Throttles-please can you talk me through how you use the throttle on a typical ride.

[Jimod]

Not on any motorbike I have ever owned. In fact quite the opposite it has spring so if you let go it snaps shut.

I've owned loads of motorbikes. NONE has had an adjustable friction thingy.

 

[neptune]

Most British made motorcycles back in the 1960s had a throttle that would stay open when you let go of it to signal, including my 1967 Norton Atlas 750cc. There was a grub screw with locknut underneath the part of the throttle housing the cable. This allowed adjustment of the friction pad that rubbed against the rotating cable drum. Once electric indicators came in, this device tended to disappear, largely due to Japanese influence.
Incidentally, every time you got a new girlfriend, you had to train her to signal. So when you made a signal, she would signal also, and touch your hand to let you know that she had taken the job over, and you could again place both hands on the handlebar.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

When I was 16, I used to ride up the A13 to Southend sitting on the pillion and leaning to steer and with the throttle held open with the friction screw. We didn't seem to worry about safety then, I wouldn't have been wearing a helmet eiither. Maybe I'm lucky to have survived.

In the 80s somebody marketed a retro-fit friction arrangement to act like a cruise control after the friction screws disappeared.

 

[flecc]

When I was 16, I used to ride up the A13 to Southend sitting on the pillion and leaning to steer and with the throttle held open with the friction screw. We didn't seem to worry about safety then, I wouldn't have been wearing a helmet eiither. Maybe I'm lucky to have survived.

Same here. On faster stretches I even used to lay flat on the tank, legs outstretched with my shoes hooked over the rear number plate to give minimum wind resistance for the highest speed. No helmet of course, they weren't available.

 

[GaRRy]

Ok so 40+ years ago they had friction thumb screws but can anyone name a bike since then with one. My experience starts in 1977 and I have never come across a bike with one.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Ok so 40+ years ago they had friction thumb screws but can anyone name a bike since then with one. My experience starts in 1977 and I have never come across a bike with one.

Harley Davidsons still have them.

You'll see it here in the picture at the top of page 3

http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Media/downloads/Service/isheets/-J02631.pdf

 

[GaRRy]

I said motorbike. Harleys dont count

 

[greyhound_dog_1]

I think a non-pedalling throttle-only mode would be useful, even with a low speed limit e.g. 5 mph.

Today for example, the road was closed to cars due to a lake in the road, it was about 200m long and 30 cm deep. Cars were turning around but of course I am higher up so gave it a go.

Water came up to the bottom of my hub motor, submerged my motor controller and pretty much level with my bottom bracket (hopefully all well sealed!).

I was able to get through okay, bike was fine (so far), but my feet were soaked because I had to pedal! On the downstroke the water submerged my feet. If I didn't have to pedal my feet wouldn't have got wet. I blame the EU for my wet feet.

Also on ice, snow, it would be useful to feed in a small amount of power, and concentrate on staying upright rather than pedalling.

Both of these are low speed applications, and a thottle up to 5 mph would be ideal.

 

[RobF]

I regard a throttle as essential in town.

From a standstill, a throttle stands the bike up a treat and - with some pedal power - really gets you moving.

A throttle is also useful for those occasions when the clever pedelec electronics decide you are not getting any assistance, even though you want some.

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Hi Greyhound,

EU laws do allow a full throttle to 4mph on an Pedelec. If you do not have a throttle it will have been due a decision made by your bike's manufacturer to use a system that does not have a throttle facility or simply not to use a throttle if the system does have the facility.

As well as being particularly useful to a lot of people the throttle is widely seen as a safety device, one of the areas it certainly helps is with low speed riding as you have discovered.

All the best

David

 

[neptune]

Same here. On faster stretches I even used to lay flat on the tank, legs outstretched with my shoes hooked over the rear number plate to give minimum wind resistance for the highest speed. No helmet of course, they weren't available.[/QUOTE

Actually, flecc, that could be a useful tactic even today. Especially if your boots were big enough to hide your number plate from the speed cameras.

 

[Scimitar]

I've owned loads of motorbikes. NONE has had an adjustable friction thingy.

It was a common fitment on BMWs up to the 80s (standard on some models) and many owners fitted them up to and including now, as an aftermarket item.
Different strokes, etc.
I had an R80 /R100RT with one fitted - it was great for long motorway stretches, really took the strain off the wrist and thumb.

 

[geostorm]

Or do you use the throttle as a means of getting instant power,for example pulling away from a busy junction but at other times are happy to pedal?

YES i guess this about sums it up....and approaching gradients as you find cadence slowing that's when the hidden shove is welcoming ......hopefully battery doesn't go on the blink..>?

 

[Scimitar]

That's pretty much it, for me. I start moving with no power then feed it in with the throttle and settle into a cruising speed with throttle and legs both contributing. My overall goal isn't to get there as fast as possible - if I'm in a hurry I'll drag the Suzuki out - it's to have a pleasnt trip and get some exercise.