ABS Concerns
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 171
From: Simi Valley, CA
I hope you didn't learn the 2 finger technique in your MSF course. In the advanced course they teach you to use all of your fingers and to firmly squeeze the front brake. You have very little strength in two fingers compared to using all four. I also doubt you locking up the front wheel is going to put you in danger. In the advanced course they have you go 20 mph and squeeze it hard as you can. When balancing that with the rear brake there are no major issues.
Not pointing two fingers - just sayin'!
Not pointing two fingers - just sayin'!
1) If two fingers on the brake lever is what feels right to you, then it's probably ok regardless of what some class may teach. There's usually more than one way to get the same result. I've been doing two-finger braking for years. In addition, I feel two fingers on the brake lever and the remaining two on the throttle give you better overall control. It makes it much easier to blip the throttle and downshift while still maintaining your braking. Kinda like the heel-toe method in a car.
2) Paraphrased... "Locking the front wheel is not going to put you in danger???" Are you kidding me? Locking up a front wheel is one of the scariest things that can happen on a bike! Now I haven't been doing this for years (luckily) but it did happen to me once on a Honda Interceptor slowing from about 115mph. As I was slowing in a straight line the front wheel locked at about 75-80 mph and in an instant, without any twitch or warning, I was on the ground.
3) Although you can get away with it in certain conditions on an ABS bike, I don't think it is ever appropriate to apply any brake, front or rear, as hard as you can. There's a feel you need to have.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,012
Likes: 298
From: Central Fl
I'd like to respectfully disagree...
1) If two fingers on the brake lever is what feels right to you, then it's probably ok regardless of what some class may teach. There's usually more than one way to get the same result. I've been doing two-finger braking for years. In addition, I feel two fingers on the brake lever and the remaining two on the throttle give you better overall control. It makes it much easier to blip the throttle and downshift while still maintaining your braking. Kinda like the heel-toe method in a car.
2) Paraphrased... "Locking the front wheel is not going to put you in danger???" Are you kidding me? Locking up a front wheel is one of the scariest things that can happen on a bike! Now I haven't been doing this for years (luckily) but it did happen to me once on a Honda Interceptor slowing from about 115mph. As I was slowing in a straight line the front wheel locked at about 75-80 mph and in an instant, without any twitch or warning, I was on the ground.
3) Although you can get away with it in certain conditions on an ABS bike, I don't think it is ever appropriate to apply any brake, front or rear, as hard as you can. There's a feel you need to have.
1) If two fingers on the brake lever is what feels right to you, then it's probably ok regardless of what some class may teach. There's usually more than one way to get the same result. I've been doing two-finger braking for years. In addition, I feel two fingers on the brake lever and the remaining two on the throttle give you better overall control. It makes it much easier to blip the throttle and downshift while still maintaining your braking. Kinda like the heel-toe method in a car.
2) Paraphrased... "Locking the front wheel is not going to put you in danger???" Are you kidding me? Locking up a front wheel is one of the scariest things that can happen on a bike! Now I haven't been doing this for years (luckily) but it did happen to me once on a Honda Interceptor slowing from about 115mph. As I was slowing in a straight line the front wheel locked at about 75-80 mph and in an instant, without any twitch or warning, I was on the ground.
3) Although you can get away with it in certain conditions on an ABS bike, I don't think it is ever appropriate to apply any brake, front or rear, as hard as you can. There's a feel you need to have.
Advanced
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
1) If two fingers on the brake lever is what feels right to you, then it's probably ok regardless of what some class may teach. There's usually more than one way to get the same result. I've been doing two-finger braking for years. In addition, I feel two fingers on the brake lever and the remaining two on the throttle give you better overall control. It makes it much easier to blip the throttle and downshift while still maintaining your braking. Kinda like the heel-toe method in a car.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 340
Likes: 4
From: Peach Bottom Pa.
I always use both brakes when I use my brakes,,even at stop lights ,,might be a habbit from my raceing days,,,but ,,If you use both brakes everytime you use your brakes it will become a habbit,,and you will have better controlled braking...
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: So Cal
70 percent of your brekaing power is with your front brake. Being an old motocrosser I always used two fingers as it was more important to control the bike. MSF course taught me that you must use four fingers as breaking power is as stated 70% of your power. Thus using two finger as opposed to four reduces that 70 to maybe 50 or less?
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 171
From: Simi Valley, CA
I'm sure there a some burly forearms out there that can squeeze the brake lever as hard (or even harder) with 2 fingers than some others can with 4.
So... Whatever you need to do to stop your bike... Just do it!
And! We should all apologize to the OP for hijacking his thread. Here's mine - Sorry dude. We really got off topic here.
Last edited by 2black1s; Jan 7, 2011 at 07:41 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,678
Likes: 3
I'd like to respectfully disagree...
1) If two fingers on the brake lever is what feels right to you, then it's probably ok regardless of what some class may teach. There's usually more than one way to get the same result. I've been doing two-finger braking for years. In addition, I feel two fingers on the brake lever and the remaining two on the throttle give you better overall control. It makes it much easier to blip the throttle and downshift while still maintaining your braking. Kinda like the heel-toe method in a car.
2) Paraphrased... "Locking the front wheel is not going to put you in danger???" Are you kidding me? Locking up a front wheel is one of the scariest things that can happen on a bike! Now I haven't been doing this for years (luckily) but it did happen to me once on a Honda Interceptor slowing from about 115mph. As I was slowing in a straight line the front wheel locked at about 75-80 mph and in an instant, without any twitch or warning, I was on the ground.
3) Although you can get away with it in certain conditions on an ABS bike, I don't think it is ever appropriate to apply any brake, front or rear, as hard as you can. There's a feel you need to have.
1) If two fingers on the brake lever is what feels right to you, then it's probably ok regardless of what some class may teach. There's usually more than one way to get the same result. I've been doing two-finger braking for years. In addition, I feel two fingers on the brake lever and the remaining two on the throttle give you better overall control. It makes it much easier to blip the throttle and downshift while still maintaining your braking. Kinda like the heel-toe method in a car.
2) Paraphrased... "Locking the front wheel is not going to put you in danger???" Are you kidding me? Locking up a front wheel is one of the scariest things that can happen on a bike! Now I haven't been doing this for years (luckily) but it did happen to me once on a Honda Interceptor slowing from about 115mph. As I was slowing in a straight line the front wheel locked at about 75-80 mph and in an instant, without any twitch or warning, I was on the ground.
3) Although you can get away with it in certain conditions on an ABS bike, I don't think it is ever appropriate to apply any brake, front or rear, as hard as you can. There's a feel you need to have.
