Lund
Active VIP Member
Throttle, thumb or finger?
Well that's been a topic of discussion for a few years now with Pro's and Con's, like's and dislike's on both sides.
I over the year's have had the opportunity to use both and like many sat on the fence or even disliked the finger throttle. Well till this current season when I found why I disliked the finger throttle or wasn't finding my groove with it.
I'm lucky enough to ride many different sleds, makes and models and including couple of professionally built and ridden sleds, something I get to do a lot and here is what I found about finger throttles.
Throttle positioning is key, sound too simple doesn't it but true. Over the years I found trying out sleds that the finger throttle needed proper mounting and when not mounted properly was tough to get used too and even scary as the handle bars would be driven into the finger making control difficult.
What I found is guys mounting their finger throttle at approximately a 9 O'clock position, most common it appears, it was very difficult to use the throttle and even could be considered dangerous. Always being told "you will get use to it in no time".
Wrong, its just not mounted properly.
Here is the deal, finger throttles are for riders who prefer the standing position over sitting. The positioning of the throttle should be in the riders natural position while standing. 7-8 O'clock on the bars and not 9 O'clock as commonly mounted and I have seen on many sleds.
In its proper position throttle control is insane in technical terrain and even hill climbing and no driving of the bars into the finger. The only time the finger throttle is not natural is in the sitting position.
Well what about the sitting position? Todays mountain sleds are technically design to be rode standing and the seat is more of a decor, useless.
Same can be said about the thumb throttle on todays mountain sleds. The thumb throttle has been around since the beginning of time in the snowmobile world, when sitting was how you rode a sled, not standing. So the thumb throttle is right at home for a sitting position, not so much for standing or technical riding. The control of a thumb throttle will be course more on/off in comparison when standing and negotiating a technical move.
Makes sense as it is positioned and made to sit....OLD SCHOOL
So do your self a favor, give that finger throttle another go, make sure its mounted correctly, you might surprise your self.
But if technical riding is limited and you find your self sitting more then all day standing, thumb throttle may be your friend.
PS, this year all my sleds are getting converted to finger throttle, better late then never and that includes the wife's sled after she experience the difference.
BTW, this is JMO nothing else.
Have a great summer
Well that's been a topic of discussion for a few years now with Pro's and Con's, like's and dislike's on both sides.
I over the year's have had the opportunity to use both and like many sat on the fence or even disliked the finger throttle. Well till this current season when I found why I disliked the finger throttle or wasn't finding my groove with it.
I'm lucky enough to ride many different sleds, makes and models and including couple of professionally built and ridden sleds, something I get to do a lot and here is what I found about finger throttles.
Throttle positioning is key, sound too simple doesn't it but true. Over the years I found trying out sleds that the finger throttle needed proper mounting and when not mounted properly was tough to get used too and even scary as the handle bars would be driven into the finger making control difficult.
What I found is guys mounting their finger throttle at approximately a 9 O'clock position, most common it appears, it was very difficult to use the throttle and even could be considered dangerous. Always being told "you will get use to it in no time".
Wrong, its just not mounted properly.
Here is the deal, finger throttles are for riders who prefer the standing position over sitting. The positioning of the throttle should be in the riders natural position while standing. 7-8 O'clock on the bars and not 9 O'clock as commonly mounted and I have seen on many sleds.
In its proper position throttle control is insane in technical terrain and even hill climbing and no driving of the bars into the finger. The only time the finger throttle is not natural is in the sitting position.
Well what about the sitting position? Todays mountain sleds are technically design to be rode standing and the seat is more of a decor, useless.
Same can be said about the thumb throttle on todays mountain sleds. The thumb throttle has been around since the beginning of time in the snowmobile world, when sitting was how you rode a sled, not standing. So the thumb throttle is right at home for a sitting position, not so much for standing or technical riding. The control of a thumb throttle will be course more on/off in comparison when standing and negotiating a technical move.
Makes sense as it is positioned and made to sit....OLD SCHOOL
So do your self a favor, give that finger throttle another go, make sure its mounted correctly, you might surprise your self.
But if technical riding is limited and you find your self sitting more then all day standing, thumb throttle may be your friend.
PS, this year all my sleds are getting converted to finger throttle, better late then never and that includes the wife's sled after she experience the difference.
BTW, this is JMO nothing else.
Have a great summer
