LEFT HAND THROTTLE OR NOT?

[Chaos]

Backcountry,

Thanks for the input, and, it makes sense. I'll give it a try, technique is everything, right...

Clarke, funny you say a lefty is for 13 year olds. As I am sneaking out of the retirement home the staff are chasing me and yelling "quit being a kid, get your butt back into bed"... Go figure, damn kids these days!

Chaos

 

[KSH]

Ok guys. What is the general concensus on this. I am thinking of putting one on my sled.
Can someone put up a poll so we can see the results?

Thanks

Lefty's are personal preference.
If you install one, keep it pinned until you get use to it. Then find a nice big play area and only use the Lefty.

5 years ago I would not ride a mountain sled with out one. Last winter while in Cooke in January I broke my flipper, so I removed the Lefty, it was March before I got bored enough to reinstall it. I never missed it once.

 

[tudizzle]

IMO, left hand throttles for 13 year old kids or guys that can't ride are a DANGER!

fixed it for ya

 

[Dartos]

I have a Gold Finger Lefty but with my left hand on the Bible and my right had held up, "I solemnly swear that I never use it, except when I really need to, and Oh! when my right thumb is killing me. But that’s it ...... well except when I get into a nasty bit of tree riding and can’t reach the right side. But I swear that’s it. Oh and when I sync the carbs I used it a couple of times. BUT really other than that they really are quite useless."

 

[Trenchmaster]

To funny, all the comments about being gay if you use a lefty. You do need some co-ordination and practice with one, but most people of average intelligence can figure it out. How many guys have had issues with reverse on sleds but would not give it up after having it. One other plus to having a lefty is when you start up your sled and have to give it some throttle while you pull the rope. Use your lefty, pull the rope with your right hand. Do what you want, but using a lefty won't make you look at your riding buddys with lust in your eyes (not that there is anything wrong with that!!)

 

[Ox]

Read the first several replys. Kant believe such negativity?

I am guessing that those who say "no" tend to ride in the open and big hills more. If your in the trees or tighter areas, the lefty is a GODsend!

If you have your lefty plumbed into the splitter box it is NOT a freeze or limb issue any more than the RH one. I bought mine from Extreem (Laramie,Wy) before he quit making them. I love it. I guess I will hafta make my own from now on. ??? Need to git one on my kids sled.

Also - if you set it for 6:00 and not use it for a RH thumb rest, you don't end up grabbing it instead of the brake.


BTW - I don't have risers...


.

 

[sledheadjake]

I had a glod finger on my first sled and I rode with it for a couple of years everytime I rode I noticed that I used it less and less.The only time I would use it now would be on spring hard pack.I think they are great especially for people just beginning to learn to ride, I find that it was not a crutch it always helped me get out of nasty spots back when I was a newbie, now my new sled does not have one over time I just learned to not need it.

 

[backcountryislife]

Read the first several replys. Kant believe such negativity?

Had it occurred to you that maybe some of us have seen sleds flying past us at 50 MPH into the first tree they can find...

That'll create some negativity.

I had one miss me at full throttle by about 10 feet. Had it hit me I STILL wouldn't be riding by now likely.

If you can't understand why the lefty is more at risk of sticking than the primary throttle, you haven't taken a second to think about it.

 

[hatchers]

Using a tether makes most of the negative comments void

I use A lefty cuz my right hand always has a beer in it

 

[backcountryislife]

I use A lefty cuz my right hand always has a beer in it

Bout spit out my cereal....

 

[tudizzle]

Had it occurred to you that maybe some of us have seen sleds flying past us at 50 MPH into the first tree they can find...

That'll create some negativity.

I had one miss me at full throttle by about 10 feet. Had it hit me I STILL wouldn't be riding by now likely.

If you can't understand why the lefty is more at risk of sticking than the primary throttle, you haven't taken a second to think about it.

I seen guys wreck it after jumping...no lefty throttle...sled still took off and running.....got tether?

So by this logic no more jumping BCIL

 

[backcountryislife]

Yeah, but I don't wreck mr. dazzle!
(sorry man, johnnylingo gave you a new name... it's perfect!)

 

[nuggetau]

A LH throttle can come in handy sometimes, however my frustration with poor quality LH throttles that currently exist will keep me from buying one. If and when someone makes one that isn't constantly frozen up then I will be one of the first buyers. Don't buy Goldfinger or Lefty's, they are absolute crap, frozen up every friggin time you want to use it, or worse yet hang up full throttle.

 

[Trenchmaster]

If and when someone makes one that isn't constantly frozen up then I will be one of the first buyers. Don't buy Goldfinger or Lefty's, they are absolute crap, frozen up every friggin time you want to use it, or worse yet hang up full throttle.

Got to disagree with this statement, if you keep the cable lubed and seal the ends up with silicone water won't get in. Like anything mechanical they require some maintenance, never had an issue with any of mine and have used them for 8 years.

 

[miko]

Well I wussed out and bought a throttle logic (from sno bungee). I like how I can disconnect the lefty quickly if it freezes up or if someone else rides it. Looks pretty nice.

I'll try not to hit anyone on the mountains....

I love all the opinions....thanks.

 

[KSH]

Frozen Cables

I must be real lucky in this area, I have never had mine freeze.

But mine have been mounted on a 05 900 RMK and a 07 M1000 with venting putting warm air in that area.

I have a SnoBunjie Lefty and do not keep it pinned so it must be able to move just enough to keep it from freezing.

 

[mikew5945]

Well I wussed out and bought a throttle logic (from sno bungee). I like how I can disconnect the lefty quickly if it freezes up or if someone else rides it. Looks pretty nice.

I'll try not to hit anyone on the mountains....

I love all the opinions....thanks.

Good for you.
Put it on and play with it out in an open field so you get use to it. After that pin it and use it when you need it. Don't be a parking lot poser. I love mine and have used it a time or two.

 

[Ox]

Had it occurred to you that maybe some of us have seen sleds flying past us at 50 MPH into the first tree they can find...

That'll create some negativity.

I had one miss me at full throttle by about 10 feet. Had it hit me I STILL wouldn't be riding by now likely.

If you can't understand why the lefty is more at risk of sticking than the primary throttle, you haven't taken a second to think about it.

Maybe you missed this part?

If you have your lefty plumbed into the splitter box it is NOT a freeze or limb issue any more than the RH one.

I have had mine since fall '01 and never had an issue with it sticking. Now round-slides - THOSE I have stuck many times! (flats only once)



A

LH throttle can come in handy sometimes, however my frustration with poor quality LH throttles that currently exist will keep me from buying one. If and when someone makes one that isn't constantly frozen up then I will be one of the first buyers. Don't buy Goldfinger or Lefty's, they are absolute crap, frozen up every friggin time you want to use it, or worse yet hang up full throttle.

My chumm has had his lefty from Extreem as long as I have - on his Pol. He likes to grab it instead of the brake b/c he is used to using it as a RH rest. But I think he has a case of carpal tunnel and brings a wrist/hand brace on trips with him to sleep in at night too. I don't ever recall his sticking w/o his hand on it either. ???


Maybe if enough guys want one - maybe Extreem will re-open for business? I know that he was all pissed from all the low budget knock-offs that started going around about '03 and said "piss on it".

You would never know that his was not completely OEM.

.

 

[ACMtnCat]

I use my Goldfinger with total ambidexterity, without even thinking about it!

CRUTCH!..... CRUTCH THIS! I could probably out ride you lefty nah sayers using ONLY my LH throttle!




Side Note: I always do a throttle/brake check before starting my sled. ALWAYS! (I've had it stick 4-5 times in 6 years/300 ride days) If it sticks, I turn and tell my buddies to double check theirs before they start their sleds. Pretty simple to avoid a scary accident!

 

[PJ-Hunter]

for powder snow and anything soft, you don't need one.

but the conditions below, they are a big help, or really tight and really slow technical areas where it is hard to reach the throttle and keep your sled from tipping over

A Lefty pitching a Lefty.