flathill said:
Thumb throttles r weaksauce. You can't ride trials with em which is the ultimate test. That was figured out in the 70s in france and austria. prove me wrong and post a video hopping up on a boulder
What I believe is that preference comes down to what you are used to, and most people don't allow enough time to learn the other throttle. It took about a month for where the thumb throttle didn't fatigue my thumb, then I could ride all day with it.
My issue with the twist is not because I didn't spend enough time with it, I can see the limitations of the twist throttle when comparing it to an ebike thumb throttle and I know that no amount of practice with it will overcome these limitations.
I am also very picky with the type of thumb throttle I use and how it is positioned on the handlebar. This is because I want my hand in the exact same position if I'm full throttle or no throttle, standing and sitting and also have my hand firmly grasped around the handlebar at all throttle positions. I DO NOT really like the thumb throttles they use on snow mobiles or ATVs that move horizontally (like in picture below) but I like the typical ebike thumb throttle they use on ebikes that move vertically.
The ebike thumb throttle allows you to keep a better grip on the handlebar while a snow mobile / ATV thumb forces your thumb and hand back in a position that makes you have to release pressure from the handlebar to engage the throttle.
Here are the pros that I notice from the thumb throttle and that lack in the twist throttle.
1) Thumb throttle Keeps your hand tightly around on the handlebar no matter if you are full throttle or no throttle, sitting or standing. I'm constantly standing and leaning with a lot of my off-road riding.
2) Keeps your hand easily covering the the brakes at all times.
3) No risk of accidentally giving the wrong throttle, or no "whiskey throttle"
4) Very quick to go full throttle as its only a slight move of the thumb, the twist takes time.
5) When things get dangerous, you can easily latch on to the stationary handlebars and there will be no slippage or accidental throttle.
I also believe the thumb throttle gives you very precise control because your hand is stationary on the handlebars and your thumb controls exactly what throttle you want. It basically is 100% precise control of the throttle at all times, sitting or standing, leaning the bike, going over bumbs or harsh terrain as your hand is always in the exact same position relative to the throttle. This makes the thumb throttle actually perfect for slow speed trial bikes tricks where you need 100% precise control whether you are sitting or standing and moving around.
Now for what someone said was a drawback for the thumb that the twist throttle allows you to keep a your thumb fully grasped on the handlebar so the bar doesn't get ripped out of your hand. I can say I am not seeing this at all with an ebike.
I can easily and always lift the front of the bike up while giving throttle and brakes covered. The bar is held firmly in my hand at all times and I never once came close to the bar coming loose. Maybe large gas dirt bikes can do this but certainly not an issue with 110lbs ebikes.
The reason why I have a firm grip is because of the type of thumb throttle I use which keeps my hand fully grasped on the handlebar and my thumb still under the handlebar giving support when engaging the throttle.
Look at the picture below when I'm giving full throttle, my finger is easily covering the brakes for safety, my thumb is also under the handlebar pushing up giving me a very good firm grip. I can pull the front of the bike up easily like this. My hand also stays exactly in that position whether I'm sitting or standing. When I'm going over bumpy terrain, my hand still stays firmly and there is no chance to move the throttle, unlike a twist throttle which bumps can make you accidentally twist the throttle.
This is the issue I have with trigger type thumb throttles they use on ATV/snow mobiles is that your thumb isn't giving support under the handlebar. They force your thumb back which forces your hand back and doesn't give you a firm grip. The ebike thumb throttles are very close to the handlebar and your thumb and move naturally with your thumb while having your grip firmly grabbing the handlebar.
Also compare this with a twist where once you stand your throttle control changes completely, no way to cover the brakes and give full throttle easily, or even give full throttle at all. For example sometimes I climb these really steep hills where I have to lean past my handlebars, how can I engage the twist throttle easily like this? This is why I lost the bike twice in a row climbing stairs because of standing and not having good control of the throttle.
Really to sum everything up it isn't even close to compare a twist to thumb throttle in control. The Thumb gives you much better, safer, accurate control at all times for very obvious reasons. It is so obvious because how can a twist throttle which forces your wrist into different positions, which changes when you sit or stand or move around, which doesn't allow you to firmly grab the handlebars compare to something that is perfectly stationary at all times in relation to where you grab the handlebars.
The best way to look at it is a thumb throttle is like controlling the throttle with your mind and having no throttle at all and you can grip the handlebars which don't twist on you. Compare that to a twist throttle which is forcing you to change your hand / wrist position all the time, and the handlebar is swirling around on you so you can't grasp the handlebars firmly and cover the brakes at all times.
The picture below you can see I'm giving full throttle and covering the brakes naturally. My hand is firmly grasped on the handlebar and my thumb is giving support under the bar while also engaging the throttle. This position never changes if I'm sitting, standing, leaning, giving me the exact same control at all times while covering the brakes at all times. This is the perfect way to have full control of the bike at all times, almost as if you are controlling the throttle by your mind and your hand is free to do what it wants.
The thumb throttle below which is typically found on ATV & snowmobiles I don't really like because they move your thumb and hand back and don't allow the best grip. This may be because they have to move a cable and the leverage is needed. Ebike thumb throttles are much closer to the handlebar which allows you to keep your hand tightly around the bar and you just need to move your thumb slightly to control it.