2 Common riding mistakes: foot position and hands/fingers

Most riders make common errors when learning to ride but these are easily remedied if you understand why you do what you do and what to do to fix it.

In this instructional video I talk about toes and fingers, feet and hands. What your feet should be doing while riding off pavement as well as how when and how many fingers should be used.

adventure motorcycle training

[BretTkacs]

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[lf]

I just need a course from this guy on the transition from helmet to hat 😯👍. Good video like always and very nice place to ride 👍

[Dogatemyhomework]

Flipper foot off-road broke my ankle when the bike went down… it’s so true to tuck em in!

[osimnod]

Two fingers on the clutch lever and two on the front brake lever while covering the rear brake with right foot on slow corners, especially off-camber uphill tracks, body position and look through the corner. Appreciate your instructional videos.

[jamespaulino]

Those helmet cap transitions are crazy fast and smooth!!! 🤣 💀

[thehornetandthecoddiwomple]

Currently riding through the jungle in Thailand. I have consciously stopped flipper footing. Level of control has improved massively. Thanks, I needed this.

[sweetdrahthaar]

Yellowpine is in a beautiful area. You’d think it was still our own private Idaho. 👍🏻🇺🇸

[feanythmayosh]

I recognize the first mistake from horse riding.
I teach my students the same principle, but explain it differently as riding boots are more flexible. When I tell them to turn the toes parallel to the horse instead looking like Charlie Chaplin, they can force the foot, but it doesn't give the correct effect on the rest of the leg. Therefore I started telling them to push there heels outwards. When they did that the knee/rest of the leg automatically reacted on that movement in the positive direction that I wanted to teach them.

When off roading I told that myself as well. That I need to push my heels outwards. Now I even do it when riding on the road.

[rcbigdaddy]

Despite riding dirt bikes since the early 1970s, I was a four finger rider until my first track school at Pacific Raceways on a Suzuki Hayabusa. It was a CLASS school with Reg Pridmore. The acceleration of the Bus was so strong exiting the bus stop chicane that I switched to two finger clutch and brake for more control. Been doing two finger ever since on both street and dirt. Nice video! Will take your foot position advice to heart. I tuck my feet in when I get in tight spaces but am no doubt lazy in more open riding. Definitely need to improve on that! Thanks!

[StevenVanLoven]

Driving my motorcycles more than 35 years it's always learning . Thanks for your tips Bret!!

[TDM]

Nearly fell off my seat when you started talking about foot position. It's a big deal what you do with your feet, they're half off what attach's you to the bike.
You covered the other half just as well, hand controls. It's a big deal what you do with the bars, too.
Excellent vid, cheers.

[Jbarth]

MSF is actually moving on from enforcing 4 fingers - they demonstrate for, but if a student uses 2, it's considered a more advanced technique that should not be discouraged, so long as they aren't trapping their throttle. The big problem that we frequently see on the range is students using two fingers to brake and SIMULTANEOUSLY rolling on the throttle, which is why it was so heavily discouraged for so long.

[jaronard]

About 4 years ago I was taught to only use 2 fingers, and to keep them on the levers. So much so, I’ve worn the black powder coating off my brake lever where I rest each finger! I just noticed it about 2 months ago.

[PSBEadventures]

Good stuff! Been riding dirt 35 years, this is the way! Man I wish I had a teacher back in the day like this!!! Thanks for sharing!

[klahowya_capo]

Dude! Your helmet to hat transition is stunning! Commendable!

[wfoholeshot]

Amazed by Bret's "Helmet to Cap" speed maneuver.

[kellyheath]

When I was 19 I twisted my foot and leg back on a CR500. Bottomed out in the sand top of 4th gear. Blew my knee out and have been living with it ever since. Walking with a limp at 63…
Still love riding
Great advice

[sparkyobrian]

Bret, where the heck were you in "69 when my hodaka super rat gave me lesson in foot grabs bush.... followed by " tree smacks fingers". all hard learned lessons passed down by great people like you, keep on teaching. Its hard to break my 50 year old habits but Ive learned alot from your channel and rider courses.

[demiratmotovlog]

I trust my instinct and use 3 for clutch and 2 for brake, that speech assures me, thanks... 👏👏👏👏

[markminehan]

Always ripper training info and a world of experience that you regularly share.
I came back to riding after a 33 year absence and even though I raced motocross in my 20's, I knew I needed to refresh my knowledge and get rid of my old bad habits... watching your channel and a few others really helped my 63 year old retired carcass from getting damaged and making my wife very cross :) A great many thanks Brett and also to the guys that help out with your channel.
Warm Regards from Oz, Mark