Finger Throttle For Under $40.00

[nickj718]

Well for the longest time my fiancé has complained that her thumb hurt after a day of riding. So I set out to do a finger throttle on my GSX. Im picky about how things look so I looked all winter and half the summer for a billet finger throttle, you know the one that fits perfectly over the handle bar cover. Well I had no such luck so here is what I did.

I bought this finger throttle http://www.powersportsuperstore.com...num-Finger-Throttle-p/4707844.htm?Click=35177

Next I measured the amount of grip the handle bar grip and the finger throttle took up. It just so happen to be that they stopped just after the set screw. So I got my cut wheel out and cut the thumb throttle. Now my Schwinn grips are a bit long so don't go off my measurement, measure it for yourself and make sure before you cut.

Next I taped off the handle bar pad and painted the bar and inside of the handlebar pad flat black.

While that was drying I removed the plastic round fitting and metal nut off of the actual throttle cable do it would fit inside of the cable holder. (The cable holder is from my old bmx bike from when I was younger but you can find this at any bike store for about 2 bucks just bring the finger throttle in to make sure it threads in)

The next step was cable placement. I installed the finger throttle against the old thumb throttle that was now cut to see where the cable should pop out. Once I knew that I drilled a hole about the same size as the throttle cable.

After all of that I installed and adjusted the cable holder at the finger throttle.





Let me know if anyone needs help.

 

[DeejaysGTI]

Why does this look so easy?

 

[ocod]

Why does this look so easy?

Very sweet set up.

The wood paneling everywhere looks great too.

 

[nickj718]

lol it was pretty easy didn't take that long and in my opinion it looks pretty good.

Thanks the wood is all from pallets that I cut to different sizes and stained.

 

[DeejaysGTI]

Pretty sure I'm going to have a go at this. Should be a similar process for a 96-97 GTX I would assume.

 

[Krispy]

So I recently installed a finger throttle on my 96XP. It is comfortable but if you aren't doing WOT it can be a little bit odd trying to hold that sweet spot just after the raves open around 5000 RPM.

I also had a small problem with my thick grips that the throttle butterflies wouldn't open 100%, very very close, but not 100%. The lever was touching the grip before WOT was reached.

This is with a purpose built Seadoo specific UMI throttle. FYI

 

[68ragtop]

My RXPX has an oem finger throttle. I really like it, pulls in very easy with one finger & I can hang on much better when screwing around.

My wife asked why they don't all have finger throttles & I figured its for safety. That's just my just tho. It would be a bad day if you bumped into a dock, or something else & the throttle was pinned in because of it. Probably never happen on the traditional thumb style. Can anyone confirm if that's the reason?

 

[nickj718]

Mines super easy to pull and my throttle can to 100% no problem. As far as finding a nice cruise it just takes getting used to


I would imagine its due to safety but not sure.

 

[mikidymac]

Not sure if it is for safety because Yamaha's use finger throttles.

Funny story about docks pushing on the finger throttle, water can too. Back in the day a friend of mine had a Kawasaki X-2 and he installed a finger throttle but it was by a company that made them larger almost like the seadoo thumb throttle but on the front so we were racing and he made a hard right turn and fell off but the throttle lever was large enough that the water kept it wide open and it kept turning but was headed down and we watched it corkscrewing down under the water until we lost sight of it. Then the engine must have died from no more air and all of the sudden it popped up about 20' from us. We could not stop laughing but after a quick pump of the bilge pump and we were back to riding for the rest of the day.

 

[Krispy]

My RXPX has an oem finger throttle. I really like it, pulls in very easy with one finger & I can hang on much better when screwing around.

My wife asked why they don't all have finger throttles & I figured its for safety. That's just my just tho. It would be a bad day if you bumped into a dock, or something else & the throttle was pinned in because of it. Probably never happen on the traditional thumb style. Can anyone confirm if that's the reason?

My best figuring is this. Several years ago I put my 8 year old nephew in front of me on my old 3 seater. I showed him the throttle and he wrapped his hand around the finger throttle it as I sat behind him on the seat. He slowly pulled the throttle and the acceleration pulled us back further on the seat. Before I knew it we were pinned WOT and he wasn't able to release the throttle.

I think it is just a fail safe push to accelerate etc.

 

[suke]

it IS super easy. I did mine with a brake lever from my wife's bike she never rides(outside anyways). Took me a couple mins, and I can get more than a full pull with it. It's a little bigger than nick's. I have big hands so I always have preferred bigger brake levers when riding MC's. So this should be perfect for me. I have yet to cut down my thumb throttle yet. Need to make sure it works. This morning I cut off the plastic piece.

 

[suke]

turned out REALLY good!!

I took apart the thumb throttle so if I don't like how it's working out I can go back without buying new parts. And JUST trimmed it down enough to where it won't impact operation if I decide to go back. Started it and it idles fine and sounds like I can get a full pull out of the water. Gonna run down to the lake real quick tomorrow and test it after work.

 

[nickj718]

Looks good dude:thumbsup:

 

[suke]

Looks good dude:thumbsup:

Doing this made me realize just how little the butterfly valves really do move. I wasn't convinced I was getting full travel and put back on the stock thumb throttle and it sounded exactly the same at quick WOT bursts. The water test will be the real determining factor.

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

Finger throttle is safer. It's what seadoo went to around 2005 or so.

Your grip comes from your opposable thumb. That's how you hold on. Using it for throttle reduces your grip strength substantially. Removing one finger (of 4) from your grip doesn't have near the impact.

 

[Ruskeyjdm]

Decided to give the finger throttle idea a try.

Salvaged it from my old Bmw bike hanging in my garage.

Adjusted the throttle cable a bit, idle was a little high.
Turned out ok!
Like Suke said, water test will determine full speed carb opening.

 

[scrisp]

turned out REALLY good!!

I took apart the thumb throttle so if I don't like how it's working out I can go back without buying new parts. And JUST trimmed it down enough to where it won't impact operation if I decide to go back. Started it and it idles fine and sounds like I can get a full pull out of the water. Gonna run down to the lake real quick tomorrow and test it after work.

OMG, how int he world did you get that pad so clean?!!! I've been scrubbing off/on for a week with degreaser, naptha, dishwashing soap, and just about anything else that I can find, but it is still dirty looking.

 

[suke]

OMG, how int he world did you get that pad so clean?!!! I've been scrubbing off/on for a week with degreaser, naptha, dishwashing soap, and just about anything else that I can find, but it is still dirty looking.

Found one and bought it. I found one during the winter a year or so ago when doing my resto that someone had taken off a brand new ski back in the day then stuck it in their basement. Didn't even think about it......but I have a whole other finger throttle since he sold me the whole handlebar set. It's in a box somewhere. HAH!

I stole it for a screamin price!!

 

[scrisp]

Found one and bought it. I found one during the winter a year or so ago when doing my resto that someone had taken off a brand new ski back in the day then stuck it in their basement. Didn't even think about it......but I have a whole other finger throttle since he sold me the whole handlebar set. It's in a box somewhere. HAH!

I stole it for a screamin price!!

:cheers::cheers:

 

[suke]

:cheers::cheers:

the thing that sucks is EVERYTIME I touch it or anything it gets dirty and won't come off. DAMMIT!!!

 

[suke]

Ran down to the lake this morning, since it's going to rain ALL weekend, to test out the finger throttle. After some adjusting at the lake I think she's ALMOST there. Feels like I should get another mm or two of pull out of the throttle. Did a GPS run and got 53mph in heavy chop( had a hard time keeping the pump hooked up). That's not half bad! I consider this a success!! I think I have a little more room to adjust the throttle until I start pulling on the butterfly's, so I'll adjust that and we should be good! I'm happy.

 

[soccerdad]

OK, I am trying to rig up a finger throttle on my GTX. I got a short lever brake lever for a bike. It has way too short of a through. I also see that the cable will not work in the adjuster. This is what I got:



So I am looking to get a Exceed/Hot Products Cast Aluminum Finger Throttle - Black 58-0971 for about $31 on amazon. Anyone use one of these? I think the one in the first post is one of these. (same store) As far as cable adapters go, in this thread I see what looks like no adapters and standard bike adapters. Do I need to buy an adapter? I hate paying $13 for a silly adapter if I don't need it. I know I could get all the UMI stuff, but I just don't have the funds to pony up on that for now. I also don't even know if I will like a finger throttle...

 

[soccerdad]

So I got an Exceed/Hot Products Cast Aluminum Finger Throttle - Silver 58-0970 on amazon. I think this is the same one that [MENTION=48582]nickj718[/MENTION] got. I was trying to rig it and could not get full throttle. So I then took my spare throttle cable and a spare carb and mocked it all up. I adjusted the cable so it just barely allowed the throttle to hit the idle screw stop. Then I tested the pull and it comes all the way to the bars to just get the butterfly fully open. So based on this, this finger throttle will not work. :facepalm: I now have two that don't work.







I may be able to mod this one, but I don't really want to go that route. Has anyone ever made this one work AND get full travel? The bag says it is a WPS 18-2850 (not exceed) or maybe they are the same.

Does anyone know a proven setup that I can get for $50 or under? I want to do it on all 3 of my skis. Part numbers would be great! and sources even better. Thanks!

 

[soccerdad]

[MENTION=57878]Ruskeyjdm[/MENTION] Did your Tektro throttle end up giving you full throttle? I like the look and those are pretty cheap.

 

[Matt Braley]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/UMI-Billet-...ter-/141434947371?hash=item20ee2e072b&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PJS-Billet-...PWC-/141362065994?hash=item20e9d5f24a&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RIVA-Sea-Do...01P-/111583051407?hash=item19fade3e8f&vxp=mtr

I say do it right and get that soon to be rusty bicycle crap of your performance craft. (insert smiley face here to make me not sound like such a prick) I just think in addition to it not functioning correctly it looks rigged. I'm not bashing here but encouraging.