THROTTLES: Twist vs Thumb - Which is better?!

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Outro Music: BenSounds

[sunnynaidoo]

I’ve been binge watching all of your YouTube vids in preparation for my first ebike. This one was just as helpful, and I imagine, as a long time motorcycle rider, I think I’d be similar in preferring the half throttle. Thanks!
Sunny

[DrowningPool]

I'm changing from a half twist throttle to a thumb throttle located on the left hand side, as i have gear thumb shift selector already on the right. - good video about throttles.

[blinderb]

I’m glad that the title of your video didn’t specify bicycles. I would have casually skipped over it. Turns out your information was very helpful in my decision of which type of throttle to install on my daughter’s ATV project. Thank you!

[甲壳虫]

Hey Mike, you have not mentioned the "feeling" of a twist throtle.
I have used the thumb throtle, but the twist has a major advantage: really controlling the motor.If you press the thumb throtle, you can feel a certain gradual power increasing, as you are pressing the thumb button.But with twist throtle, that's more let's say "fine tuned"
I can twist the throtle, just to keep the motor rotating really slow and being able to accelerate smoother, just like when having the more expensive controllers, for example ASI bac, or phaserunner.These controllers are known to keep the motor rotating.This of course applies only for mid drive motors, i have tested and noticed this while using bbs02b and bbshd motors.

[williamaungleyraud]

Personally I prefer the thumb throttle because it allows me to have my remaining fingers resting on the brake lever, in many cases as I was cruising around, a car pops out of a driveway or a garage without checking and having my finger right by the brake lever I many times could let go of the throttle and immediately yank on the brake to stop the bike, where on the half-twist throttle you're gripping on the throttle and your handle grip at all the time, so that additional fraction of time you need to let go it the twist and reach your fingers over the lever to then press hard on it, doesn't pass me the confidence of control feeling. It might be something just psychological but having my fingers ready to press the brake makes me feel in control of the bike, than the bike in control of me. So in my hike I also have a horn button wrapped around my handle grip, so my thumb its on the throttle, my index finger is by the horn button and the left 3 fingers on the brake lever. So while I brake I honk the heck out of the driver to wake him up while I stop my bike to avoid a collision. Seems a lot, but saved me every time. Thanks God.

[richardlewis]

Just bought my first ebike and it came with a thumb throttle that has cruise control built in. After holding the throttle down for approximately 6 seconds the cruise control kicks in and you can release the throttle and the bike maintains what ever speed you were going. To turn it off you simply tap either brake and it cuts off the motor. Love this feature, use it all the time on my 20 mile round trip commute to work.

[codbug]

My bike came with a half-twist. Used it for several months before trying out a cheap thumb throttle on a whim. Found I had way more precise speed control with the thumb throttle, a less cluttered cockpit, and more constant stability while also being able to keep my fingers rested on the brake lever at all times for an overall safer and more stable experience for someone who occasionally has to ride on ice and slush.

I've not experienced any of the downsides listed. My bike's controller has PAS and cruise control, I had more issues with bounce affecting throttle on the half-twist with my weight being partially distributed onto the throttle, and I routinely commute in sub-freezing temperatures without issue by simply wearing gloves--something I'd be doing in the cold, regardless of if I was on a bike or not.

May be worth mentioning that I've been playing video games for over 35 years and am a pianist, and have a strong, well-conditioned thumb, and possibly an under-developed wrist, so others' mileage may vary. The difference in analog precision for me however was night and day. To borrow an analogy from gaming, it was like switching from an analog stick to a mouse for aiming.

[maryblaylock]

WOW! That's enough to make my head swim! I have a LOT to learn. A friend who manages a bike shop has said when this pandemic is over he will help me convert my bike! Whole new learning experience! Thanks for the information. 👍🖖

[Blakehx]

Thanks for the great info! I have a Lectric XP 2.0 with a half twist throttle (it’s a bit difficult with my huge hands) but what do you think about switching the brakes so that the left handle brakes the rear wheel and right handle breaks the front… any disadvantages? Thanks

[joejazwinski]

The Mod I bought came with a full twist, I didn't like it and got a thumb lever and absolutely LOVE it! despite the issues over rough terrain, but that's what PAS is for, right?!? lol Also I use an old school friction thumb shifter and just have the throttle under the bars and the shifter over the bars works great!

[albertpelletier]

greatly prefer a right hand half grip twist throttle. I also have motorcycle experience. A left hand throttle is dangerous in my opinion due to the mix of standards.
My worst throttle experience was on a motorized scooter which used a pull lever throttle on the right side. When I was climbing a hill, the bike wheelied which resulted in my loss of balance and pulling the throttle lever even harder to hold my grip on the handlebars. I flipped over and landed on my back and broke my shoulder blade on the asphalt. Very painful accident with months of slow recovery.

[TheJimthecanoeist]

Eureka! I viewed your excellent videos and tried adding a thumb to my Himiway Cruiser with not altogether satisfactory results and off it came. I prefer to twist but found the half-grip throttle clumsy to modulate. Then an epiphany: Those flattened comfy grips are the problem. As I try to rotate the throttle with the right side of my palm, the left side is held in place by the right-side half-grip. I replaced both grips with conventional round grips slightly smaller in diameter than the throttle and now I have great control. The shape of the new grips allows my palm to slip in concert with the rotation of the throttle. What do you think? Have I just advanced the half-throttle solution, at least for this setup?

[steveward]

I would very much like to see elegant solutions for handle bar controls as far as diy conversions go... so far the solutions I see work, but look like a cool science experiment = no sleek design. If you have suggestions or references I would be very gratefull.

[_S_Lyran-py]

Cool, thanks! Is a left half throttle more helpful in a quick reaction situation where you need to slam on the rear (right side) brakes?

[Sphinx]

Hi Micah! Great video on Thumb vs Twist throttle. I do have a question - in this video on the bench behind, you have your very cool looking helmet. What make and model is it? Can you please showcase that for us?

[EbikeEscape]

So far no complaints with the half twist. Some people even will attach a zip tie (or something similar) to make a half twist into a thumb throttle. I guess at that point you have the option of using either.

[ChrisB...]

Half twist is the best, I use them on my 4-stroke bike too... That said, I have yet to find a setting that produces a useful low-end throttle curve on my eBike. It's so annoying, and I know it could be solved in software.

[gustavolacerda]

Hi Mike, I’m running an awesome diy battery on my AT longboard thanks to your vruzend kit!! But my question is: is it possible to run an easy electric setup that allow me to run the signal from the throttle to the motor without an esc or vesc? Thanks for all you teach us

[TheVirtuallyAddicted]

Really easy to make a cruise control set up for your thumb throttle. If you have a key ignition or a kill switch you can use that to cut the power if you need to stop.

[pixelatedmushroom]

A disadvantage of the half-twist is that you now have to find a "half grip" to fill out the end of the bar. If you use a full length normal grip, it gets too long and funky or it doesn't fit at all (hitting the curve part of the bar). The "half grip" is actually fairly hard to find and limits you to a small set of available grips.