MattMingay

has anyone ever tried a thumb brake rather than a hand brake??
if so, whats it like? i am having trouble doing slow spreader using handbrake due to all my weight being on my grip. i cant seem to let (2) fingers go to grab it. i have no problem 12n H/C due to legs locking in.
1 finger on brake just does not cut it with my handbrake!!!

Domoe of Drove

Do some exercises that will make your grip stronger and eliminate the whole problem??

MattMingay

geez guys dont all rush to answer a question!!!
such a wonderful place this "Help and how to" section is!!!

hyperryder

i dont know if it will pro vid enough pressure. heres what i did its all in the position of the brake lever put the bike up into a 12 and adgust it to were it feel most comfortable.

Lb3

I dont think a thumb brake is going to give you enough braking power when you are in a pinch. You can make it work if you have super smooth engine braking completely locked down.

Remember how when first learning to use the brake it felt awkward and weird using it? The handbrake is the same thing. You have to learn how to hold your body differently than you do when doing regular spreaders.. or whatever trick. For spreaders and highchairs I dont really have alot of weight on my brake hand. That way I can support what weight I do put on it with my pinky and ring finger and use my index and middle finger for the brake. On spreaders, the farther you lean back the easier it is on your hands. Looks better to me that way too. The biggest thing holding you back is a mental block. It's really no big deal once you get over the mental barrier that is telling you that you cant do it. Practice and you'll figure it out in no time. It's easy as most tricks are if you just stop thinking so hard about em. good luck.

and hyperryder is right, the position of the lever makes all the difference in the world.

f4istunna

I agree 100% with ther mental block the first few difficult tricks i learned i was thinking about everything too much position, what to do etc. went out with some good tunes in a mp3 one day and everything just seemed to click i wasnt thinking about anything just doin it

MattMingay

there is no mental block, i wil give anything a go! but one finger on brake wont pull it in hard enough and when i let go of 2 fingers, my pinky and ring finger cant hold my weight.
any tips then on getting a more suffiecient handbrake?

OLIVER

get a radial mount

Lb3

In my experience, shitty handbrakes are usually shitty because the pads and the rotor are shitty and not the handbrake components themselves. As long as I always had good stock honda pads and a good clean rotor I never had any problems. Once a rotor gets all grooved up or gets any kind of chainwax, hondapolish or brake fluid it is garbage in my opinion. It wont ever feel right again no matter how much you clean it.

Z-UNIT

when u clutch up grip ur cage with ur legs so u can hold on take ur fingers off cover teh hb....and then take ur legs off....also wat setup are u running...i only cover the hb with my middle finger for all fast stuff, and slowing stuff down, and scrapes....i only use 2 fingers for circles

martino

i had the same prob, i moved the brake more inward so theres more leverage