HappyHighwayman
It's all in the reflexes
Are there any legal or regulatory reasons one can't make such a modification?
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Thumb throttle control
- Thread starter Xevuhtess7
- Start date
EastBayDave
- Kawasaki Fanatic -
Thank you so much for your very kind offer.
What I got is the combo of Carpal Tunnel & Trigger Finger syndromes. http://www.ehow.com/facts_5552250_trigger-finger-syndrome.html
It's from pounding on keyboards since the 1st pc's arrived in 1978'. I've had some cortisone injections, physical therapy, & splints, but it's not getting better at this point. I need surgery & I've been putting it off for years, & I need to stay off keyboards. That's the tough one.
My problem is squeezing the front brake & manipulating throttle, plus wrenching (bike needs bunch of mostly maintenance work.) So I'm kinda in limbo here...
Thank you again for the kind offer...
Dave
Z3n
Squid.
Could something along the designs of a cramp buster help alleviate the problems?
Other idea - a throttle lever, rather than a thumb throttle. Use an adjustable spring load to change the pull vs. the return strength - similar setup to what stunters use for a handbrake, except you're actuating the throttle. I don't know if that would be problematic with the trigger finger - if there's a range of motion that's problematic, that would be something we could design around.
If typing is hard, send me a PM with your number and I'll give you a ring this weekend and we can see if we can work something out
I can lend a hand with the maintenance too, if need be.
Other idea - a throttle lever, rather than a thumb throttle. Use an adjustable spring load to change the pull vs. the return strength - similar setup to what stunters use for a handbrake, except you're actuating the throttle. I don't know if that would be problematic with the trigger finger - if there's a range of motion that's problematic, that would be something we could design around.
If typing is hard, send me a PM with your number and I'll give you a ring this weekend and we can see if we can work something out
I can lend a hand with the maintenance too, if need be.
kiltwearinfool
do not read this title
Same here, I'd expect a thumb rear brake control to be even better than the foot.
I didn't find it useful. The again I'm not you.
EBD: I'm not up on what kind of rehab you've been recommended or are doing, but years back I had issues with scar tissue on some tendons & my chiropractor did some (excruciating) manual manipulation of the tendon to break up the scar tissue. I had to do similar manipulation daily for almost a month for the pain level to diminish & the range of motion to come back, but it worked.
My wife had a trigger pinkie when she was preggers with both kids, she had surgery the first time & did the manual manipulation the 2nd time. Supplemented the manipulation with Chinese Herbs & got the trigger to go away.
Getting old sucks. You gotta be brave to pull it off.
EastBayDave
- Kawasaki Fanatic -
Thanks guys; right now I've got a lot of things going on. There's a get well EBD thread elsewhere on BARF, & I been mostly posting there as don't want to get 2 threads going on same thing.
Right now I'm kinda in a holding pattern as we are broke, & can't afford the surgery (I need several f/various problems= the worst being herniated disks in spine), & wife don't want me inviting anyone over as it's kind of a "Hoarders" situation around the homestead. Both of us are very embarrassed to invite anyone over to this mess...
I surely appreciate the offers of help; but the garage is...uh...full. The bike & tools are buried, & don't know when I'll be feeling well enough to clear it out enough to work on da bike. Need to go to the dumps about half dozen times & clear crap out...
Again, thanks for offers but it a touchy subject around here...
Z3n
Squid.
Well, when the day comes, let us know
I think it's already been said above (I haven't read all the replies) But the issue is throttle "finesse" comparing the thumb vs grip throttle.
Sure you can get "really good" with the thumb actuated control, but never as good as you can with the range of motion of the conventional grip throttle.
ATVs and Watercraft use them because they typically have marginal traction (you're "sliding and coasting" everywhere). You inadvertantly mash on the thumb throttle and you throw a rooster tail of either dirt, sand, or water, and move forward only a moderate amount. That same inadvertant (or even purposeful) mashing of a thumb throttle on the street would risk looping the bike at worst, and bucking you off the bike at best if you weren't prepared.
Unless you had a pressing medical need to use one I would find them riskier to use on the street. Not "risky" in itself, but rather "less safe" than a conventional grip throttle; particularly in tight cornering where throttle smoothness is most important. It's easier to grip the throttle tighter and hold throttle position as you leverage your body around the bike with a grip, then it is to do the same thing and maintain a steady thumb position. It's also much less likely that you will release your grip on the throttle in the middle of a corner to the point it would spin back to idle compared to what I would think is a much more likely chance that your thumb would slip off the thumb actuator in the middle of a hard corner slamming the throttle shut in mid corner to probably disastrous results.
That being said I don't like thumb throttles on ATVs but I love them on Watercraft and they're probably that way because the thumb set up is cheaper to do, and is no liability on the dirt or water, and heavy liability on the street.
Sure you can get "really good" with the thumb actuated control, but never as good as you can with the range of motion of the conventional grip throttle.
ATVs and Watercraft use them because they typically have marginal traction (you're "sliding and coasting" everywhere). You inadvertantly mash on the thumb throttle and you throw a rooster tail of either dirt, sand, or water, and move forward only a moderate amount. That same inadvertant (or even purposeful) mashing of a thumb throttle on the street would risk looping the bike at worst, and bucking you off the bike at best if you weren't prepared.
Unless you had a pressing medical need to use one I would find them riskier to use on the street. Not "risky" in itself, but rather "less safe" than a conventional grip throttle; particularly in tight cornering where throttle smoothness is most important. It's easier to grip the throttle tighter and hold throttle position as you leverage your body around the bike with a grip, then it is to do the same thing and maintain a steady thumb position. It's also much less likely that you will release your grip on the throttle in the middle of a corner to the point it would spin back to idle compared to what I would think is a much more likely chance that your thumb would slip off the thumb actuator in the middle of a hard corner slamming the throttle shut in mid corner to probably disastrous results.
That being said I don't like thumb throttles on ATVs but I love them on Watercraft
and they're probably that way because the thumb set up is cheaper to do, and is no liability on the dirt or water, and heavy liability on the street.
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1footdown
a little gimpy
This. Having someone manipulate your hands to get those tendons and muscles more fluid and limber will help. Google (or other inteernet search) Leon Fleisher pianist hands rolfing
1footdown
a little gimpy
I hated using the thumb throttle on my jetski. first mods we made on jetskis were, finger or trigger throttle, quick turn plate and a ride plate.
kind of like, fender eliminator, rim tape, and flush mount lights.
except the jetski mods were all functional!
kind of like, fender eliminator, rim tape, and flush mount lights.
except the jetski mods were all functional!
fraz
Active member
+infinity!!
tzrider
Write Only User
Agree on the lack of fine control and the fatigue issues. Though ATV's have thumb throttles, they don't typically have 180 HP.
A thumb throttle for a motorcycle is a solution looking for a problem.
A thumb throttle for a motorcycle is a solution looking for a problem.