Cruising With A Cruise Control -
Giving Your Throttle Twister A Break
How many times have you been on a long ride and wanted a chance to relax or stretch your right hand, without stopping or slowing down, or, wanted to make sure that you keep your license by being “forced” to adhere to the speed limit? If you do the same in a 4 wheeled vehicle, chances are you used your cruise control to relax certain parts of your anatomy (I.e. that part which determines how fast you are going, as an example). On a motorcycle, what are your choices for doing the same?
Well, you can stop and rest more often, not such a bad thing, or come up with some kind of “cruise assist” or “cruise control” to help you along. A “cruise assist” would be something like a “cramp buster”, a plastic device attached to the throttle which allows you to rest your hand grip by using the palm of your hand, and the weight of your arm, to keep power to the wheel. You can also rotate the device to provide a “flat wrist” at a given speed that will help you maintain a fairly constant speed.
Advantages of this type of controller: the ability to relax your hand grip, which also makes it less stressful on your shoulders, and, as mentioned, a way to keep your speed somewhat constant. Disadvantages: you still need to constantly check your speed (as you should with any type of device!), it sometimes gets in the way when you are doing slow speed maneuvers in a parking lot, once rotated to a setting, it is difficult to reset if the speed limit drops, and you still have to have your hand on the grip and shoulder stretched as you ride. However, it does help, which is what you want. For shorter rides (up to 1 1/2 hrs, it is a great option.
Cruise Controllers:
There are a number of different types of “cruise controllers” on the market, and each has its own kind of advantage and disadvantage.
Electronic Cruise Control -
A good number of manufacturers now offer a built in electronic cruise control as part of the bike, and most of these work very well, easy to set, and have an “instant off” if one or both brakes are applied. They may also have a “reset memory”, the same as that found on car cruise controls. However, they are not available on all motorcycles (additional cost on some), and thus, you have to rely a mechanical style of cruise control.
Mechanical Cruise Control-
Throttle Locks-
An easy to add mechanical style of cruise control that will allow you to “lock up” your throttle, thereby giving you a chance to relax your right hand, arm, and shoulder. These type of throttle locks, as mentioned, are fairly easy to install on your bike (make sure that you check to see if it is compatible with the size of handle bar you have). Basically, they have a lock system that allows the rider to “lock” the throttle once you have achieved the speed you want, giving you “hand off” constant speed. These locks can either be a “handle style” located to the left of the throttle grip, which requires you to lock up the throttle by tightening an “O” ring type of clamp with your thumb, and release the same way. They allow you to still operate the throttle if you have to, but offer resistance which slow down your actions. Another similar type of throttle lock is the “bar weight / bar end” friction style which requires you to twist your handlebar throttle to the speed you want, and then tighten the bar end to use the “friction” to lock the throttle in place. Like the “O” type throttle lock, the friction style allows you to turn the throttle grip if needed, but again, offers resistance that slows down your reaction.
There is an alternative to the full lock-on style of cruise control which includes the ability to release the throttle that is locked by either a push of the thumb or activating your front brake. It still allows you to twist your throttle grip if needed but is a much safer alternative because it is attached to the use of your front brake. In an emergency braking situation, the safety factor associated with instantaneous throttle reduction is very apparent. Therefore, I would recommend this type of mechanical cruise control over others, but each individual rider must make up their own mind as to the type they want, based on what they feel most comfortable with, and if it is available for their motorcycle.
Similar to the use of a cruise control system on a car, do not use the cruise when it is raining or the road is not dry, when you are riding on a gravel or uneven surfaced road, or in urban / city areas where the bikes speed and control should be ready to change in an instant.
Depending on your style of bike and the amount of riding you do, a cruise control may be a totally unnecessary addition to your ride. Or you may not want to give up some of your control of the bike, which is in effect is what you do with a cruise system. Whatever you decide to do, a cruise control or cruise support system can help make your ride a more enjoyable and comfortable experience.
Well, you can stop and rest more often, not such a bad thing, or come up with some kind of “cruise assist” or “cruise control” to help you along. A “cruise assist” would be something like a “cramp buster”, a plastic device attached to the throttle which allows you to rest your hand grip by using the palm of your hand, and the weight of your arm, to keep power to the wheel. You can also rotate the device to provide a “flat wrist” at a given speed that will help you maintain a fairly constant speed.
Advantages of this type of controller: the ability to relax your hand grip, which also makes it less stressful on your shoulders, and, as mentioned, a way to keep your speed somewhat constant. Disadvantages: you still need to constantly check your speed (as you should with any type of device!), it sometimes gets in the way when you are doing slow speed maneuvers in a parking lot, once rotated to a setting, it is difficult to reset if the speed limit drops, and you still have to have your hand on the grip and shoulder stretched as you ride. However, it does help, which is what you want. For shorter rides (up to 1 1/2 hrs, it is a great option.
Cruise Controllers:
There are a number of different types of “cruise controllers” on the market, and each has its own kind of advantage and disadvantage.
Electronic Cruise Control -
A good number of manufacturers now offer a built in electronic cruise control as part of the bike, and most of these work very well, easy to set, and have an “instant off” if one or both brakes are applied. They may also have a “reset memory”, the same as that found on car cruise controls. However, they are not available on all motorcycles (additional cost on some), and thus, you have to rely a mechanical style of cruise control.
Mechanical Cruise Control-
Throttle Locks-
An easy to add mechanical style of cruise control that will allow you to “lock up” your throttle, thereby giving you a chance to relax your right hand, arm, and shoulder. These type of throttle locks, as mentioned, are fairly easy to install on your bike (make sure that you check to see if it is compatible with the size of handle bar you have). Basically, they have a lock system that allows the rider to “lock” the throttle once you have achieved the speed you want, giving you “hand off” constant speed. These locks can either be a “handle style” located to the left of the throttle grip, which requires you to lock up the throttle by tightening an “O” ring type of clamp with your thumb, and release the same way. They allow you to still operate the throttle if you have to, but offer resistance which slow down your actions. Another similar type of throttle lock is the “bar weight / bar end” friction style which requires you to twist your handlebar throttle to the speed you want, and then tighten the bar end to use the “friction” to lock the throttle in place. Like the “O” type throttle lock, the friction style allows you to turn the throttle grip if needed, but again, offers resistance that slows down your reaction.
There is an alternative to the full lock-on style of cruise control which includes the ability to release the throttle that is locked by either a push of the thumb or activating your front brake. It still allows you to twist your throttle grip if needed but is a much safer alternative because it is attached to the use of your front brake. In an emergency braking situation, the safety factor associated with instantaneous throttle reduction is very apparent. Therefore, I would recommend this type of mechanical cruise control over others, but each individual rider must make up their own mind as to the type they want, based on what they feel most comfortable with, and if it is available for their motorcycle.
Similar to the use of a cruise control system on a car, do not use the cruise when it is raining or the road is not dry, when you are riding on a gravel or uneven surfaced road, or in urban / city areas where the bikes speed and control should be ready to change in an instant.
Depending on your style of bike and the amount of riding you do, a cruise control may be a totally unnecessary addition to your ride. Or you may not want to give up some of your control of the bike, which is in effect is what you do with a cruise system. Whatever you decide to do, a cruise control or cruise support system can help make your ride a more enjoyable and comfortable experience.