Throttling up when using the handbrake

Throttling up when using the handbrake

by Samantha
(Australia)

Hi, I have just bought my first bike, Yamaha V Star 250(going for lessons in about three weeks) but gave it test ride in the front garden to practice my stop starts and get used to the clutch; but I found everytime I went to use the handbrake, I tended to throttle up. Is this normal? I feel like my hand is too small or maybe I'm gripping it wrong?

Comments for
Throttling up when using the handbrake

Click here to add your own comments

Sep 26, 2011

yeah!! My wonderful Partner has fixed my problem.
by: Samantha

My wonderful Partner has fixed my clutch and hand brake handles, moving them closer by about 1cm, Now I can wrap my fingers around the handle instead of just using my finger tips. It makes such the difference!! He tapped a screw into the Brake handle, it still leaves plenty of "freeplay and throw" for those mechanics out there. The clutch has a screw adjustment hidden under a rubber grommet, he just screwed that in and I can now reach!! No more throttling up when braking. I had my first bike ride too, for the first 1/2 hour the bike went where it wanted to go (we were in a large field), after 2 hours, I was like Steve MacQueen on the Great Escape, my top speed was 40kms/hr but that felt really fast!! My next field lesson will be braking and throttling down using the clutch. Love my Yamaha V Star 250, Even more now that I can reach my handles easily. I can add photo's when I work out how.

Sep 23, 2011

I agree
by: Anonymous

It is a feel thing. You should see if you can adjust the levers...I have to on every bike I ride because of small hands, but after that it is truly a feel. Relaxing you arms and shoulders will help a lot and then practice, practice, practice.

Sep 20, 2011

throttling /usining handbrake
by: Anonymous

Anonymous...that was great advice. I had to learn to do the same thing. The only thing I would add is to relax. I was doing it because I was afraid to loosen my grip, anxiety and nerves.

She will have to relax in order to allow enough slack in her grip to let the throttle spring back. I think she said she's a new rider. She could just be holding on too tight. I know I was. I held on for dear life, but if you loosen up you will control everything better, not the other way around, which is usually a newbies way of thinking.

Sep 20, 2011

some adjustments perhaps??
by: Samantha

A friend of mine is a bike mechanic so he's going to come and look and make sure I'm set up properly. Might be able to make some adjustments, here's hoping!

Sep 19, 2011

Normal?
by: Sandra

Nope; it is not good...that's how I dumped my bike that first ride I ever took...well that was the first of many riding mistakes I made in that 8 seconds...

Sep 18, 2011

Relax your grip
by: Anonymous

I used to do this too. It's technique. You have to learn to ease your grip when you go to brake. Like letting the steering wheel of a car slide through your hands after a turn. You need to let the throttle spring back before you grip the brake.

My problem was when I accelerated, I shifted my grip up when I was done accelerating for less strain on my wrist at a faster speed. Then when I rolled off the throttle, my fingers were too far forward and I ended up rolling the throttle faster with my palm when I tried to grip the brake. Once I learned to ease up on the grip and let the throttle spring back a bit on it's own the problem cured itself.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Her-Motorcycle Forum Discussion Topics