Finger throttle doubts

[shattuck]

Someone has to say this.
If you need a finger throttle you need to learn to ride a snowmobile. It's that simple.

Take time and do a little research have you seen Andrew Munster ride or Cody McNolty, Jorli Ricker? Those guys don’t need to learn how to ride a snowmobile and there are many more that don’t have a YouTube channel or Instagram.
Don’t mind if people don’t like them that’s fine but to say you need to learn how to ride instead of use one just isn’t true.

 

[shattuck]

I use a lefty, but not for the reason that you would think. I have a rare medical condition that caused severe muscle atrophy in my right hand. It's a total PIA and if you saw my hand, you would probably say "dude that's f**ked up!" But it is what it is, and my options were either quit riding or put on a left hand throttle.
Most of the time I use the regular throttle but there are times when I need to switch back and forth between the two throttles, due to the loss of strength/dexterity in my right hand.

I thought about converting to a finger throttle, but like the OP, I would be concerned about hitting a tree branch and getting launched off the sled.

At least you found a way to keep riding!!!!

 

[shattuck]

 

[kylant]

Someone has to say this.
If you need a finger throttle you need to learn to ride a snowmobile. It's that simple.

dumbest thing i've heard today

 

[polcat96]

The only time I feel like I would want one is going down hill on one ski. I can’t put enough pressure on the bars to make it comfortable. I've probably got my setup wrong or I’m doing something stupid with my technique

 

[Cb850]

dumbest thing i've heard today

The day is still young.

 

[goridedoo]

Someone has to say this.
If you need a finger throttle you need to learn to ride a snowmobile. It's that simple.

lol, sounds like something a chitty rider would say. If you think a thumb throttle is superior it is very clear you are a novice rider and/or have not spent enough time with one to understand the grip and wrist angle benefits.

 

[turboless terry]

Someone has to say this.
If you need a finger throttle you need to learn to ride a snowmobile. It's that simple.

I like a finger throttle better. Had them for years on jet skis. Rode them on snowmobiles but just haven't put one on. Never like the thought of hitting branches or brush. Guessing 99% of the time your fine. I have let go of throttle because my had was going to get smashed and grabbed it after it cleared the tree. Tether wouldn't have done any good because i wasn't separated from the sled. I know they have a gaurd but never really liked them either. Rode a sled, years ago, that had motorcycle nerf bars or whatever you call them. If you go over the bars you could break your hand if you hold on too long. Guessing you're just trying to get a rise out of people anyways.

 

[goridedoo]

I like a finger throttle better. Had them for years on jet skis. Rode them on snowmobiles but just haven't put one on. Never like the thought of hitting branches or brush. Guessing 99% of the time your fine. I have let go of throttle because my had was going to get smashed and grabbed it after it cleared the tree. Tether wouldn't have done any good because i wasn't separated from the sled. I know they have a gaurd but never really liked them either. Rode a sled, years ago, that had motorcycle nerf bars or whatever you call them. If you go over the bars you could break your hand if you hold on too long. Guessing you're just trying to get a rise out of people anyways.

Yep, stand up jet ski is how I got started with finger throttles. They make even more sense on a sled with the amount of pulling you do on the bars. I only ran one for 100 miles on a sled before the cable broke. Not worth it unfortunately. 17 miles of whooped out trail using a vise grip throttle blows.

 

[couch]

Tried it last season and liked it. Prefer it over thumb but no problem riding either. Took maybe 2-3 minutes for it to feel natural ...

 

[TimG]

I wonder if your level of comfort with a thumb throttle relates to how long your fingers are. If you have shorter fingers, do you have less grip on the bars when your thumb is sticking out to use the throttle? In that case, you would feel more secure with a finger throttle. But guys with long fingers would be scratching their heads wondering why you would ever want one, cause they have lots of grip to spare.

 

[Pickin’ Boogers]

Retarded people often have poor coordination between their thumbs and other fingers. Supposedly it’s related to brain development and the evolution of opposable thumbs. Besides small hands, my guess is most finger throttle users are also mildly retarded.

 

[RBalazs]

Retarded people often have poor coordination between their thumbs and other fingers. Supposedly it’s related to brain development and the evolution of opposable thumbs. Besides small hands, my guess is most finger throttle users are also mildly retarded.

You should come ride with me and my mildly retarded friends sometime

 

[Matthew runge]

Ok. I am wanting to try the finger throttle looking for honest feedback I am 40 years old and have been riding most my life and my right wrists and hand have the issues to prover it I am looking for better grip and something that gives me less pain and have zero issues with my pointer finger. What are the issues with the finger throttle icing ?

 

[RBalazs]

Ok. I am wanting to try the finger throttle looking for honest feedback I am 40 years old and have been riding most my life and my right wrists and hand have the issues to prover it I am looking for better grip and something that gives me less pain and have zero issues with my pointer finger. What are the issues with the finger throttle icing ?

The finger throttle does not ice up if you just clear it when you roll your sled over or snow gets in there. It’s not a problem at all. Truly no different than the standard thumb throttle.

I run the munster finger throttle and love it. I come from jet skis and have always had finger throttles and it’s not for everyone as you’ve probably gathered, but I run the munster with the guard and I’ve never had an issue.

Just try it out, there’s always people willing to pick up a finger throttle used.

 

[High Voltage]

Ok. I am wanting to try the finger throttle looking for honest feedback I am 40 years old and have been riding most my life and my right wrists and hand have the issues to prover it I am looking for better grip and something that gives me less pain and have zero issues with my pointer finger. What are the issues with the finger throttle icing ?

It hasn’t been an issue for me. I do put silicone on the cable periodically.

 

[rmk8001]

Retarded people often have poor coordination between their thumbs and other fingers. Supposedly it’s related to brain development and the evolution of opposable thumbs. Besides small hands, my guess is most finger throttle users are also mildly retarded.

Take your lame ass comment over to facebook this is where real riders talk

 

[Buchholz56]

I switched to a finger throttle a couple of years ago and also love it. I grew up on jet skis so finger throttle was natural feeling. Reason for switch was I severed 10 tendons in my right wrist/forearm 20 years ago and have a slight loss of dexterity in that arm, finger throttle allowed me better bar grip and really helped me in steep downhill and off camber situations. Never had any icing issues.

 

[Fat_Tones]

I had right wrist/thumb tendon surgeries in both 2021 and 2022 that have left scar tissue and about 50% range of motion in my wrist and 50% range of motion in my thumb. I'm finding that in various riding positions/maneuvers my thumb either slips off the throttle, cannot reach the throttle, or can't back off the throttle enough. I tried a Munster finger throttle a few years back on my Axys and didn't care for it, but under the current circumstances I'm reconsidering. It could mean the difference between continuing to ride at the same level and/or improving as a rider....or regressing, which it seems to be getting to the point of...

 

[shattuck]

I don’t think the finger throttle is either more safe or less safe than a thumb throttle. Just depends on the scenario I’ve been using a finger throttle for 7 or 8 years. I had it ice one time and got a branch stuck between the guard and throttle once too. It mostly just comes down to what you’re more comfortable with. A couple years ago I had to rent a sled with a thumb throttle and didn’t feel like it either helped or hurt my riding but I am more comfortable with a finger throttle.