Anyone "pinky brake"?

[Rob S.]

I usually use my index and middle fingers on the front brake. For more braking power, I add the ring finger.

But I've recently been using only my pinky when casually approaching red lights. Anybody else ever do this?

I certainly can't remember ever doing this with the drum brake on my CB350!

 

[eil]

There are a range of different techniques... I believe most racing instructors advise using index and middle finger on the brake while holding onto the throttle with ring and pinky for light braking. I've been doing it myself quite a bit lately, almost subconsciously. The guy who writes Proficient Motorcycling advises thumb and index finger on throttle, the other three on the brake. I generally use all four fingers for ordinary braking. Whatever works for the circumstances, I say.

 

[Dogma]

Find something that gives you the best control in an emergency, then practice that. Because whatever your habit is, that's what you'll do in an emergency.

 

[wkmpt]

There are a range of different techniques... I believe most racing instructors advise using index and middle finger on the brake while holding onto the throttle with ring and pinky for light braking. I've been doing it myself quite a bit lately, almost subconsciously. The guy who writes Proficient Motorcycling advises thumb and index finger on throttle, the other three on the brake. I generally use all four fingers for ordinary braking. Whatever works for the circumstances, I say.

I, too, am an index/middle/brake-->ring/pinky/throttle-style rider. Granted, on my current daily it's possible to do a two-finger stoppies so I'm a bit spoiled in that regard.

I do have a bar-end-weight throttle lock, that in order to use it and not momentarily slow down I have to hold the throttle with index/mid and use pinky/ring to adjust the lock, but that's more an adaptation to the lock than it is to a style of brake/throttle control.