Topic: CrampBuster and Throttle Rocker

[upperlake04]

 Anyone have experience with these gadgets?  At $11. they appear to be a good easy solution to hand cramp and throttle creep on the highway.

    https://www.crampbuster.com/index.html
    http://www.throttlerocker.com/index.html

[S-Dog]

It is one of the best $10 bucks I have spent on my bike.  My 750 has quite a strong spring back on the throttle.  After about 30-45 minutes of riding my hand started to ache a bit and there was no way to rest it driving.  The rocker solved that issue.  My limitation is now my sore ass.  Buy it.  You will like it.

[Gordon]

I use one on the 750 for longer rides.  Definitely saves some hand cramping.

[mystic_1]

My K0 has an adjustable "throttle friction lock" that helps offset the pull from a strong throttle spring.  Having that properly set up made a huge difference.

That said, I use one of those "vista cruise" throttle locks, the plastic thumb-lever ones.  I can lock it and let go with my right hand, no problem, but even when locked I can twist the grip to wherever I need it.

I don't think I'd like one of those throttle bosses, but I suppose it comes down to personal preference.

mystic_1

[heffay]

my dad and stepmom use them on their beemers.  they have the kind w/out the velcro helper, they wrap a rubber band around the grip to shore up any play.

i used it while riding her f650 down to santa fe and back a couple summers ago.  great for long riding, got in my way for the in town stuff.

[Gordon]

great for long riding, got in my way for the in town stuff.

Agreed, and if you run heated grips in the Winter, it blocks a lot of the heat from getting to your hand. 

[upperlake04]

Thanks guys - sounds like its worth a try. The CrampBuster version comes in two shapes - long narrow and short wide. Would the stubby one be less awkward around town?

[heffay]

i was using the stubby one... if you're like me, you'll yank it off when it pisses you off in stop and go, and stop to pull over to put it back on when your out of town and your wrist hurts 

[jbailey]

I bought one for my 550, but found that the problem is that the old bikes have more throttle travel than newer bikes, meaning that when at highway speeds the throttle is twisted further down.  If you adjust the throttle rocler where it is supposed to be, it is too low to comfortable hold at speed.  If you adjust it to the correct position for highway speed, it interferes at idle and around town.  Newer bikes either don't twist as far or whatever, but the throttle rocker seems to work better on them.  I don't know if this problem is with all older bikes or just the 550.

[gregk]

 
i've used one for years on my 750.  The only concern in my opinion is the motion for in town riding.  You can get around this by rotating the rocker away from your hand and use the throttle as per original.  When you get out on the highway just rotate around until you have it where you want it.  My rocker will only rotate one way so no problem with winding up the rpm while you are adjusting on the run.

Greg

[upperlake04]

 Greg - good info, is the adjustment on the fly a one or two handed operation?  CrampBuster emailed back this morning stating a $2. international shipping on the $10.99. Can't go wrong with that.  I'm going to try one this riding season

[nickjtc]

FWIW in my personal experience the 'new' Throttle Rocker, with the hook-and-loop attachment, does not stay fixed because you cannot cinch it up tight enough on the grip. My 650 has a fairly 'heavy' return spring pull, however. I contacted the folks at Throttle Rocker as to why they had change the style, from the earler one piece set up like the Crampbuster. Apparently they were infringing someones patent rights and had to change to hook-and-loop as an attachment.

I use a Crampbuster now with no problems at all.

As gregk says, it's a simple one handed procedure to rotate the thing out of your way when you don't want or need it. Because it will only move in one direction (throttle closed) there is no risk of increasing speed.

[techy5025]

I tried one of the lever type friction lock jobbies on the CBR. The throttle is so sensitive.....a few degrees twist makes many mph difference....that I gave up on it. Maybe one of the bar end types would work better.

Probably the cramping hand problem has contributed to my "carpal tunnel" issue......seems reasonable. I was going to pick up one of the "Crampbusters" during bike week but couldn't find one.

I think someone makes a real add-on cruise control for bikes. Now that would be hot on a 40 year old bike! 

Jim

[nickjtc]

In my opinion the biggest advantage of these devices is that if you let go of the throttle it will naturally close and you will lose speed. Throttle locks, or indeed a 'cruise control' would require overriding in some way to do the same thing..............

[azuredesign]

The Throttle Rocker worked well for me on my recernt trip to Texas, the Velcro fastener actually being a help as it was easy to slide the palm rest to whatever position was necessary with my right hand alone while riding. I found that I had to reposition it every 10 or 15 minutes , but it was just a question of shoving the underside of the palm rest up with my right palm. If you use one, you'll have to reposition it anyhow as your throttle opening changes with different speed/gears.

I found that keeping the Rocker mounted at the extreme right portion of the throttle grip allowed me to ride in stop and go situations without hitting it, although it did take me a few days to get that down. I had little wrist and hand symptoms after my 5 day ride. Previously my wrist was as sore as my ass after a long ride.

[gregk]

I didn't have any trouble with the original throttle rocker slipping around on the grip but I have "fat" tomissilli type grips.

I agree with the others, it's now your ass that is the weakest link.

Greg

[mystic_1]

This is the one I use:




It's very unobtrusive when installed.  Only thing it gets in the way of on my 750 is the Hi/Lo switch, just makes it a longer reach with the thumb.


nickjtc raises a good point, however, about the 'dead man' safety aspect of the throttle bosses - if you let go, the bike slows down.  That's certainly safer.  I like being able to do this with my vista cruise, however, as it lets me give my right arm and shoulder a few seconds break every now and then.

mystic_1

[techy5025]

I am now a fan of the "Crampbuster" ... at least on the CBR. I haven't tried it on the 750's yet. It is somewhat of a challenge to get it installed so that your palm can rest on the device for throttle control and still have your thumb on the front side of the grip where it's needed for braking. Sure wouldn't want to fight it in a panic stop.  However, it has never slipped once.

They make several versions for the different grip diameters and rocker length so if you have oversize grips get the right one.

The CBR has a very quick throttle so it will work differently on the CB...as posted above...I'm sure.

Jim