use 2, 3, or 4 fingers on the clutch lever?

[tekmoe]

just wondering how you guys change gears...

it seems like using 2 fingers would allow quicker shifting. i tried it tonight but it felt very unnatural. shifting with 2 fingers wasn't any faster than 4 fingers all the way to the grip. i probably just need to do it a lot more before i get good at it, right?

i tried 3 fingers and crushed my pinky. still hurts. doh! :hammer:

[odium]

You're thinking too much! Do what feels natural, right, and safe.

[Andhedrew]

I'm with you tekmoe. I just ordered some Pazzo levers and was ready to rip my hair out trying to decide whether I wanted the long or shortys.

I've ridden dirt bikes most of my life and have found that a two finger clutch/brake pull worked best for me in that arena. I've only been riding my first street bike for about a week and it has long levers. I find myself using all four fingers on the clutch but tend to use only 2 or 3 on the brake lever. I should note that I am working hard at getting used to using the front brake more as with dirtbikes I tended to favor my rear brakes.

Its hard to tell what comes natural when you've only had the opportunity to use one type of lever (I'm assuming the lever length issue is what you are really getting at!). I feel that the longer levers tend to make me use more fingers so as not to pinch the end fingers between the levers and the bars.

[tekmoe]

i want to buy some pazzo's eventually. i'd really love to buy a set right now before that $145 offer ends tomorrow...but i just don't have the money right now.

i think i would probably buy the shorties but i am still trying to decide.

[Hairball]

The only reason I don't like to pull the clutch with 2 fingers... I crunch my last 2 fingers.

After a couple of runs through the gears with the long levers... crushed fingers are gettin a little tender.
I could probably learn to not pull the lever to the grip if I practiced more, Hoping the shorty lever goes to the grip without crunching fingers.

[Geof3]

Two up... four down. I only "blip" the clutch on upshifts... I've found the S3 doesn't like to downshift without full lever to the bar though... tried all sorts of things. 4 at lights too (covered)... with Pazzo's.

[buzlin]

I use two fingers, index and middle. I used to have gloves with armored knuckles so the crushing of my other fingers wasn't an issue. switched gloves and started crushing my knuckles, but eventually got used to how far to pull in the lever and don't crush my fingers anymore.

two fingers on the brake too, either index/middle or middle/ring.

[BUCKET]

I like to grip everything with 4 fingers and 1 thumb.
Bucket :hammer:

[Legman]

Hey Bucket,

This thread is about using the clutch.....why are you bringing you love life into it :-D :-D :-D

[ This message was edited by: Legman on 2006-05-31 22:10 ]

[xSpeed3x]

Who uses a clutch to shift?