Modern Vespa

I usually ride with index and middle finger over brake, but the MSF instructor in the classroom section said each hand should stay on grip/throttle, and will be graded that way in the riding portion.

which is safer and better grip? I seem to feel safer with 2 fingers over brake, and know not to roll the throttle on when I brake, but I guess I have to 'brake' that habit if I want to pass newt weekend.


thanks

"It depends".

On the open road I ride with my hands just resting on the grips - as soon as any hazard comes in view my fingers (two or four depending) rest on the brake levers. I rarely 'grip' the grips - but it has been known on the track when I've needed to just hang on!

In town I'm covering the brakes and the horn all the time.

I'm not saying a new (or any) rider should be doing what I do, but it works for me.

For a novice rider I think your instructor is correct. He may tell you to stay in the centre of your lane as well - good advice for a novice. It would get a fail on any advanced test though.

At my course last week, I was told that covering the front brake (or clutch) would definitely result in lost points on the riding tests. The reason they gave was that during the maneuvering portion and the emergency brake test they want to ensure you can react immediately. If you are covering the brake then it shows you are preparing or anticipating what they are testing (if that makes sense).

FWIW, which probably ain't much given my tiny amount of experience, I've found it easier to separate the braking and control of the throttle into separate actions, but I look forward to reading what the more experienced riders think.

I cover the brakes when I feel it is necessary, it's how you ride a mountain bike a lot of the time and I don't feel like a throttle changes that. Covering the clutch is a little different and would tend to make me think the driver is timid unless you are doing very slow speed maneuvers.

I really hated the clutch modulation tasks on the MSF course as you can ride the same sections the same way without riding the clutch. Coming from manual cars it is very hard for me to ride a clutch, it's totally unnatural.

I am new to scooters fwiw.

That makes total sense when learning. Later when all these things become 'instinctive', you will find your own technique. In the mean time listen to the nice man, drink it all in.

thanks for your comments. I do most, if not all, of my riding around the east bay in SF area, so I have to be ready to brake at any time. I usually ride with my 2 fingers gently over the brake and feel good doing so, but I tried grip only today and felt more in control of the throttle. However, I still feel I need to be close to the brake at any second. I've ridden my bicycle over 10k miles, so it's probably a habit from riding that way.

Fwiw, I asked the instructor if HE rode with hands on grip and not over the brake, and he said he did, but I didn't believe him. I need to practice this week with grip on throttle only to pass the MSF class, then revert back to what is comfortable and safe for me.

You only need to cover the brake in heavy-ish traffic or when other hazards approach. Relaxed hands resting on the grips alone is just fine for keeping the best control out on the road. Of course an off-road course isn't 'on-the-road' so there's an intellectual conflict here, but the instructor is right on this one as your 'starter' position, and I'd say it's right to test you (regardless of previous experience) as if a complete novice.

Sometimes you just have to internally <sigh> and put up with the strictures under which the tests are done. It's not so different this side of the pond - an advanced rider could easily fail the 'learner' test. Don't get hung up on the niggles, listen to the rest of the advice.

Love those Icon Pursuit gloves... Those were my first pair of gloves, and I still wear them the most today!

great advice jimc, I agree with you. I just have to get rid of some bicycling habits that carried over to scooter which are not as appropriate.

Hey Aaron, yea, I love my icon gloves too! I tried many pairs, but these fit and felt the best (don't sweat) and of course add good protection.

I always ride with my index and middle finger covering the brakes, but that's just me.

I think it is a completely personal and experienced choice.

Whatever works for you work it, just not during testing.

Funny you bring this up. I learned to ride in Rome, and in Rome you never have the chance to take your hands completely off the brakes. I used to ride with fingers on both hands covering the brakes and I pretty much never held the scoot a different way.

Flash forward to a couple weeks ago when I took the MSF course. My instructor had to keep rapping my knuckles, all in good nature, in an attempt to break my habit. There were a few bad habits I had actually.

Now I don't actually consider that bad habit, and I think that learning to ride while covering the brakes is a good skill to have, but at the same time I'm glad I learned the other way too. I finally feel comfortable holding just the grips while cruising.

So go ahead and do it their way for the course. Force yourself to learn that technique. Then you'll have both available to use.