Was on a youtube adventure today, seen a well known back country rider with his throttle on the front of his bars.....anyone ride like this?
Throttle forward?
- Thread starter Ihaveadragon
- Start date
I borrowed my buddies sled a couple weeks ago and rode it all day. the forward throttle (MUNSTER) was "seamless". It didn't take any extra skill, it actually seemed a little easier to use. it allows you to hold onto the bars with your thumb and use 1 or 2 fingers to run the throttle. I would just suggest getting some high grade wrap around knuckle busters (hand guards) if you plan on doing that. That is what I plan on doing once I figure out exactly what setup I'm gonna get.
Do you have problems with locking your brake and going over the bars in the trees?
Stopping in the trees = everything will be ok. WOT in the trees = injury, wrecks, $$. But it's your decision!
Don't see the issue myself, if a branch does come in contact with the throttle it will be momentary. Finger throttles are normally mounted angled downward, helping the "issue" as well. Tether is a must (on any sled IMO) and handgaurds certainly wont hurt.
I have a Munster on my sled. Its a very nice, well made piece, grip is far superior and it feels natural, I really enjoy it. That said it does occasionally get "bound up" with the middle finger when wearing thick gloves, not an issue with medium or light gloves. My throttle cable also broke on my last ride- right at the throttle. Not sure if it had anything to do with the finger throttle or not, but I am going back to the factory throttle for the time being as I dont want to chance a broken cable to leave me stranded in a bad place.
Never heard of this kind throttle before lol just looked at the munster. Seem lots of riders use it too.
How do you like it goridedoo? Whats the benitfits? Does it give you a tighter grip?
How do you like it goridedoo? Whats the benitfits? Does it give you a tighter grip?
I have definitely, had branches and small trees hit my brake and stop me in my tracks
I recently installed one of the Munster throttles IMO the increased grip alone makes this safer then a thumb throttle. You can see for yourselves just jump on your sled and grab the bars like you normally would and give it throttle like you normally would now grab the bars and just stick your index finger out its amazing how much more grip and throttle control you have.
I was initially skeptical myself but now can't imagine going back to a thumb throttle I recently switched off with a thumb throttle machine going down the trail and chuckled to myself how weird it felt losing all that grip to operate the thumb throttle. I will concede there might be situations where it could be more dangerous then a thumb throttle but you will eliminate the risk of falling into a thumb throttle going down hill and pinning your sled that way. On two separate occasions I have witnessed riders climbing a hill at WOT and trying to do downhill turnout and the sled comes back down hill with them at WOT. In both cases I asked the riders why they didn't let off the throttle and in both cases they said they were losing their grip so I guess they pinned the thumb throttle to the bars in a panic situation trying not to let go of the handlebars.
I was initially skeptical myself but now can't imagine going back to a thumb throttle I recently switched off with a thumb throttle machine going down the trail and chuckled to myself how weird it felt losing all that grip to operate the thumb throttle. I will concede there might be situations where it could be more dangerous then a thumb throttle but you will eliminate the risk of falling into a thumb throttle going down hill and pinning your sled that way. On two separate occasions I have witnessed riders climbing a hill at WOT and trying to do downhill turnout and the sled comes back down hill with them at WOT. In both cases I asked the riders why they didn't let off the throttle and in both cases they said they were losing their grip so I guess they pinned the thumb throttle to the bars in a panic situation trying not to let go of the handlebars.
Grip is the big benefit, having your thumb wrapped around the bar is huge IMO. Grab the bars with 4 fingers, then grab em with with your outer 3 fingers and thumb, you'll understand. Also, with the finger throttle angled slightly downward you are able to keep your wrist straight with your arm when sidehilling rather than having a bent wrist with the thumb throttle, which allows a more natural and controlled feel, especially on the exhaust side of the sled, which is most peoples "weak side".
Just went out and gave it a feel, i like it. You can actually grip the bar rather then just the 4 fingers holding it.
I think ill have to give it a try. Thanks for the replies
I think ill have to give it a try. Thanks for the replies
We are all invincible, until we are not. You have been warned. My experience is from being young once too and making my own mistakes. I was too proud to listen to those who were wiser.
Anyway a few years a go I made a complete inverted U shaped handlebar. It tilted forward for throttle and pulled back for brake. No controls visible at all. Worked great in the deep pow with left or right body position. Sucked on the trail or in the trees though.
I get a ton of Phantom Teth-Air inquiries from guys who have wrecked their sleds and many are from reverse throttles or lefty throttles that have frozen.
Anyway a few years a go I made a complete inverted U shaped handlebar. It tilted forward for throttle and pulled back for brake. No controls visible at all. Worked great in the deep pow with left or right body position. Sucked on the trail or in the trees though.
I get a ton of Phantom Teth-Air inquiries from guys who have wrecked their sleds and many are from reverse throttles or lefty throttles that have frozen.
I
inspector01
Well-known member
How is it any more likely to freeze then stock?
I saw a kid bump is thumb throttle with his thigh standing up while the sled was in reverse, which shot him into the bars pinning the sled in reverse. If he hadn't hit a tree right away, he would have been heading down a big, steep, treed hill WOT in reverse and it could have gotten bad quickly.
Choose what works best for you, but don't act like thumb throttles are significantly safer, they have their own dangers. If you like jumping, finger throttles are definitely the way to go, trees maybe not so much.
I use a finger throttle on my Waveblaster jetski and can tell you that I would never even think of using one on a sled. Any time you're in a "nearly falling off" situation, the natural tendency is to hold on tight and grip harder or just let go. For a jetski, it's no big deal to let your ski go. However, letting your sled go on the side of a mountain usually doesn't turn out well.
I'm with ya teth it does give you a better grip .... but at what cost... years ago I tried a twist and flipping the throttle both hade pros but both hade cons to. I can ride just fine with out the added risk of that flipper getting pined in the trees or when the sled roles! I do like tethers but I'm not counting on them they fail to. just my 0.02
My own personal rule: Always sit down in reverse! I almost slammed into my old man's shop with a similar situation.
I bought the munster.
This is exactly what happens with A finger throttle.
Anytime you maneuver the sled your grip Tightens or loosens. My pointer finger followed the rest of them.
There was nothing fun or smooth or even bearable about the experience.
How is the finger throttle any different than a thumb throttle when talking about the natural tendency to "grip harder"? If your falling off something or falling down and grabbing something your doing it with your fingers and your THUMB not just 4 fingers? That arguement is invalid.
Spent a decent amount of time on a stand up jetski with no tether, and learned 2 things... Hold on to the bars, and finger throttles ROCK. As said though they do have their place, and are not meant for everyone.
Due to a ligament issue in my thumb, I get severe pain after less than an hour of ridding thumb throttle. I've been flipping throttle to finger pull on snowmobiles for 12 yrs now, and riding yamaha blaster since 1993( finger pull). The biggest benefit is the additional grip of having your thumb wrapped on bars. I bought a munster this year and absolutly love it. Never had issues with trees and that's my main riding, but I wouldn't recommend doing it unless it's set up properly, bark buster guards that hook in bar ends and a tether. Bark busters also protect brake and the wind guards mounted to the bark busters keeps the ice off. I've seen plenty of mishaps with thumb throttles icing up, cheap plastic ones breaking, or getting accidentally bumped by the rider, or hand slipped off at the wrong time because of bad grip. Bad things can happen either way, use a tether no matter what!
