Do you use a throttle lock, or do you think they're going to murder you in your sleep like the tooth fairy? On that note, keep yourself awake with a Cardo! Use Code SPITE10 for 10% off your order: bit.ly/3IUZ1hM
Good video but what about highways in the mountains? A throttle Lock won't increase throttle to maintain speed on steep hills like cruise will.... Wouldn't it have to be reset up the hill and then reset once going down the other side of every hill to maintain speed?
The older Harleys came w a throttle lock from the factory. Not sure what uear they quit w those but i think it was 2015 or so? Altho they called it something else im sure
As an older rider, I’ve used these for well over 30 years and have never had a close call. Albeit, I only use it on long interstate hauls, in the middle of nowhere. I’ve also never owned a bike with electronic cruise control, but to your point, I don’t see a discernible safety difference.
Same. 25 years riding and these are a necessity for me when on long rides. Never had any problems at all. You would really have to try to make them dangerous. My go-to brand is the Kaoko which have worked flawlessly for me for last 7 years. I tried the Atlas and it was ok but not as good as Kaoko and they are the same price.
Only small difference that might make a small difference in safety is the amount of ways a build in cruise control can be canceled. Use the clutch, break with either front or back brakes, cancel it through the button. Perhaps in a pinch when you have to react fast it might be a little safer when it's easier to cancel. That being said, I think it's a minor difference and really doesn't make a huge difference when you're used to it and don't turn off your brain while riding haha.
One very important distinction between throttle locks compared to cruise control that may be obvious to some, but not everyone, is that you lock the throttle, not the speed itself. Meaning the speed will vary depending on the inclanation. If you lock the throttle going uphill to maintain current speed, then you need to beware of the fact that the same lock position will result in higher speed once you reach the top and go horizontal again. This is because the engine will need to rev higher and accelerate to match the locked throttle position. You’ll see an even bigger speed difference once you start going downhill. So keep an eye on the speedometer and adjust the throttle and throttle lock accordingly. I’ve been using the Atlas for 4 years now and find it very useful. Especially on longer trips to prevent wrist fatigue.
Use with common sense it is very safe. Those comments saying it is otherwise are those who never use them, don't understand & over exaggerating the issues...
Yeah, I'd imagine being able to loosely grip the throttle handle would be a godsend on long rides. Probably not a good idea to completely remove your hand from the handle bars for any significant amount of time and never remove both hands.
Hey Spite, I just want to say that I really appreciate your presence in the motorcycle scene, especially here online. You seem like such a genuine and kind person; thank you for everything my dude! 👌
I use a throttle assist that doesn’t lock anything but really makes it easy to hold open the throttle and allows all kinds of throttle adjustment without any worries, or any wear and tear on the rubber handlebar grips. It’s just a simple plastic clip on paddle (strong enough to be every bit fit for purpose). It avoids any cramping on long journeys, and didn’t cost more than ten bucks - this has to be the best motorbike accessory ever!
I prefer this over a throttle lock if I'm not going on a road trip, but you do have to adjust the crampbuster while you're riding anytime your speed changes by a notable amount which can be annoying. Also if you don't practice pulling off the grip and getting right back on it in the right way to roll the crampbuster forward and out of the way, or alternatively braking while revving out the engine with the clutch in like on the throttle locks, then you could be in for some trouble in an emergency braking situation where you hand gets caught at a weird spot and you can't properly grip the bars and the brakes.
You covered my thoughts exactly. My throttle is stuck. If only there were a magical lever to pull that would disengage power from the drive train 😂 I think problems come from people not using or installing them properly or using bad designs.
With no engine braking the distance required to stop increase mate, so pulling the clutch is kind of retarded if you know how to ride a bike ;) So yeah those devices suck. If you want cruise control, just buy a bike with cruise control, stop being a cheap ass.
@@mrspeigle1 That's the most american thing to say. Exactly like "We have an issue with mass shooting happening every week ? Lets put safe rooms in every class room to try protect the children during the next shooting" Killing the engine is the last thing you want to do on a bike...
@@22Epic What? You're crazy for comparing cruise control to mass shootings, and the big red switch is already on the bike as well as the clutch, you dont need to add them lol
If you're not used to it, in a panic you may get your wires crossed when you hear the bike revving harder as you're trying to brake, and end up over-braking as you keep trying to slow down but keep hearing the engine revving out.
Spite, as much as I can't wait for you to get the number of subs you deserve, I really enjoy the smaller community feel you've created with the channel. Thanks for making content that actual riders want, instead of just regurgitated, commercialized trash.
My favorite (albeit expensive) is the "brake away" throttle lock. Tap the front brake, and it disengages. It also has a button that you can hit with your thumb. It's pretty clever.
I installed the atlas last week! I have a 30 mile long flat highway commute to and from work. Not that my hand gets tired in that amount of time, but it’s nice for multiple reasons! Totally worth the price of admission!
I just used the Atlas lock for the first time a few days ago and now I can’t imagine going on a longer ride without it! It’s nice to just be able to give my throttle hand/arm a break. My bike has a rough idle when cold so now I can put on the lock to let it idle and warm up instead of sitting on the bike with my hand on the throttle.
I bought one of the Kaoko throttle cruise controls back in 2010 (before the significant price hike), and had a Throttlemeister on my VFR and a couple others before that. They don't ever seem to be unsafe unless you're doing something unsafe, like not paying attention to your own ride. The friction was not insurmountable as to simply roll off the throttle. Nowadays, for every production bike that utilizes ride by wire, it should be *included* imo. Anywhoozits, happy riding!
Great video. Always wondered how these things worked. I paid the dealer to install cruise control on my 20 Street Bob and never regret the $400+ it cost in total. It really saves your wrist on highway stretches. I also use it to set the speed on Rt 1 here in Philly which has brutal speed cameras. I would think that most bikes meant for long distance highway use either come with or have a part available for cruise control. On the Harley they just replace the entire left control panel and flash the computer.
Good to know. I have an old injury that makes my right hand go numb fairly quickly, but shaking out my hand for just a few seconds fixes it for a while. Highway and interstate riding are really the only times I'm bothered. I'll just take the cheap one.
I used to use a Vista Cruise friction throttle lock on my previous 2 bikes (new has cruise). Really easy, also no issue with rolling the throttle closed manually even if it was still engaged if needed. And so nice to be able to quickly pop it on, open a zipper vent with your right hand or adjust something without pulling over. Much faster than turning on my current cruise control, setting it, then adjusting. The Vista Cruise also works like the Atlas but without the friction pads to wear out
My old Pontiac GTO didn't have cruise control so I made a throttle lock for the gas peddle. It was adjustable and I could lock the accelerator pedal in any position I desired. It was not so quick to disengage though and would not pass state inspection. I would install it again after the car passed inspection. The car eventually got totaled when I couldn't get it off quick enough one time and crashed into a mother taking a group of children to day-care. Sadly, they were incinerated and I got a prison term.
Problem is these are only as effective as the flatness of your road. Cc will adjust constantly in places like nc ny NJ there are highways that go up and down continously where cops will hit you on downgrade
I've used the Amazon special one because the Atlas wouldn't fit on my bike (even though it said it would 🤷♂️). I've never found it a safety hazard. Anytime I needed to roll off the throttle, I just do so manually without even unlocking it. The one I bought also came with rubber rings you put on your grips so that you can replace those when worn down instead of your grips. My only issue with these kind of throttle locks vs actual cruise control is that it won't maintain a specific speed with terrain changes. Going uphill? you'll slow down. going downhill? you'll go faster. With electronic cruise control, you'll maintain the speed set regardless of terrain.
I've been using the combination of a crampbuster and a throttle lock for years. Crampbuster allows me to loosen my grip when riding in stop and go traffic or on back roads. Throttle lock for constant speed on open freeways. Thanks for the great video!
I have used every form of throttle lock and wrist wrest over the years and the only throttle lock I can recommend is the Brake Away. Like the Atlas, it is well built and has the price tag to match. However, it is superior in two ways. First, the Engage and Disengage buttons don't move with the throttle, as far as I can recall, it has been well over a year since I last used one - those buttons stay put just like the rest of the buttons on your bars. Secondly, it includes a lever that, when properly adjusted, immediately disengages the device when the front brake lever is tapped. If there is a BrakeAway throttle lock available for your bike, I can think of no better option, at any price, short of electronic cruise control And no, I am in no way affiliated with the company, just a very satisfied customer.
I've ridden thousands of miles on numerous bikes equipped with the VistaCruise style lock. (that was the only type available in the 80's). It is adjustable so you set it to where it just barely holds the throttle open, but you can still just close the throttle without unlocking the lock.
I've had mine on my bike from just about the beginning (2007). Never had a problem with it. It's the type that has a fixed arm that mounts to the handlebar and then a compression ring that is operated by a lever on the throttle. A biggest problem with it is that it took up room on the grip but well worth it on a 5-day journey
I too have used both in the past and I agree with you that the Atlas is worth the money. I found the "el cheapo" version would slowly, over time, lose it's friction and you would have to reset it back up to speed. Because the new motorcycle has a cruise control, I was able to sell the Atlas. Got $100 for it on Offer Up!
I love my Atlas. It didn't fit on my Fury initially either, but I wanted it so bad that I replaced the throttle tube and bonded the grip on with a little extra space. Not as simple as it could have been, but well worth the extra effort
Atlas throttle lock seems the best unit of this type on the market. Another thing I've been thinking about... the small list of automatic chain oiler systems. Some use electricity, some use air pressure, some use intake vacuum, some drip through a nozzle onto whatever place you decide, some soak a foam pad the chain rubs over, some use proprietary oil, some use standard low viscosity oil. But, all of them seem to do a pretty neat job of keeping a chain clean and lubricated, and dramatically reduce wear and chain lengthening.
great vid Spite, I rode from Niagara Falls Ontario to Vancouver British Columbia and I swear by that "el cheapo" throttle lock. its intuitive, functional and it didnt cause me to hit a deer when one ran out on the road, I just clutched in, braked like normal and pushed the throttle closed, if you set the throttle lock to be tight on ur grip but not too tight you can easily close the throttle without any issue
I used an atlas throttle-lock on my 500cc honda and it was great for the long, boring highway miles just to give the hands a quick rest. I love that you can make slight adjustments while its locked, or even shut it off completely without unlocking it. After about a year of use it started giving me sticky throttle though, so I think the pads need inspected/changed every once in a while. I've since sold the honda and I've held off installing it on my daytona 675 as I'm not sure I'm comfortable installing it on a much more powerful bike...
Gotta say, though, the number of people who argue against them without ever having used one is frustrating. I totally respect not wanting CC of any description on your bike, or not wanting to use a throttle lock, but when people go off on safety tirades out of a position of ignorance they just muddy the waters.
If my bike doesn't have cruise then soon as I can I order a manual throttle lock that fits the bike and grip type. Some the Atlas style. Others the clamp on bar that rests on the brake lever or if it's a bike with bar ends I go with the Caterpillar O-ring that rolls onto the groove between the grip and end cap. My hands fall asleep easy due to the carpal tunnel issues in my hands. So these devices allow me to take my hand off and give it a shake down and take a break from holding the throttle. Been using devises like this since I started riding street bike over 30 years ago. Be safe have fun out there!
I use the first one and it is really nice. I use CC a lot and I don't want a car without it. For bikes it is really easy to add this kind of thing at least.
Spite, just watched this AFTER your ‘burnout factors’ vid with Whitney. You’ve no case to answer. As usual, your throttle lock review is imo thoughtful, measured and balanced. Thanks.
My hubs and I have 10 motorcycles, all used. I have a 2005 Harley Road King, no cruise control, but I do have a throttle tightener (wouldn’t call it a lock, just a knob you twist to add pressure to the throttle). I love having the ability to relax my throttle hand. My other bikes have a throttle assist. Just a plastic piece you can rest your wrist on so there’s no death gripping the throttle.
My throttle lock is my carb choke xD If I have the choke on, it's basically throttling on its own and I can ride 50-70kph without touching the throttle 😄
My past experience is with the thumb-lever style locks that apply friction to the throttle tube. They work really well when correctly adjusted, and might be a workable solution for your Duc. I’ve just put an Atlas on my CRF250 Rally, and will be taking it to OKC this weekend, so will be getting some “quality time” on the highway with it. It’s a very well thought-out design, and I’d consider it for any bike that does not have electronic cruise control available. One big advantage I see of the Atlas over the lever lock you’re comparing with is the ability to make minor speed adjustments, both up and down. The Amazon lock looks easy to adjust down, but fiddly to adjust up. I haven’t used that one, so it may just be my perception of it.
I've had one on for about 4k miles, I can definitely see the risks with the one I have. It's basically a really tight rubberband with a stick that holds the throttle in place via the brake lever when you push it forward. ($10 on amazon) Have had a couple times where I've forgot it was slightly on and kept cruising when I intended to slow down. Swapped bikes with a buddy one time and he, for some stupid reason, wondered what would happen if you pulled it straight back. "Pull the lever kronk!" style. Damn near looped the bike... I then also wondered what happens when you pull it bc he said he did it, and I nearly looped the bike lol... There really isn't any risk as long as you dont mess up with it. Which has been well worth the wrist comfort in my mind
I've used the cheap one and it would hold for about 5 minutes before I would notice my speed dropping. Worked good enough to shake out my arm and rest it. Really want to try the Atlas, but not for that price. I'm just waiting for bike upgrade time and get one with cruise control.
I had a succession of airhead BMWs which had a tapped hole under the throttle housing, and you could get a little thumbscrew to hold the throttle open. I used this a lot. My GL1200 had some sort of aftermarket clamp, which also saw a lot of action. My recently-acquired GL1500 has proper cruise control. This will probably be used a lot too, when I get time to play around and figure it out.
Atlas on my 22 klr and I love it.. Simple adn it works. 5000 miles and my pad is still holding. 1300 of those were over dirt. I have extras but haven't had to do it yet. Their customer service is amazing as well!
I'm looking into one of these because when I get a motorcycle I'm going to be road tripping with it a little bit (as my parents live 6h away), so I guess this isn't too bad of an idea.
I've used both throttle locks and cruise control. I'd only use a throttle lock on a clear section of road with little reason to make adjustments for short periods of time. Enough to give my hand a few minutes break. Just didn't fee safe to use it any more than that. I'm not big fan of cruise control either, but it is nice to take that break for a few minutes.
Looking forward to trying out the throttle lock for a long ride this weekend. The one I've ordered has a little silicone ring to put on the throttle to protect the grip. I really only intend on having it on the bike for trips over a couple of hours, or where I know Im going to spend hours at 100kph+ just cruising.
I put a BrakeAway on my wife’s bike and I have a Go Cruise and I like the BrakeAway a lot better. Thanks for your great content and we saw you at Flying Eyes stand at Moto GP but you seemed busy.
I ran in to the same issue on the Atlas with a gap on my 1190r controls and throttle tube. I put a zip tie in to fill up that gap and has worked for a few thousand miles with no signs that it's going to fail.
I have always been on the fence with these as well. I think if i did more highway/long distance rides i would probably give it a shot but the SMCR is far from a highway bike 😂 I rode 35 min of straight highway at 75-80 mph other day and couldn't wait to get of that and back to my side roads
Having electronic cruise control on my gen3 mt09 SP, I guess I'm quite fortunate.. makes longer journeys much more relaxing and you can just roll the throttle a tad forward to disengage it rather than tapping the brakes. I would defo fit one of these mech throttle locks if it didn't.
I had a crash in the past due to a stuck throttle during an attempt to slow down. I wasn't attempting to slow down enough to require a downshift so I wasn't hovering over the clutch. I locked up the front brake, released the brake and recovered the front, then locked it up again and went down. It took barely 2 seconds. Not enough time to brainstorm that I needed to pull in the clutch.
I have been using them since the 1980's. They do require additional attention to following distances and appropriate response times. You can't just set it and blither mindlessly along. My normal riding position is with my right elbow on the armrest of my ATV lounge and 2 fingers on the left grip. I call my KLR The Dirtwing. I see you added a decent windshield. I made my own with aluminum Diamond plate and plexiglass from Lowes. Search The Dirtwing to check it out. Mine has a switch. Switch on Switch off. Mine has the bar over to a handlebar clamp.
I've used various throttle locks over the years and I have settled on the Go Cruise lock (the cheap looking molded plastic version). It's stupid simple. It doesn't either lock down too hard or not enough like the amazon basics. The atlas was good but I have found that it doesn't like to grip in the cold.
I use the stock little thumbscrew on my harley. I've gotten the adjustment dialed in to where it holds in place, but I can easily roll the throttle closed.
I agree they could be dangerous, but you have the clutch. That said, my Sportster has the little thumb wheel lock that came with it, and I rarely use it. I find it more annoying than useful. It's not precise enough. You cant set it to a certain speed like you can on a car or truck. And the shape of the thumb wheel sucks and isn't that easy to use, especially with gloves on
Use the one that goes on the end with bar end weights, ez on/off and throttle is always movable.... can adjust to for varried tightnest for just stabilization...
I got an atlas and what i found out is that while on the highway they are very nice but don't calibrate the speed (which is normal) so what i do , i activate it and micro adjust it all the time, however it takes the tiredness aways from my hand
Just ordered the unbranded atlas from ebay. They have a top and a bottom mount kit, and they're black. I got the bottom kit. It cost me $20.02 shipped. It will have different friction pads than what atlas ships them with.
One was installed on my vtx when I got it and I'm thinking no way. It's not going to kill you. These are for doing hours on there interstate, not for the twistys. Mine is set as more of a throttle assist rather than throttle lock. As it's not speed so you still have to adjust on the fly. So you have to be able to move it without unlocking it. Because you have to adjust constantly you aren't likely to forget it's locked. Not a bad mod in my opinion.
My 80's Beemer came with one from the factory, it's literally just a band brake on the throttle. You adjust the tension for where you want it for ease of application, and adjustment, works great. It's also not so stiff that you can't manually chop the throttle in a situation, as well as my first instinct when shit gets real is to grab the clutch, so I couldn't imagine a situation where it'd be a problem.
I installed my first throttle lock in 1978. Never had a problem with them. I never use it in high traffic areas or in situations where speed varies up and down and frequent gear shifting required. Using it only on the open road eliminates many of the problems and dangers discussed in this video. If you allow your mind to drift so that you forget you have an engaged throttle lock, maybe you shouldn't be on a motorcycle. Safe riding requires constant situational awareness. MSF teaches that.
I have the Kaoko throttle lock and is safe and relatively easy to use. My only issue with throttle locks over full electric cruise control, is that with a set throttle you slow down up a hill and then overspread going down the slightest grade. I would love to have an easier way of at least easily roll an adjuster to creap-up or roll to slow down just a small amount. Whilst the Kaoko does let you twist the throttle small amount it is hard to do micro adjustments to maintain a relatively exact speed on undulating roads without it disconnecting altogether. I'd much prefer an electric option if it wasn't eye wateringly expensive to fit on an older bike.
Been riding for over a decade and used one of the el-cheapo throttle locks. Still here to talk about it. I guess the people that can somehow wreck with one of those installed are the same type that wreck due to "target fixation" and don't understand what "situational awareness" is. I mean, not everyone's a motorcycle rider and some folks need it proved to them that they're not one. There's 3 ways on most motorcycles to cut engine power to the rear wheel: clutch, ignition, kill/run switch. You can also forcefully roll the throttle closed (done it with my cheapo throttle lock plenty of times). If you can't choose one of those 4 things, maybe you're better off sitting at home or in a 4 wheeled vehicle where you're safe from hurting yourself.
My magical 6th gear is a 16 tooth front sprocket. I carry a 14 tooth for off-road. Overdrive to low range in 15minutes. Get the Eagle Mike prevailing torque nut. If Eagle Mike sells it you need it.
Thanks for this Spite. I don't do a lot of long highway riding so cruise is overkill for the price. Was on the fence about buying one of these as you hear horror stories. Going to spend the $10 and get this for those rare 1-2 hour trips and spare my hand some soreness.
The previous owner of my bike put a plastic one on between the grip and the kill switch. There’s a lot of friction and the the throttle has trouble returning even with the holder disengaged. I haven’t really used it much for that fact and kind of having trouble coming to terms with it.
I have the $10 Amazon unit, it’s a bit touchy to adjust your speed perfectly but it works fine and really saves your wrist on long rides. It only adds enough friction to hold the throttle open but you can easily close the throttle with your hand so all that talk about “I have a clutch” is really pointless. The most dangerous part of using it is getting it set to the correct tension while you are riding, fiddling with the tension knob. Once it’s set, you’re good to go.. and if you adjust the tension on the side of the road then no danger at all.
I use the Atlas on my V-Star. I have nothing but positives. Highway cruising its a gamechanger for my right hand. And honestly its never been utilized anywhere else.
I bought an Atlas. It does what it says on the tin but I find it not very useful. Not really dangerous IMO but also doesn't really maintain speed good enough. On my VStrom loaded for touring (which is when I need wrist relief), on hills on the expressway I'd go between 65 and 80 MPH up and down. I only really use it on more than half hour straight rides, it's just too much fiddly to mess with otherwise. Maybe people who didn't go over hills, or have a big enough engine that a hill doesn't change the speed that much, would have a different experience. I bought a CFMoto 700 CL/X rather than an MT07 this year partly to get REAL cruise control, and it maintains the speed very well (not perfectly). IMO cruise control should become standard equipment on street bikes, especially anything reasonably useable as a touring bike. Especially any bike that has throttle-by-wire, adding cruise control is basically just a couple of switches and software, should cost like $20 to add. The actual cruise control on the CFMoto is nice, I use it often, basically whenever I'm going to be going the same speed for 10 minutes or more.
Love mine. Its an unbranded atlas that i have on my other motorcycle. Same exact item without the atlas stamp but is 138$ cheaper then what i gave for the atlas. Identicle.
I use the cheapo type on my DCT bike, no clutch lever to pull, I kinda have to remember to twist down the throttle for emergency braking, not ideal but I’m trying to not spend $1,000+ on an actual aftermarket cruise control system.
i only use it when my right arm need a quick rest while riding, I don't leave it longer like the normal cruise control. It's ok to have it if you know the limit of its uses.
Back in the 80's I used to use a lollipop stick (popsicle stick) to keep the throttle open on my Z550. Just enough to keep the throttle in place but easy to override. Fishing line through a hole in the stick tied to the handlebar meant the stick didn't get lost. Safe? Of course it was 🤪 I did die in a fiery death twice but there's worse things, right! Thanks for the vid, I am considering the Atlas for my Triumph Tiger Sport 660.
scary option, the safe reaction to gaz blocked up is to pull clutch full to make it turningfree and break but no "break engine" with cluch on gear set. then it is dangerous
Have used an Atlas. Unfortunately couldn’t fix it properly on the throttle tube of a BMW K 1200 S. Came loose and briefly looped around and blocked the front brake lever. I’m sure it works fine on other bikes.
The ten dollars one you can use a wide rubber band or he's the air tubes on your grip. To ProTech your grip. That way it where out the rubber band, replace the rubberband when needed.
An electronic CC system for my bike would cost about $800. In that light, $150 isn't too bad. In fact, it makes me wonder why the Amazon lock is so incredibly cheap. Oh, and about those friction pads wearing out - could you use rubber furniture feet from the hardware store?
I’ve used a friction based throttle lock for decades (30+ yrs). Never have I had a close call using it. I liken it to a handgun safety. Some won’t buy a gun without it; some won’t buy one with it. Either way, it doesn’t matter. Fools and idiots will get into trouble and the responsible, aware will never have an issue. Turn brain on before putting bike in gear and have a safe ride!
