Those cheap plastic throttle assists. Are they any good on sports bikes?

[JohnJive650]

I have a sports bike which has no cruise control. 

 

Someone suggested using a throttle assist, a cheap plastic clip that slots onto the throttle which on longer rides helps you to rest your hand.

 

I bought one back in July but found it interfered with the throttle. Perhaps it was cumbersome because I had grip puppies on the bars.

 

Just wondering if anyone has experience of using one of these. Is there a knack? Do you have any tips?

 

Cheers

 

[Simon Davey]

Following out of interest 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

I tried one and found it worked for motorway trips but also that I occasionally caught it at junctions and roundabouts causing the throttle to open unintentionally. 

 

I therefore removed it. Since then I've found that it's more to do with how you hold the throttle. I don't get hand fatigue anymore even on long trips such as the Dave Myers ride to Barrow. 

 

 

[veracocha]

I have a cheap Chinese copy of the Atlas throttle lock. Less than a tenner on Alibaba. I have completed 4 tours of Scotland and several tours of Wales, the Lakes and a total of around 14k miles with it. Primarily used on the motorways and I think it's brilliant. It takes a lot of setting up to get the right amount of friction so that it holds steady without locking but just enough to hold without slipping. It's only downfall is that it doesn't hold a set speed. If you go up an incline speed will reduce and vice versa going downhill. 

[Hairsy]

30 minutes ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

I tried one and found it worked for motorway trips but also that I occasionally caught it at junctions and roundabouts causing the throttle to open unintentionally. 

 

Exactly my experience. It's good for what it's designed for but something about my technique with my right hand meant that I would very occasionally apply a little throttle when coming to a stop. It was never a big problem but I was concerned that it might one day bite me so I removed it.

[Capt Sisko]

I have used one and to be honest they're not that good. They do work, sort of, but they also slip and I found I was constantly having to adjust it. As others have said, it's possible to unintentionally catch it. My current bike has cruise control so it's no longer needed for its intended purpose but I still use it on the clutch side as a sort of hand rest. It still slips a bit, but it doesn't matter, on a long run when I want a change in hand position I just pull it up a bit and it give a different pressure / resting spot for my hand. It's not much, but it a different position and sometimes that's all you need.

[S-Westerly]

On my previous bike I had a Kaoko throttle lock. On long motorway rides or in interminable average speed check sections I found it really useful HOWEVER when wearing winter gloves I found that I inadvertently increased the throttle settings. Potentially that could be a problem to be aware of. My current bike has cruise control so don't feel the need.

[JohnJive650]

Thank you for your comments. I don't think I'll bother with the throttle assist

[S-Westerly]

Unless you do many miles on motorways I wouldn't either.