Twist Grip Throttle or Not?

[MT4XFore]

Hey fellas/gals,  Have been contemplating whether or not to convert my thumb throttle to a twist grip throttle.  Any opinions either way?  Can't seem to make up my mind, one day I want it, another I dont.  Can always use another viewpoint.  Thanks in advance.
Jim

[markc]

never thought about a conversion like that, but personally I would love to have a twist throttle like on my motorcycles.  I never understood or liked the thumb lever atv throttle.  On long rides my thumb would give out.  Dirt bikes, and street motorcycles use a twist throttle, not sure why ATV's don't???  Maybe someone knows why.

[Graybeard]

I asked about it when I bought my Bruin. They said they would do it if I really wanted but sure didn't recommend it. I spent a lot of time on two wheel dirt bikes riding terrain just as rough or more so than any I'm likely to traverse with the Bruin and never had a problem with a twist grip throttle. One of these days I suspect I will get my round tuit and add the feature.

[cgturner7]

I've always wondered the same thing.  Having grown up with dirtbikes and ride roadbikes now the twist grip is what I prefer.  We had snowmobiles (thumb throttle) when I was a kid and could never get the smooth throttle control I had with the twister.  Like graybeard says, I've been over some pretty rough ground without any problems.  Is there an easy conversion kit out there?

[Savage .250]

Some years back i had an old Honda ATV and the thumb-throttle and i didn`t get along to well. Going straight was no problem but when i was hill climbing, zig-zaging or  pushing the limit i ended up with a "HER-KEY-JERKY"
speed . Didn`t like that at all so i had a friend of mine who owned a ATV shop to install a motor cycle twist type.  What a difference, well for me it was.  I had total positive control at any speed or under any condition.
 Plus my thumb didn`t get all beat up, read....tired.
 This set up might not be for everyone but for me it was great.  

 " The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."

[Joe VTANG]

I was told some time ago that snowmobiles and ATVs had thumb throttles because twist throttles were at a higher risk of freezing up in cold weather.
I don't know if thats true or not but it sounds logical if you think about the design of a twist throttle with its contact surfaces and areas which might trap moisture. If you're not riding in cold temps switch it over to what you're comfortable with.

[R.W.Dale]

NO!!!!!!!!!! especally on a utility ATV You gotta think on a bike you don't actually use the handlebars to turn very much, but an ATV that's all you have
Just imagine being stuck at a really bad angle just barely able to keep her rubber side down and you give the bars a good yank to get off of a rock and then you find the downside to a twist when you end up wearing a 600lb quad.
 I would never put a twist on a ATV without a manual clutch.

[Jim D]

Having worked for dealers that sell and repair atvs I have seen the results of twist grip throttles. Both novice and experienced riders will have the tendency to twist the grip in a panic situation. We sell the kits but don't install them for that reason.-------Jim D

[markc]

I always wondered why atv's had a thumb lever throttle rather than a twist like a 2 wheeled dirt bike.  I think those who ride/race dirt bikes could make a transition to a twist throttle atv easily.

[MT4XFore]

Now this is what a forum like this is really good for.  Thanks a lot fellas for your opinions!  Jim D and Krockhus, thanks for your viewpoints, they are ones I had never considered.  It is still an idea that haunts me!  Good riding!

Jim

[hunt127588]

Have you ever tried to ride a 4-wheeler through dense woods with low hanging branches? I've had those branches whack the thumb throttle and the 4-wheeler lurch forward....Not my idea of fun. I would much prefer a twist throttle to reduce fatigue in my hand and prevent branches from getting tangled in a thumb throttle. Just my $.02...

[Old Syko]

With the thumb throttle you are using your thumb for something other than hanging on to the bars which kind of defeats the purpose of an opposable thumb.  The twist grip gives me much better control and allows me to get a grip on the situation at the same time.  I've heard numerous excuses for not using or installing a twist yet everyone I know who has one likes them and have experienced zero problems.  Asside from adding more horsepower, the twist was probably my most valuable modification.

[Sourdough]

I converted both my Suzuki 250 4WD, and my Honda 300 4WD, to twist grip throttles.  In both instances the dealers refused to do this conversion for me saying that it was too dangerous.  I have never had any problems with the twist grip throttle, they are much easier to operate on uneven terrain.  Especially when you go from a sitting position to a standing one.  I leave my machines outside most of the time in the open, rain snow freezing weather, I've never had a throttle stick due to freezing, and I live in North Pole Alaska.  
 
Before I made the conversion I had some serious problems when I hit some holes real hard with the thumb throttle.  After hitting a hole or a slight bank that stopped the machine, or slowed it significantly, I went forward.  Sometimes my as body moved it caused my thumb to increase pressure on the throttle, or sometimes my leg, or knee would hit that little lever.  In any event when that happened things got ugly real fast.  Once a machine jumped up a bank then flipped over backwards, luckily I bailed off to the side.  Another time after accidentally bumping that lever the machine jumped up a small embankment then went over the top and down a 35 foot drop, into a stream.  This weekend I rode my new Kawasaki 750 and when the ice broke while crossing a frozen pot hole, my body moved forward and my leg contacted that lever throttle.  Luckily my other hand hit the kill switch in time to prevent a catastrophe.  I can't wait till Kawasiki or someone makes a twist grip throttle for my new machine.  It's got way too much power to be using a lever type thumb throttle.  In fact everyone I ride and hunt with have converted their machines to twist grip throttles.  A couple have even converted their snow machines.

[Joe VTANG]

Thanks for Your input Sourdough. My wife loves to ride he 'wheeler but usually complains about her thumb after only a few miles. I had been leary of changing it over to a twist throttle because I was told it'd freeze up. Since you've had no problems and you obviously experience more cold weather riding up there than we do here in Vermont maybe I'll switch it for her.

How difficult is the conversion, and is it possible to switch back and forth from twist to thumb throttle? The reason I ask this is my father rides that ATV sometimes and being a snowmobiler with 40 plus years of riding I don't know how he'd take to a twister. I guess He could ride mine and I could ride hers if its not that easy to switch them.

I spent some time up in your neck of the woods a couple of years ago. My Air Guard unit trained with the 18th on Eielson AFB for two weeks in September of 2003. That area is just unbelievable. It's more beautiful than I could have imagined. You are blessed to live there.

[flyer05]

Might be old news now. I was thinking of putting one on my son's (12 yrs) Yamaha Banshee. This way he learns to shift and throttle, so any motorcycle would be easy for him later on. However, I did not do it. A twist throttle is fine as long as you have the bike under control but if you do end up loosing it. It would far to easy to try and hang on to the handle bars and open it wide up. SO for my son no twister. Good luck

[LONG286]

While riding dirt bikes or street bikes with twist throttles, the person is never really turning the handle bars to make a turn.  It is all about leaning on two wheels.
When on a ATV it is a different story, there is leaning of course, but most of the turning is done with the handle bars.  If you think about it, while making a tight right hander or a left hander, the thumb throttle will work much better.  It would be uncomfortable to twist the throttle at a tight right hander, you would have to have a overgrip which could result in a hand full of throttle!

We have never installed a twist grip on a utility atv.  I know the guys that race atv's will put them on, but they are never in situations like a utility four wheeler would be.

Just my two cents...

Kevin