BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Does anybody have any experience with this product. thanks http://www.wunderlichamerica.com/mm5/me ... e=R1200R-X

None with that specific product.. but some with other products that are the same sort of design..

One problem common to all of them is the tendency for the lock action to tighten up if you turn on your heated grips. The actual heated grip mounts on a plastic tube that rotates around the handlebar. This type of throttle lock depends on adding friction to the end of the plastic tube. Unfortunately - the tube tends to expand and get longer (pressing outward) when it heats up.

This was bad enough on my bike that I stopped using this sort of throttle lock, and went back to a lubricated (silicone grease) O ring behind the bar-end-weight (the O ring has to be big enough to cover at least part of the plastic barrel the grip rotates with.) The O ring isn't a problem with heating up, it has enough give that the force needed to change the throttle position doesn't significantly change. I prefer the "lock" to simply provide enough friction so I can take my hand off the grip for a second without the throttle snapping shut. Mine will start to close after about 10 seconds or so, but that hasn't been a problem for me. It's mostly there to eliminate me having to apply opening force to the grip to stay at constant speeds.

In 33k miles I've had to replace the O ring once. Easy enough job to do, and I carry a spare in my tank bag. Cost of the O ring is about $0.15/each.

I'm not entirely certain but I seem to recall reading a thread somewhere that the rotation of the Wunderlich throttle lock is opposite of that of the throttle. That is, you rotate the lock forward to lock it and backward to release it.

Check out this link for an alternative:

http://www.kaokousa.com/mm5/merchant.mv ... =KAOKO_BMW

GOTJ wrote:I'm not entirely certain but I seem to recall reading a thread somewhere that the rotation of the Wunderlich throttle lock is opposite of that of the throttle. That is, you rotate the lock forward to lock it and backward to release it.

Check out this link for an alternative:

http://www.kaokousa.com/mm5/merchant.mv ... =KAOKO_BMW

I have an almost brand new Kaoko sitting in my garage.. it's the one that turns the right way with the grip (loosens in the off direction) - but it has the same flaw as ALL the other ones of this design.

Anyone interested - make an offer..

I've been using a throttle lock from http://www.throttlemeister.com/ and I have not experienced any problems with it all. I have been riding in 40-50 degree weather the last few days with the heated grips on. No problems with expansion friction yet. I am only using the lower heat setting as well.

From what I have seen, the throttlemeister seems to be a higher quality product than the previously mentioned products. That is just my observation though.

I'm perfectly happy with my Throttlemeister, and I couldn't imagine touring without it.

Mike and ?

Just curious..

http://www.throttlemeister.com/faq.html - which says

"Q: Will the Throttlemeister work with factory heated grips?
A: The Throttlemeister will work for almost all bikes with "factory" heated grips. We do not recommend that it be installed with Hot Grips. With heated grips, the initial adjustments are more critical. We suggest that when you are installing the Throttlemeister you do so with the grips fully "hot" so you don't get any binding."

To me that sort of implies the setting does change as the grips heat up. I want to use this sort of device as a "drag screw" - ie - add some friction to moving the throttle, and not as a throttle "lock". What I read the above as is - if the TM is set with the grips cold, when the grips warm up the friction setting will change (up to binding apparently), which is the problem I have with all of this sort of device.

My question is - did I misunderstand this, or are you using it more as a thottle lock (cruise-control sort of thing) rather than to add some friction to the throttle open/close?

deilenberger wrote:My question is - did I misunderstand this, or are you using it more as a thottle lock (cruise-control sort of thing) rather than to add some friction to the throttle open/close?

I've used the Kaoko unit for a couple of years, both as a lock and as adding friction. I use the heated grips quite a bit, also.

I've had one instance where the throttle became tight, but nothing that gripping a bit harder and turning with clear intent couldn't easily overcome.

As to quality, I can't imagine the Wunderlich unit is significantly better, perhaps cosmetically, but I chose the Kaoko because the serrated grip is big and offers plenty of teeth to engage a heavily gloved hand. And that's exactly what enabled me to disengage the lock when it had become tight from heat.

When using in friction-only mode (as opposed to lock mode) there IS some adjustment necessary as the grip heats up. But I've gotten used to it and never think much about the small amount of fiddling.

I also have a twist throttle on an electric bicycle and have found that a fat silicone O-ring does the trick of adding just enough friction to make a sweet cruise-control.

Bill

deilenberger wrote:My question is - did I misunderstand this, or are you using it more as a thottle lock (cruise-control sort of thing) rather than to add some friction to the throttle open/close?

I've used the Throttlemeister extensively as well -- not on the R1200R, but on a bike with heated grips nonetheless. I use it primarily as a lock. Predictably for that kind of usage, I've never had any binding issues. I can imagine that using it for additional friction, there's much tighter tolerances involved, and so the expansion of the plastic throttle tube would become an issue.

To answer your question, Don: mostly as a throttle lock. I don't "lock" it completely, leaving it loose enough for constant adjustments for terrain. A true electronic cruise control would be nice for those hours-long highway drones between the twisty bits!

deilenberger wrote:

GOTJ wrote:I'm not entirely certain but I seem to recall reading a thread somewhere that the rotation of the Wunderlich throttle lock is opposite of that of the throttle. That is, you rotate the lock forward to lock it and backward to release it.

Check out this link for an alternative:

http://www.kaokousa.com/mm5/merchant.mv ... =KAOKO_BMW

I have an almost brand new Kaoko sitting in my garage.. it's the one that turns the right way with the grip (loosens in the off direction) - but it has the same flaw as ALL the other ones of this design.

Anyone interested - make an offer..

Make Don that offer. I have had a Kaoko throttle locker on my bike for 2 years and although I can feel some slight tightening when the grips heat up it is still a fine addition to my bike.

Mark

celticus wrote:

deilenberger wrote: I have an almost brand new Kaoko sitting in my garage.. it's the one that turns the right way with the grip (loosens in the off direction) - but it has the same flaw as ALL the other ones of this design.

Anyone interested - make an offer..

Make Don that offer. I have had a Kaoko throttle locker on my bike for 2 years and although I can feel some slight tightening when the grips heat up it is still a fine addition to my bike.

Mark

Thanks Mark..

He...he... mebbe the funds could go to the new Wunderlich screen fund..