Modern Vespa

Riding with a couple of fingers on the brakes shaves a quarter second or more off your reaction time.

I rode dirt & got in the habit of keeping one or two finger on the levers. For bikes with a clutch I use a short lever.
I adjust the brake so I don't pinch my other two fingers.

Scooters with rear brake on the left are easy for my brain the adapt to, my instinct to pull both levers & let off the gas all at the same time anyway.
The throttle side, has my fingers on the lever anytime I'm slowing down

Be ready to slow down, keep a finger on the brakes

Dirt biking and mountain biking are good training for riding a motorbike on the street, you really figure out limits of sticking to the ground and how to grab handfuls of front and rear brakes to shut er down in high spirited and emergency situations.

I usually do that when I am in thick traffic or approaching a blind bend.

Same.

And on very bad surfaces especially roads sign posted as 4x4 😀

I avoid bad surfaces. I like smooth roads with sweeping bends.

I love those too but there's so much to explore that's only accessible via gravel roads. eg a lot of hiking tracks. I don't only ride for the ride, I also ride for adventure / exploring.

note: I don't have a car licence let alone a 4x4

I know some of you like the off broadway dirt roads. I am really not a fan and avoid it on the smaller wheels on the Vespa. When I had a Ducati Scrambler, I lived off the road. As previously posted, that off road experience did provided some training for braking and staying up right.

Off road stuff, if you are potentially going down (caught in a rough, or problems with the road surface) if you hyper accelerate - floor it - the bike acts like a gyroscope and self rights itself. However, you do not want to be in this situation to often. Also, from the safe riding course, if you are too fast in a curve, look to wear you want to go - this causes your shoulders to adjust the lean of the scooter and can get you through the curve upright.

No more dirt roads for this cowboy.

Bob Copeland

I was taught that "trick" when I was learning to ride when I was in high school. We called it "covering the brake." Works for me!