Throttle lock vs electronic cruise control

Both give your throttle hand a rest, in very different ways.

One reviewer uses his for brief relief, half a minute or a couple of minutes at a time, rather than expecting it to regulate his speed. That is the right way to think about a throttle lock.

How a motorcycle throttle lock works

A throttle lock is a friction clamp. You slide a thin ring onto the throttle grip, then slip the lock over the ring so it grips the throttle tube. A dial on the clamp sets how tightly it holds. On the road:

1. Reach the speed you want and hold the throttle steady.
2. Push the lock down with your index finger until it rests against the front brake lever. The lever stops the grip from rolling back.
3. To release it, roll the throttle forward, the same motion you use to slow down.

As one owner explained, a friction style lock does not truly lock the throttle, which would be dangerous. It holds by friction, so a firm roll forward overrides it when it is fitted and set correctly. Before every ride, check that the throttle still closes fully and freely and that the front brake works normally with the lock fitted. Set the dial so it holds the grip on a flat road but still lets go with a deliberate roll forward. Owners say releasing it takes a little getting used to, so practise on a quiet road first.

Easy Cruise and GO CRUISE: what is the difference?

The Easy Cruise Motorcycle Throttle Lock is the one we suggest to most riders. Its second rubber ring is the practical difference: leave one ring on each bike and the lock moves between them without sliding a ring on and off the handlebar. The GO CRUISE Throttle Lock does the same job in machined aluminum, for riders who prefer a metal part. Owners have fitted our throttle locks to bikes as different as a 1980 Honda CX500, a CBR600 sportbike, an XSR900 and a Silver Wing scooter.

Will a throttle lock fit my bike?

The Easy Cruise page says it fits all motorcycle handlebars, from touring bikes to sportbikes, including Harley Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha. The GO CRUISE page says it fits motorcycle handlebars. In practice, three things matter:

• A front brake lever in front of the right grip. The lock holds only because it rests against that lever, so this is what it needs to work.
• Enough of the lock resting on the lever. The Easy Cruise instructions are firm on this: at least a few millimetres of the bottom of the tip must sit on the brake lever, or the lock can get in the way of your braking. Check it every time you fit it.
• Your grips. Owners have used our throttle locks over thick foam grip covers and over heated grips. One found the rubber ring a tight squeeze over his heated grips, so expect to work it on.

Some riders find the lock sits a little in the way of their fingers at first, especially if they cover the brake with two fingers. Try it in your driveway before a long ride.

How to use a throttle lock safely

A throttle lock is a comfort aid for experienced riders, not a way to ride hands off. The warnings on both product pages are short and worth following to the letter:

• Never take your hands off the handlebars. Keep both hands on the handlebars the whole time the lock is set.
• Do not use it in traffic, in town, or in congested or residential areas.
• Do not use it when you need precise speed changes, or on a road you do not know well.
• Do not use it if you are a new rider, or until you are thoroughly familiar with how it works.
• Do not use it together with any other cruise control device.
• Release it going downhill (the Easy Cruise page says so), and before any curve, junction, wet patch or gravel.

Release it early. A bike with a held throttle carries speed into a corner you did not plan for, and a wet spring morning or a gravel shoulder leaves less room for surprise. Our motorcycle safety guide covers the basics that apply on every ride.

Is a throttle lock legal? We cannot give legal advice. We have not checked the rules for any province, territory or state, and they may differ. Check with your provincial licensing or transportation office (or the authority for wherever you ride) before you rely on one.

Wrist pain on long rides: where a throttle lock helps

Holding the throttle open for hours can tire your hand and wrist. A throttle lock gives your throttle hand a break on the straight stretches, which several owners with sore wrists and hand cramps say made a real difference for them. Many riders also find regular stops and levers set to their reach help. Our guide to easing wrist pain on long motorcycle rides covers the rest. If the pain is lasting or getting worse, see your doctor.

Which throttle lock should you buy?

• Most riders, or two bikes in the garage: the Easy Cruise. It is light, fits in seconds, and its two rings let it move between bikes.
• You want a metal part: the GO CRUISE.
• You ride long stretches at one speed every day: a throttle lock is still a good rest, but electronic cruise control, where your bike offers it, is designed to hold a set speed, which a throttle lock does not.

You can see the rest of our long ride gear in our motorcycle accessories collection.

Questions riders ask us

Does a throttle lock hold a steady speed?

On a flat road, close to it. It holds the throttle position, so your speed drops on a climb and rises on a descent. You can nudge the throttle forward or back to correct it, or release it.

Can I still close the throttle with it on?

Yes. It holds by friction, so rolling the throttle forward releases it. If it takes more than a firm, deliberate twist, loosen the dial.

Can I move it from one bike to another?

Yes. The Easy Cruise comes with two rubber rings, so you can leave a ring on each bike and move only the lock.

Can I use it with my bike's own cruise control?

No. Both product pages say not to use a throttle lock with any other cruise control device.

Does it need tools or wiring?

No. Both slide on in a few seconds by hand, and neither needs any wiring.

It slips. What do I do?

Tighten the tension dial a little at a time, and check that the ring is on the grip under the lock. Owners say it needs to be fairly snug to hold well, but it should let go with a deliberate roll forward. If it does not, loosen it before you ride.