Throttlemeister, or...

[cruiser]

Does anyone know if this pseudo cruise-control device is availabe in Europe? I know from previous experience that I'll need one of these - or similar - when I pick up my R1150R (with heated grips) soon. From what I've read in this forum, the Throttlemeister is the pick of the bunch... unless anyone knows otherwise!

[kantuckid]

They work great as a hand/wrist relief with one exception-that's when riding in hilly terrain( the setup being mechanical), the bike will pull down on uphills and likewise speed up on downhills, thus requiring you to overcome the tension caused by this device and putting more , not less strain on your hands. I just loosen it up for those occasions. I wonder if the wrist rocker would be worth a look, for these reasons, as an addition to the Throttlemiesters?There are some similar devices out there and I have not used them, but have had 3 sets of the former and like them overall.

[challey]

Cruiser --
I'm in the process of buying a TM after having considered the alternatives such as the Kaoko and Bob's Wrist Rest. California Sport Touring
http://www.casporttouring.com/store/mer ... =Throttlem
appears to have the best price on the TM and I am planning to order one from them in the nest couple of days. You may want to check and see if they ship internationally - if they don't, PM me and I'll order one for you when I order mine and ship it to you.
Charlie

[cruiser]

Challey, thanks for the info and especially for your kind offer to help me acquire a TM. I'm about to contact California Sport Touring to find out if they can ship to Germany. BTW, are you ordering the standard or heavy version?

Mike

[challey]

Mike --
Standard.
My understanding is the it's closest in weight to the OEM bar ends. Some have said the heavy TM helps damp out vibration but I have not found the vibration level to be a problem.

[BoiseBeemer]

I wonder if the wrist rocker would be worth a look, for these reasons, as an addition to the Throttlemiesters?There are some similar devices out there and I have not used them, but have had 3 sets of the former and like them overall.

I'm lazy. I use both. On a long trip where, as you note, speeds are relatively constant, the TM is a major relief. The wrist paddle devices are seriously addictive, but I do find that they intrude on the manual dexterity a bit, as they restrict your ability to completely wrap your fingers around the grip in the area covered by the device. For an inexperienced rider (like my wife), I think they have the potential to be somewhat dangerous in a panic situation.

YMMV, of course.

[Max Continuous]

I am glad you asked this question because I have been doing alot of research on the same subject. Interestingly, I found that many people did not like the TM and some mentioned that they had to wrap a hoseclamp around it to get a better grip for setting the friction. I do not want to buy anything that requires modification to make it work.

The Kaoko looks like it makes more sense to me from a simple engineering standpoint but I have no practical experience with either, so I would be interested to hear from people who have.

[taosports]

The Kaoko looks like it makes more sense to me from a simple engineering standpoint...

That's the main reason I bought one. Not saying that the Throttlemeister doesn't work well since I have no experience with it but the Kaoko just seems to be a better design with it's easy to turn friction nut. Of course it does look like an add on device unlike the Throttlemeister.

[bgardner74]

Funny thing, old BMW's came with a built-in throttle control. Under the right handgrip, there was a thumb screw you could tighten so that when you twisted the throttle, it would would remain where you set it. It was just enough tension to hold the throttle in place, but you could easily twist it up or all the way down to idle speed. It was simple. It worked. Was not an option. It was on my '76 R90. Wish I had it on my 1150R. I use a wrist rocker. It works, too. But nowhere near as elegant a fix.

[baltm604]

I use both a throttle rocker and a a bob's wrist rest.

The rocker is essential to me in heavy urban traffic. I am able to give the bike throttle while extending my fingers to cover the front brake lever.

the bob's has been easy to operate in all weather with heavy gloves. Also if you are cheap (I mean thrifty) bob's will sell you just the right side for less than buying both ends.

Bill

[wncbmw]

I used to have the Bob's version on my GS, no complaints. But on the Roadster, I use a cheap rubber washer, partially between the gap of the bar end and the throttle (friction adjusted by how much gasket is in the gap!). Bag of 5 for a quarter at Lowes!

I had a throttle or wrist rocker and took it off part way through the first ride with it. Did not work for me. Twisting the throttle hard moved the rocker out of positions for me!

[NoRRmad]

I had that throttle rocker problem until recently I got the throttle cable set replaced. Amazing difference; now the throttle moves so easily that the rocker no longer slips.

[dnat928]

I used a Crampbuster paddle type throttle controller on my prior bike (cruiser) - but now my R has the Throttlemeister. I prefer the TMeister. I find that it reduces fatigue in BOTH hands - once the RH relaxes, the LH seems to relax too - I can then ride with fingertips. The paddle worked quite well, but compared to the TMeister, you will still need to keep the throttle hand in-place and concentrate to control your speed. Although the TMeister needs minor adjusting for changing grades, these are very minor and easy to do. My TMeister needs no other hardware to make it work - it works as-built just fine.

[ruddy]

Try putting a rubber "O" ring in the groove on the Throttlemeister. It gives you something to grip with your glove and works great. I put one one each side, so they match. I didn't care for the red stripe anyway, and the "O" ring covers it up and looks like it belongs.

[BoiseBeemer]

I LIKE your bike collection! My silver R1150R happens to be a 2004, but prior to my multi-year layoff my last bike was a 1982 Suzuki GS850GZ (which I bought at the Suzuki dealer in Spokane--can't seem to print his name, as the board software seems to want to censor it, but it's the short version of Richard--ca. 1985 and then foolishly sold for half its value five years later). When I started looking for a replacement in 2002, the Beemer was the only bike I could find that reminded me of the ol' Suzy--big, road-holding standard with a bullet-proof air-cooled engine, triple disks, shaft-drive and character invisible to cruiserettes and squids. Something you could mount hard bags and a windshield onto and set off for the far horizon in full confidence that you could get there and back. Suzuki, alas, no longer makes such a beast, but, fortunately and surprisingly, BMW not only made one, but priced it for the average guy to buy.

Still amazing how much the Roadster reminds me of the old Suzuki standards. The entire GS-GZ line, from the 650 all the way up to the 1000, were outstanding bikes for the era, and the 850 was a much-revered classic. If it's in good shape, I'll bet it's still worth some meaningful scratch.

Nice stable you got there!