)!

Quote from: Raux on February 03, 2009, 10:48:36 PM
the MSF course i took MADE me use 4 finger else i didn't pass, but normally i use two.

They teach the same thing in the equivalent of the MSF here - as far as I can work out, this was very good advice back when bikes had crappy drum brakes that'd start fading halfway through a 30mph to 0 stop and two finger brakers would be jamming their other two fingers between the lever and the bar before they managed to stop (if that ever happens on a modern hydraulic disk brake setup you've got some _serious_ problems) and like old useless laws, it makes very little sense anymore but people keep treating it as gospel truth...

Having said that, I use whatever is suitable for the bike I'm riding - 2 fingers on the (arguably over-breaked) Monster, 3 or 4 fingers on my Honda or the girlfiends Kawasaki...

big

It seems that there is a consensus on how crappy the brakes were on the bikes at MSF.

Four fingers at MSF needed to stop and to pass the class.

2 fingers on the 696 with Pazzo shorty lever. ALL you need IMHO. I am constantly amazed at the stopping
power of my brakes.

hell yea man... my 696 still amazes me everyday..

when they made me do the 4 finger, i was on the 696. nearly did a stoppy and the whole class was like WOAH. that thing has some serious stopping power. 

Quote from: wark on February 04, 2009, 12:37:29 AM
Totally a preference thing. I brake with the middle finger/ring finger (no index/pinky)!

I prefer the shocker with thumb attachment.