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Old Nov 25, 2018 | 10:30 PM
  #11  
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I didn't have to worry about that on my first two Harleys. One had drum brake that was more of a decoration than a brake, the other had no front brake. lol
Now a days I cover with two fingers when in traffic.
 
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Old Nov 26, 2018 | 11:01 AM
  #12  
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Glad all is well and thanks! I learned something.
 
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Old Nov 26, 2018 | 12:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Marks57
No more resting my hand on the brake lever for me. Last week I went for a ride in the country where I've ridden many times before. I was turning onto this road when out of nowhere I hit a dip in the road so hard that it caused my hand to clamp down on the front brake. I felt the bike get lighter in the back but never lost traction. I believe if I had been going any faster I would have gone down. After 45 years of riding and 21 bikes (even including dirt bikes) this has never happened before. It's never too late to learn something new.
Kinda reminds me of the fellow who had ridden many years and traveled lots of miles. After about 30 year he hit a deer. His buddies told him about the "deer whistles", so he bought and mounted two. Now he swears by them since he hasn't had a deer incident since then. Yup. Logical.
 
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Old Nov 26, 2018 | 12:38 PM
  #14  
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I remember the Rider safety Course, the instructor said to not "cover" the brakes, and when you do use the levers, use all 4 fingers.
 
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Old Nov 26, 2018 | 03:26 PM
  #15  
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I read on some forum about the guy that was on the Blue Ridge Parkway, I think it was, and hit a dip and off he went. Was suing the federal government. Always some else's fault. Glad you are all right. I run over dips like that all of the time. Scary on a Harley...
 
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Old Nov 26, 2018 | 03:56 PM
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My MSF guy made us do drills to force a habit of not covering, as well as applying the foot and hand brakes evenly so that the bike stays level during a fast stop. It became engrained in me. Prior to that drill I don't think I ever touched the back brake (foot brake) AND I covered the brake lever with two fingers. Never had an incident like you describe, but I can easily see how it could happen.
 
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Old Nov 26, 2018 | 05:34 PM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by Sierra Nate
My MSF guy made us do drills to force a habit of not covering, as well as applying the foot and hand brakes evenly so that the bike stays level during a fast stop. It became engrained in me. Prior to that drill I don't think I ever touched the back brake (foot brake) AND I covered the brake lever with two fingers. Never had an incident like you describe, but I can easily see how it could happen.
Practice until it become the automatic habit. The default. It's what pro's in many skills.
 
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Old Nov 26, 2018 | 06:29 PM
  #18  
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I usually cover the brake with one or two fingers but never four when I`m moving.
 
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Old Nov 26, 2018 | 07:57 PM
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It also happen to me, hit this dip where you saw light between me and the seat. I was luck since I had both hands on the handlebar. I was thinking to myself right after it happen, what if I was riding with only one hand. Wipe out!
 
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Old Nov 26, 2018 | 08:57 PM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by Deucedog
I didn't have to worry about that on my first two Harleys. One had drum brake that was more of a decoration than a brake, the other had no front brake. lol
Now a days I cover with two fingers when in traffic.
No bull here ! That old drum brake you could grab with both hands and it wasn't going to stop you. And that was an improvment over the bikes i had with no front brake.
 
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