Thumb throttle-why?

[NVdan]

Why do ATCs have thumb throttles instead of twist grip? Is there an advantage to this type throttle? I ask because I have ridden 2 wheel motorcycles and this is my first ATC, 1983 200X.
Would there be a downside to converting to a twist type throttle?

Thanks, Dan

[ATC-Eric]

I prefer a thumb throttle because IN MY OPINION they are easier to control when your hanging off the side of a machine. Everyone has a different opinion on it. I know a lot of guys out west in the dunes run twisters and swear by them.

[tri again]

I think it's one of those, 'shifter up or down' kinda theories
but atc eric got it from the designers.
2 wheeled dirt bikes are different but what we are used to.
They thought that hangin' off the side, twisting may be more difficult to control.

now on to why they changed the shifting from down to up?
well, I've gotten on a running trike and stepped on the shifter and jump into gear.
Great question btw

[czac]

I don't know? maybe cause Snow mobiles had them so the ATC makers figured it would be cool to use one? We always called em dead man throttles... not quite sure why, I mean, everyone said it was incase you fell off or crashed, the throttle would stop as your finger slipped off the lever but a twister would do the same thing so.... Hmmm. I do like my thumb lever though.

[DohcBikes]

I prefer twist throttles on the clutched bikes. They make it so much easier to roll-on smoothly.

I don't ride semi-auto bikes very often because I'm always trying to clutch them and end up lookin real stupid, but thumb throttles seem to work OK on those.

[barnett468]

Why do ATCs have thumb throttles instead of twist grip? Is there an advantage to this type throttle? I ask because I have ridden 2 wheel motorcycles and this is my first ATC, 1983 200X.
Would there be a downside to converting to a twist type throttle?

Thanks, Dan

Hello NVdan;

Well imo, that's because ATC's like the Honda ATC250r, are basically recreational vehicles [toys] designed for riders from entry to intermediate skill level, while bikes like the Tecate 3 series were designed to be near race ready high performance vehicles for advanced skill level riders whose abilities allow them to use a twist type throttle to their advantage under the often punishing conditions a rider and high performance machine are subjected to, lol.

See the factory T3 twist throttle in the link below.

http://www.xtremeusa.com/OEMpartfind...1986/090203E-6

In my experience, thumb throttles are harder to maintain control of over jumps and rough terrain and I would not use one on a high performance vehicle.

I can easily adjust to either one on a vehicle that is being ridden at lower speeds. Also in my experience, the thumb throttle is FAR safer than the twist.

I have seen MANY new riders give a vehicle too much gas initially, especially on vehicles with clutches and higher performance vehicles, and as the bike suddenly launches forward they suddenly start falling backwards, and as they fall backwards, their hand occasionally rolls the throttle on, thereby exacerbating the problem, lol.

[El Camexican]

Thumb Pros
- You can pull, twist, rock and do whatever you want with the bars and as long as you don’t touch the thumb lever nothing stupid happens
- Hard to accidently activate in a moment of stupidity
- Still works after you bash the end of the bars
- Allows you to fall off the back of a machine without the added embarrassment of accelerating as you attempt to remain onboard by the tips of your fingers

Thumb Cons
- Your thumb gets cold and lonely in cold weather
- Can’t be finessed enough to be used in road racing conditions
- Can’t be used with a push pull cable system
- Opens a little too fast for the liking of some

For just messing around on a utility trike I love a thumb throttle. On the performance trike I find the throttle takes getting used to as I have found myself accelerating after having the bars shaken by large obstacles when I’d have rather been decelerating, or holding a steady speed.

I’ve never used a thumb throttle in conjunction with a clutch. Never thought about it before DOHC’s comment.

[DohcBikes]

their hand occasionally rolls the throttle on, thereby exacerbating

Excuse me sir, but it has been explained time and again that this is a "family friendly site".

[barnett468]

Excuse me sir, but it has been explained time and again that this is a "family friendly site".

No…excuse ME sir, because imo, you appear to be a VERY sick puppy whose in need of immediate therapy.


Hi…my name is DohcBikes and apparently I am a VERY sick puppy and in need of immediate therapy...God I feel so ashamed!

[Ghostv2]

The first year of the 225dx came with a factory twist throttle. The next year it was offered as an option.
The only auto trike I know that came with one from the factory. I'd like to find one eventually and see how I like it, but have yet to find the whole assembly.

[YTZ drew]

You don't "turn" the bars on a motorcycle, unless you are at very slow speeds, so a twist throttle works there. A thumb throttle allows a large amount of handlebar input without altering throttle input, sometimes required when forcing an atv to do what you need it to.

For what it's worth, I have tried both thumb and twist on 2,3, and 4 wheels just for comparison's sake. A twist works for me on a bike or a trike, but is asking for trouble on a quad in the woods, had a built Blaster that came with a twist and I thought it was deadly until I put a thumb back on it. Almost as bad was the time I tried a thumb throttle on a dirt bike, just to see what it was like. Made my forearm and wrist hurt, and I hit it once with my knee while leaning the bike in a turn on a trail- almost ended REALLY BAD!

[nachop]

I did read in a very old issue of either Dirt Wheels, or 3 & 4 Wheel Action Magazine, that the decision to put thumb throttles on 3 and 4 wheelers was based on safety. On a personal note, once I had grown accustomed to thumb throttles, I rode a three wheeler with a twist throttle and almost lost it in rough section on a sharp turn. After deciding to convert my trike to a twist, THIS little mishap, persuaded me to keep the thumb throttle.

[DohcBikes]

The first year of the 225dx came with a factory twist throttle.

I was just discussing this with el camexican the other day. I agree that the promo video says they had a twist, but I have yet to see one, would love to have the Yamaha twist if anyone has one. My 83 has a thumb throttle.

[tri again]

nd my alltime dumb%$# move ..
after moving trailers all day on and off the trike 100 times
I hit the throttle with my foot while dismounting and of course it was in gear..
you can guess the rest.

[El Camexican]

I was just discussing this with el camexican the other day. I agree that the promo video says they had a twist, but I have yet to see one, would love to have the Yamaha twist if anyone has one. My 83 has a thumb throttle.

Yea, that!