CleanMPG Reviews the Throttle Rocker-II

Throttle Rocker-II: “Opening the throttle without squeezing the grip was a promise delivered!”




MSRP: $12.00 -- Right side Throttle Rocker-II installed on the capable 2010 Yamaha WR250X.

While doing preliminary research on a variety of accessories for my 2010 Yamaha WR250X Project Bike, one member of the WR 250 forums brought an inexpensive yet unique add-on to my attention with many of the characteristics of a cruise control. While not a cruise control in the conventional sense, it provides similar benefits by reducing the wrist torque required to maintain a given throttle position. In fact, this accessory can also be ordered and installed on the clutch side of the bars... helping to reduce fatigue in your left hand as well!

Meet the Throttle Rocker-II

The Throttle Rocker is a simple add-on that allows the heel of your hand to rest on a contoured plastic throttle extension. Its main purpose is to allow riders to maintain throttle position by using the weight of a hand rather than the conventional squeeze with wrist rotation.

The Throttle Rocker attaches to your throttle or clutch hand grip with a friction enhancing rubber band around which a Velcro/hook and loop strap is wrapped to lock it down. This prevents rotation with respect to the throttle assembly (or the handlebars on the clutch side).


Before cinching down the Hook and Loop, position the Throttle Rocker-II so that when your right hand pulls in the front brake or your left hand pulls in the clutch, the heel of either hand is just above the Throttle Rocker extension. The installation directions led me to nearly perfect positioning on the first attempt and with the exception of adding those previously mentioned rubber grip bands, they haven't been adjusted.

The rubber grip band is optional but I found that without it the Clutch side throttle rocker rotated. No matter how hard I cinched the Hook and Loop, it would eventually rotate. Adding the grip band completely eliminated this issue.

Throttle Rocker-II - The Ride

Before installation, I rode approximately 250 miles round trip to East Central WI. After roughly 100-miles with no stops both my hands began to tingle with that numb feeling caused by gripping something with too much force for too long a period.

A few days later, I installed the Throttle Rocker-II and took a 100 mile round trip ride into both Milwaukee and Chicago.

The difference was like night and day with zero hand fatigue from the lengthy ride. With the left and right hand Throttle Rockers installed, both hands were more relaxed on the grips and I was able to control the throttle with the heel of my hand instead of my right hand and wrist. This allowed a far more comfortable and relaxed ride.

The negatives? The Throttle Rockers were put to the test in downtown Chicago while running stop sign and light to the next stop sign and light. Throttle and clutch manipulations on the order of thousands of iterations during a 40-mile ride were experienced. This is something few other than maybe some off-road riders will ever encounter or endure. In this scenario, I found the accelerator side rocker slightly intrusive when letting off the throttle and gliding toward an impediment ahead and while sitting at a light or sign while motionless. In a number of those glides to a lower target speed or a stop ahead, I was actually holding the throttle just a bit open when I should have had the bike at idle with no throttle input.

While I have not done any off-road riding with the Throttle Rocker-IIs, CleanMPG/WRR forum member SheWolf has graciously provided her own experience backed thoughts regarding off-road riding with the Throttle Rocker-IIs installed.

Quote :

Posted by SheWolf

The use of the Throttle Rocker on or off road is a must for anyone suffering from carpal tunnel, or just hand fatigue, period. The size of the rocker is small enough that it doesn't impede throttle function, yet is close enough for the rider to be able to easily place the heel of the palm onto the rocker, even while going over rough terrain. One can still keep control of the throttle with one finger safely while the palm rests on the rocker, without fear of jarring the throttle. Once affixed properly, the rocker will not slip on the throttle grip, and the rider doesn't know it's there until it's needed.

Throttle Rocker-II Conclusions

With a retail price of just $12.00 per right or left side unit, how can someone not consider this novel addition to a bike? For riders who have a longer slab ride, a pair of Throttle Rocker-IIs are a great idea. For those riding off-road, SheWolf’s testament to their utility in that environment speaks volumes. Additionally, they can be removed and reinstalled in seconds.

For someone riding stop light to stop light on an almost continuous basis (heaven help you if you are ) or a rider gyrating between WOT and completely off the throttle either on the track or off the beaten path, Throttle Rockers may not help and may in fact become a hindrance. However, for any lengthy slab or smooth trail riding the Throttle Rockers may mean the difference between trying to work out that numb, tingling feeling in your hands at the end of the day versus enjoying the camaraderie of friends around the camp fire unencumbered by hand fatigue.

A pair of these fantastic devices will be installed on the 1200 GS and they are definitely going to be on the 2010 Yamaha WR250X Project Bike for its impending Challenge Ride across the continent!

I want to thank Terry Chastagner of Throttle Rocker for an excellent yet inexpensive solution for rider hand fatigue that avoids detracting from a ride's appearance or purpose.


Wayne

Excellent review! I've been using one for years; great, cheap addition for hand fatigue.