Forum

[grunda 12]

hi all ,this is a strange one ,but here go,s has anyone tried using a air slide lever as a throttle for thumb use ,they used to have this type on pioneer bikes ,am toying with the idea for my diesel project,as riding a diesel flat out is very hard work holding the twist grip wide open for miles when motorway riding,just noticed that mr schuler has took over as web master on the royal enfield o.c site another famous diesel rider ,happy days paul.

[Stringers Best Mate]

That's easy Grunda - no! You used to be able to buy all sorts of gizmo's to clamp on or around the throttle area to alleviate the wrist tension, but I've never bought any as I've never felt the need. I think there's something out in accessory land that akin to a short shoehorn, wrapped around the grip allowing you to use the tongue as a lever under your wrist, dunno what it's called though. If you have a tough spring tension, maybe your first actions should be to alleviate the issue rather than solving the symptoms perhaps? Either way, good luck and keep us in touch! Steve

[John R]

Quad bikes mostly seem to have thumb throttles; dunno why but they work OK. Could try getting hold of a quaddie part.

[Norm]

Paul, just google motorcycle throttle locks easiest cheapest one is a thick cable tie

[simon]

I've got lever throttles on cycle motors that work beautifully. I think they might be a bit clumsy if you need to change gears though. With the normal throttle twist grip you can adjust the drag on the twist grip to make the grip,stay where you put it. This is vital if you have no indicators and need to use hand signals.

[Beezabryan]

Bought mine in USA and available in here in UK.... http://www.crampbuster.com/ google crampbuster

[Gwilly]

http://www.oldbritts.com/15_062032.html..................... This would probably be safest. Can't see how you would shut thumb lever and pull brake lever and still maintain a grip on the handle bar to support your weight in point one of a second. Pioneers had foot brakes and clutches, hand gear change, lever throttle, advance/retard lever,and remember to pump the oil plunger every few minutes. egods multi task or what!!!

[PeteF]

Just Ebay search for "Motorcycle Cruise Control" I use one of these as my hands have a bit of arthritis. Definately takes a lot of the strain.

[Riggers]

Like Pete, I too have the dreaded arthritis in my hands. I use two little gadgets that together have solved my problem. Someone's already mentioned the first - a 'Cramp Buster' - this simply clips around the twist grip and allows you to control the throttle with the 'heel' of your thumb. The fingers can remain straight and rest on the brake lever. The other device is called 'Go Cruise' - and works in a different way. This simple and ingenious little bit of plastic locks the twist grip in any given opening, and allows the hand to be removed from the grip momentarily to stretch your hand and/or arm. Simply closing the throttle immediately cancels the device. In both cases you can, if you wish, simply use the throttle in the normal way without removing them. The Cramp Buster is around £6 on e.bay, and the Go Cruise around £20 (which is expensive for what you get but it works ok and does its job). Just one negagtive on the Go Cruise - it maintains a constant throttle opening but NOT a constant speed, and there is a difference. Cheers. Tony.

[m1ks]

There are several options open to you here..............

First, the lever, I have a friend who fitted a thumb throttle from a quad bike actuated via a hydraulic line, (master cylinder at the thumb and slave at the throttle pushrod), on his VW Trike as he was sick and tired of replacing the throttle cables 2 or 3 times a year, (long cable run and open to the elements).
I had my doubts I have to say but 3 years later, it's still working superbly and it's an added security measure for him too because it's not immediately obvious where the throttle is if someone tried to start it, the point being, you could do this but with a cable as normal, they are sprung so releasing it will cut the throttle and you have to consider if riding with your thumb on the lever will be as tedious as holing your throttle?.................
You could of course fit a frictional toggle lever like the old boys but then have the difficulty of juggling that in traffic with clutch, stops starts etc, not bad on a straight but if you're turning it can become very awkward and the oldies tended to be slower all round, people even now tending to give them more leeway on the road, even with the classic lines of the bullet you'd be unlikely to get the same level of courtesy......................
Option 3 is a short travel throttle, as beloved of motocross chaps, these are usually apparent due to the big disc at the cable end but to all intents look the same as a stock throttle otherwise, the big difference being instead of twisting 3/4 turn to stop you're twisting approx 1/4, maybe a third at most.
........................
Option 4, if you have a breakers nearby, see if they have any old GL touring bikes, a lot of these had a spring clamp throttle assy, designed so you can clip it in position but the clip will release if you twist the throttle forward..............................
Then theres the wrist one mentioned above, I don't think this would be ideal if your problem is long throttle travel to WOT, the cruise unit that clips to the throttle grip looks OK, however, i'd be concerned about that performing well for two reasons, if your grips have worn a bit smooth, likely slippage would occur and the depending on your cable tension, the same. I had a Z650 a while ago with slide carbs, these had open and return cables and a very strong spring tension, I imaging the above would have not worked with those for example.