Should You ALWAYS Cover Brakes and Clutch?
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- Опубліковано 9 чер 2024
- Should we always cover the brakes and the clutch while riding? Some people say yes, all the time, because anything can happen at any moment. We never know when we'll need our brakes and clutch, so we must be prepared at all times. Other people say no, because we might inadvertently grab the brakes, it's uncomfortable, and it can lead to numb hands, among other reasons. So, which one is true? The truth is that there is no absolute truth! As usual, there are pros and cons. Instead of trying to impose some stupid rigid rule about always keeping our hands on the controls, which would only be suitable for 50% of riders 50% of the time - it would be much better if I outline which situations can benefit from one approach or the other. With this information, you can decide what suits you the most.
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On Moto Control channel you will find videos about motorcycles, motorcycle riding techniques, tips & tricks and online motorcycle training for beginner and advanced riders!
A little info about me. My name is Andrei Bodrov, originally I'm from Moscow, Russia, and now I live in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Back in Moscow I was a motorcycle instructor and creator of Moto Control Beginner & Advanced motorcycle rider courses, which quickly became the most popular courses in Moscow (well, at least the advanced one😁). My advanced training course makes emphasis on slow speed riding techniques at first (such as good clutch and throttle control, proper riding posture, proper use of vision, etc.), then proceeds to more advanced techniques (such as aggressive braking, trail braking, maximal lean angle). The course incorporates a lot of exercises from DOSAF slow speed riding (similar to police rodeo like motorcycle training in USA), braking and cornering exercises and motogymkhana style riding. And now, since I actively learn English - I decided to post some useful videos for both your and mine practice!😉
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Since everyone writes this, it's necessary, I suppose 🤷, so here we go. Disclaimer: Ride at your own risk, you are responsible for your own safety. Me, Andrey Bodrov and my channel, Moto Control disclaim any liability incurred in connection with the use of riding techniques from this channel. Use common sense, wear full protective gear and ride in a safe and predictable manner!
#motorcycle #motorcycles #moto - Авто та транспорт
I like DanDantheFireman's zone method, i.e. cover the clutch and brakes in situations where they may be needed at short notice
Ryan on FortNine did a video of the police motorcycle training. He took their course and they teach 4 fingers on the levers at all times. It makes sense. It is less fatiguing, the hand is in a more natural position. Most people grip their grips too tightly and the 4 finger technique prevents the gorilla death grip on the bars. We are supposed to counter-steer, so instead of pulling the bar to turn, we are to push the bar to turn. Pushing to turn does not require any grip at all since the web of the palm to thumb is where the hand meets to be while pushing. Ryan said that halfway through the day his hands were less tired using the 4 finger technique.
You saw the levers on police Harleys? Of course they teach 4 fingers 😁
4 fingers on the brakes at all times mean less gas control.
@@MotoControlEn On the Beemers as well.
@@MotoControlEn Ture story. I need a winch to pull the levers on cruisers.
I must watch that, I saw his short saying he was on it, four fingers for me most of the time, trying to break that habit is difficult, where I fall down is riding off road when I'm generally not relaxed enough to have any decent co-ordination
I made it a habit to cover both levers with two fingers each all the time: Helps with trail braking and shortens the braking distance considerably in emergency braking. Plus: It helps relax my notorious handle cramping (especially at the gas hand) 😅
I am also
As a returning biker after 25yrs off these videos are fantastic revision to ride safer quicker and now develop skills. The real beauty is that he explains 'why' not just 'what' and is always practical, explaining the best situation based techniques rather than extreme 'always do this' that uneducated people offer. Excellent.
I’ve gotten used to covering both while riding in the street. If I’m on the highway, especially for a long stretch, I’ll use cruise control at which point I’m not covering either brake or clutch levers.
“The truth is there is no absolute truth”. Amen
6:13 he's spitting "FACTS"
I'm a new driver
Andrei, excellently postulated. These are basically tools in one's toolbox and practice pays dividend on how to inherently use which technique and when..
Potholes. Bumps are one thing, potholes or divots are another, as they can turn the bars, and cause the bike to suddenly slow, which could cause one to grip the bars and consequently the controls tighter, increasing the slowing effect. This is especially true for beginners.
If I'm looking up to twenty seconds ahead, I see situations where switching to covering the controls, and turning off cruise control, makes sense. Even if covering them is uncomfortable, in these situations it is the best thing to do.
Rolling my two fingers over the brake was a game changer for me. Before I started doing that I was really jerky on the throttle and front brakes. Also, I'm super excited about the new course! I'm in the parking lot every day since starting riding in April, but I have doubts if I'm practicing the right things.
Спасибо Андрей, always very useful and well explained videos!
Cheers from Italy!
I always keep a finger on the brake. Even at 70 plus with nothing in front. It's a great habit.
I've reached a point in my riding where I do it sub-conciously while i ride along various types of routes ... so far so good, only 3 accidents in 6 years👌🏽
Only 3 accidents in 3 years... is that good or bad? 😂
A tip to keep in your pocket: At 2:05 "The front brake lever can serve as a gauge..." gauge rhymes with cage. I always misspell that word because it doesn't sound how it looks! Thank you for another helpful video. I'm going to try playing with lever adjustments now. I figured it was "good enough" and hadn't really considered the difference it could make on longer rides.
Thanks for your videos! Really help me to learn & have strong basics in riding a motorbike. I am new motorbike rider here (less than a year). I ride mountain bike for years and develop habit to not cover the levers and only use index finger to operate the levers, but need to change for 2 fingers on motorbike (1 finger is not enough power lol). I feel more in control with all fingers on the grips. However, riding mountain bike also makes habit to experiment with the lever position on the motorbike so I can reach them quickly with this riding style.
Gracias por tu dedicación!
Your videos are the best 👌🏾
I keep two fingers on the break no clutch I have the dct goldwing… but my hand has gotten comfortable that way and is more easy to apply the needed pressure and a given situation… I tried using more fingers on the break and I always applied to much break…lol so now my thumb ring and pinky are wrapped around the throttle while my pointer and middle finger is on the break always ready…great video..
I cover the brake at all times but never the clutch. I never grab the brake accidentally but I've been riding for over 20 years.
I switched out my clutch lever to a reduced effort, 2 finger length so I can hold the handle bar and control the friction zone at the same time. I always ride through town with 2 fingers on the front brake as well
Smart move. I do exactly the same
I say "no" to covering the front brake. Controls are setup to roll off the throttle and fingers then cover the brakes. Don't want to inadvertently use throttle against the front brake. Covering clutch is pointless, I leave the transmission engaged for engine braking
personally I cover the brakes not for faster braking< as I'd have ot close the throttle anyway, but for more precise throttle control.
Fingers on the brakes work like foot's heel in a car. If it's on the floor you're more precise then when it's in the air and you're stomping on the accelerator.
Not really. Foot/heal in the air and the throttle is controlled from the hip, a long way away. Whereas, on a motorcycle whether you have one or more fingers on the brake lever or not, the throttle is still controlled by the wrist, inches away.
@@roadracingrelics I've got bumpy roads where I ride, so fingers are controlled from the shoulder for me ))
Front brake, yes. Absolutely. Clutch is probably optional as is rear brake. Front brake is most important in an emergency, imo.
6:15 😂 horn is crucial in india, nice observation
I am always scanning and cover any time I spot a potential threat like someone turning left ahead, or cars to the left or right of an intersection.
90% of riders, 100% of new riders, do not adjust their levers at all, much less adjust them properly. That is like getting a new car, leaving the seat all the way back and trying to drive the car; of course it will be uncomfortable; unless you are 6'4" tall. The dealers are just as bad when delivering the bike to the consumer. I have had to educate every dealer when I picked up my new bikes on proper lever angles and foot lever adjustments. It amazes me. One dealer tried telling me that it was impossible to adjust the gear lever with a quick shifter, it took me about 90 seconds to prove him wrong. They should know how to adjust these properly for the buyer. If you say that it is uncomfortable for you to keep a finger or two on your levers, then they are not adjusted properly; it is that simple. If you have to try to readjust your left foot to shift, then the gear lever is probably too low (that is the most common, they are rarely too high). If you can't find or feel the foot brake, it is probably too low as well. The manufacturer makes all four levers adjustable for a reason. The guy on the assembly line probably doesn't even ride, he only know that the levers should be about here or there. It is up to you to make them FIT you properly. If adjusted properly, your hands and fingers won't get tired or cramped from leaving a finger or two on the levers; guaranteed.
I completely agree with you about the clutch and front brake. With the levers in the right position, it's not uncomfortable at all. Another reason people think it's uncomfortable is that people think they need to be squeezing the bars to hang on but that's completely unnecessary. It's obviously going to be uncomfortable to have two fingers extended to rest on the levers while the other two fingers are squeezing the bars. As far as the rear brake and shifter go, yeah, they need to be adjusted properly but you still need to adjust your foot every time because you should be on the balls of your feet when you're not using them.
While I completely agree on proper adjustment for a particular rider, I found my controls fully OK for me straight from the shop (CF Moto 300NK). Before purchase, I was learning on 3 different small bikes, so I can feel the right position. Guess big bikes require more adjustment.
I agree in theory, however I've seen people with smaller hands struggle with hydraulic clutch setups that have little to no adjustment - aftermarket levers sometimes don't allow the travel for the clutch to engage. No amount of adjusting existing levers nor installing aftermarkets can fix that travel issue for some people
@@joshdix0n The solution is to install aftermarket levers. Many "shorty" levers have more than a full inch of adjustment available.
@briangc1972 yes you can install shorty levers, however the closest adjustment usually doesn't allow the bike to start if it has a clutch safe ignition. Just a few a annoying issues that can arise from hydraulic clutch setups
I prefer to just cover the brake unless I'm really sketched out by something or lane filtering. My reasoning is that I can pull the clutch lever abruptly and nothing bad will happen*. But if I panic grab the brake lever it's going to cause serious issues.
Great video sir .
Sir did you see the new 390 ktm has increased the cc and power. And the design also looks great 💯.
Yes, I saw, pretty cool design😎
id rather hit and slide the pavement from pressing the brakes too hard than hitting a hard object or falling somewhere worse because I couldnt put my fingers on the brakes on time
The role of the front brake and clutch are different, but their ergonomics are the same. A clutch requires a biting point that is sufficient to release progressively, and at an optimal distance from the thumb. Too far and the rider is using finger tips to release, too close and the lever interferes with the handlebar and remaining fingers on it. The front brake requires sufficient travel to stop progressively, and is also restricted by finger reach and bar distance. The weight of the clutch is also a factor, a Laverda Jota and Honda 125 are completely different. The number of fingers used is entirely dependent on the motorcycle, not a theoretical optimum.
would be amazing to have one of your videos about wheelies
I do pretty basic wheelies, I'm sure any stunter will explain them much better🙂
대단히 감사합니다.ㅎ
I tend to cover the brake with two fingers when in residential areas
It happens naturally now 👌🤞
Dear sir please make a video on clutch and smooth throotle and smooth braking in one video
How do you break without having opening the clutch? Do you go into neutral?
If resting your fingers becomes uncomfortable, it tells you that the setup is wrong for your ergonomics. Adjust the lever angle to match your wrist and finger. A grip length vise adjustable lever will further fine tune the lever comfort for those not blessed with size 10 gloves. Purposely training grip strength with training aids as grip trainers and working on 2 as 4 finger grip power as endurance helps a lot with the control levers. The more you work the levers the more finger should be used to reduce fatigue.
Sometime's it isn't changeable, I've had hydraulic clutches on bikes that had litte to no adjustment as far as ergonomics
i cover both unless i'm on track or twisties, relax your hands
whats the name of the glove in the thumbnail please
Andrei, I have question regarding clutch control. My bike has quite abrupt engine braking, if I let accelerator to turn back into "idle" position with clutch fully engaged, it feels like somebody has pulled a bike from behind, even in 2nd gear. I used to slip clutch even when slowing down for turns, not letting it fully back when downshifting - guess it is a bad habit - what is your opinion?
I am practicing fine accelerator control and smooth downshifting, but disengaged clutch and brakes work much smoother for me.
Also, is it OK to disengage clutch on long downhills, instead of keeping throttle at certain position to maintain the speed?
You are right about practicing throttle control - that's 100% right solution👍 To achieve smoothness you need to pay attention to not only how fast you open throttle, but also how fast you close it, for this instance you don't need clutch at all. I have a quick vid about throttle control exercise, it's pretty straightforward: ua-cam.com/video/XvLbSSSm0oE/v-deo.html The same goes for applying clutch for downhills - it's just more wasted heat going through brakes, engine braking works better in this case😉
I drive since a while with2 fingers on almost constantly.....also regulary do emergency brake manouvers so I know whats possible. Had a situation on german autobahn where I drove 230 km/h..... where a guy without any reason drove on my lane ......there was nothing in frot of him......in that situation I had no fingers covering the brakes......I did not brake at all.....just drove enough left to not collide......the guy drove maybe 120 km/h...... in panic I grabbed the handle bar so tight that I could not brake...
I was very disappointed about myself as I thought I would act different.... If the guy moves more to the left I would be dead now....
Thats why I learned how to cover the brake all the time..... sorry for the essay, but maybe good for someone : )
I use my three fingers but not my pointing finger? I'm new to riding
On the front brake, There is no different between cover breaking lever or not, because of the physics, you still need time to close the throttle before baking.
But, there maybe benefit to cover on the rear brake.
If you use clutch, you can almost momentarily disengage the engine, disregarding of the throttle position at the moment. i often use it, as situation on our roads is sometimes completely unpredictable, and I may need to use brakes while trying to accelerate 😂 Sounds stupid, but it is a situation like I am taking off a traffic light with few cars ahead of me, and then suddenly somebody decides to change lane or whatever, causing the car directly in front of me to decelerate rapidly, and I have to follow (already braking while engine calms down).
I wish you all the best thinking the rear brake is going to save you 🥺
@@daveo9844 i didn't say the rear barke can save me.
I correct jerkiness with clutch... Am I messing up?
Depending on the situation. Simply speaking clutch is for very slow speed (roughly like up to 15km/h), rear brake + throttle is for a bit higher speed, like maybe 10-60km/h.
Me too, but only upto 2nd gear and 15 kmph, also i have no idea if it's an unhealthy practice.
Some bikes have a lot of slop in the transmission. In slow, tight turns you might start the turn with a little engine braking in effect, then you apply throttle to exit the turn which takes up the slop in the transmission and you feel a little jolt. Easing the clutch mid-turn allows you to apply power a little more smoothly. I have a 30 year old fuel injected bike and the engine management sometimes can get a bit confused at low speed and small throttle openings. Combined with the slop in the transmission the bike doesn't know if I want to go or stop and will jerk the bike back and forth even on a steady throttle. At such times a dab of the clutch lever breaks the feedback loop and allows the bike to proceed smoothly.
Is it possible for a US citizen to rent a motorcycle in Buenos Aires?
Sure!
A ti neplokho shpreхaesh na English! My compliments!
Can keep a finger on front brake, clutch no
Whatever opens your eyes should open your hands. Or at least a couple of fingers 😜
Thanks Andrey, it will help to know what is good or bad
Greets from belguim!
I cover the brake in town. Never cover the clutch
sos argentino??
Soy ruso, pero vivo en Argentina!
👍👍👍👍
i only cover them when i feel the need to.......other than that, nope!
How is this 16 minutes
Wish my damn levers and throttle tube was that easy to loosen, I've bought 3 screwdrivers and an impact screwdriver and that bitch still won't come off x_X (Yes the 3 were all JiS)
PlusGas releasant is your friend.
Amigo, que te paso con whatsapp? 🙄
Hola, qué tal? Tengo un número nuevo, te escribí:-)
Better cover the break on a highway. A car might just drop from the sky right in front of you, you might never know. 😆
I always press clutch while i am in speed and then dump it when i need to accelerate
Only cover when you are in a situation which warrants it i.e. where you feel like you are imminently going to need to use it. Normally otherwise it's too much of a safety risk to put your hands anywhere near the clutch or especially front break.
re your comment "We never know when we'll need our brakes and clutch, so we must be prepared at all times. "
Yes we do. We absolutely do, if you don't then you aren't paying enough attention and that is the bigger problem here.
This is so wrong. There's no possible way to know every time you'll need to use the brake. How do you think you'll know when a deer is going to jump in the road, a car is going to pull onto the road without looking, something is in your lane in the middle of a blind corner...? If you think it's a safety risk to cover the clutch and front brake, you're the problem.
@@jridenour31 It isnt at all. If a deer jumps out in front of you covering the breaks is probably the least of you problems at speed you wont have the reaction times to deal with the situation so your best bet is avoidance and planning for the worst. i.e. looking for an escape route/ where it will put you at the least risk should you come off.
All the other examples?
Well you have your answer. If there is a blind corner you should be reducing your speed and breaking as its a corner anyway if there is an intersection you should be covering your break.
As I literally said in the first sentence: "Only cover when you are in a situation which warrants it i.e. where you feel like you are imminently going to need to use it."
It looks like your reading comprehension is a problem.