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New Rider ForumsJust joining the motorcyclist hobbie? Looking to get some information about a first bike? Or have some newbie questions. Are you new to the website?
it almost always used as a primary excuse to try and dissuade a newbie from buying a much too powerful machine? (In contrast, "throttle control" is used as an excuse by newbies as a reason they can "handle" a powerful machine.)
What exactly is throttle control and why is it sooooooo important? There isn’t much to twisting a throttle to accelerate and decelerate so why sooooo much emphasis on “throttle control” when talking to newbies about the dangers of big sport bikes? "Throttle control" is only a part of the overall riding equation. It is all the skills that need to accompany throttle input that will either make or "break" your day.
Being able to properly turn, steer, balance, brake, evade, etc.. while applying the amount of throttle at the desired speed are the skills needed to be learned. If someone can work the throttle, shift smoothly and make the bike accelerate and decelerate at the rate he/she is wanting to then I'd say they have the emphasized "throttle control" down. That still leaves about 90% of riding and controlling the bike left to learn and it’s that 90% IMO that is what should be emphasized as reasons not to buy power machines as a newbie..
I completely understand the importance of throttle control on the track when mid corner traction and chassis stability depends on proper throttle mgnt, but for a newbie just learning how to ride those considerations are a non issue.
Also, I think a lot of people mistake "throttle control" for "self control".
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"I wanna go fast!" -Ricky Bobby
Ive wondered the same thing, throttle control can be learned very quickly, its not rocket science. Ive also wondered why counter stearing is also talked about when persuading a newb to not get a big/er bike. Counter stearing is something your subconscience and body naturaly do, you dont have to think about it.
Your wisdom is infinite. You know everything there is to know about riding.
Now I remember why I put you on ignore. The only way your posts could be more worthless is if you actually tried to give bad advice, instead of just doing it without thinking.
I haven't even bought a bike yet but from my understanding the difference is in how much throttle comes from the same amount of "twist." On a little Ninja you twist the throttle a certain distance and you jump 500 rpm. Make the same hand movement on an R1 or Gixxer and watch the revs skyrocket 4,000 rpm. Now, under perfect riding conditions, a new rider may be able to handle the more sensitive throttle if he's got a brain, but say this new rider, who is still getting acquainted with riding on the streets, doesn't see a pot hole. He nails it, and gets jerked around a bit on the bike. Because he has a death grip on the throttle because he's a bit stressed out to be riding in traffic still, he gives the throttle a nice jerk when this happens. On the little Ninja the bike makes a bit more noise and speeds up a little bit. On the R1 the front wheel is off the ground, and if he's not super careful and lucky maybe he can save it, but there's a good chance his protective gear is gonna start doing it's duty soon.
I haven't even bought a bike yet but from my understanding the difference is in how much throttle comes from the same amount of "twist." On a little Ninja you twist the throttle a certain distance and you jump 500 rpm. Make the same hand movement on an R1 or Gixxer and watch the revs skyrocket 4,000 rpm. Now, under perfect riding conditions, a new rider may be able to handle the more sensitive throttle if he's got a brain, but say this new rider, who is still getting acquainted with riding on the streets, doesn't see a pot hole. He nails it, and gets jerked around a bit on the bike. Because he has a death grip on the throttle because he's a bit stressed out to be riding in traffic still, he gives the throttle a nice jerk when this happens. On the little Ninja the bike makes a bit more noise and speeds up a little bit. On the R1 the front wheel is off the ground, and if he's not super careful and lucky maybe he can save it, but there's a good chance his protective gear is gonna start doing it's duty soon.
That is not throttle control.
Throttle control is being able to react to any situation with the proper amount of throttle input. Road conditions, lean angle, body position, temperature, etc are all factors.
It's not just "around the block" like R1 said. Throttle control is another one of those learned skills that comes with time, miles, and experience.
Throttle control is being able to react to any situation with the proper amount of throttle input. Road conditions, lean angle, body position, temperature, etc are all factors.
Throttle control is one variable in a multitude of skills required to properly operate a motorcycle. "Road conditions, lean angle, body position, temperature, etc" are not "Throttle control". They are totally seperate conditions and skills. Any one of those could be the cause of an accident or incident even if the throttle control portion was being applied correctly.
So why the emphasis on "throttle control"?
Do you believe that throttle control could be replaced with the term "traction managment"? It seems to me as though that is what you described above.
Not an argument just trying to get some clarification...
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"I wanna go fast!" -Ricky Bobby
Ive never had a problem with throttle control, why is that so hard to believe? Why is that so impossible?
If there is one thing that scares me with newbs and SS bikes would be the brakes, throttle control and counter stearing would be the least of my worries with newbs and SS's.
I think the emphasis is on throttle control because it's one of the things the rider controls directly. It's also one of the things that is very different from bike to bike, as the other things pretty much transfer directly from bike to bike.
Throttle control on a 250 is going to be very different than throttle control on a 600/1000. On the 250 you wont need to be as careful about it which allows the new rider to work on the other skills. Once they get up to the 600 they already have the other skills down so now they can work on the throttle control as it applies to their new bike.
Throttle control is one variable in a multitude of skills required to properly operate a motorcycle. "Road conditions, lean angle, body position, temperature, etc" are not "Throttle control". They are totally seperate conditions and skills. Any one of those could be the cause of an accident or incident even if the throttle control portion was being applied correctly.
So why the emphasis on "throttle control"?
Do you believe that throttle control could be replaced with the term "traction managment"? It seems to me as though that is what you described above.
Not an argument just trying to get some clarification...
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They're all factors when it comes to throttle control. The amount of throttle you apply while leaned over in a turn is a direct function of the conditions that allow it. A little bit of sand or gravel in a corner is going to affect how much you can input. Riding position, ambient temperature, lean angle, they all matter when it comes time to dial in the right amount of roll-on power.
I think throttle control is mentioned most because it's a severely underestimated skill. Like coupe's blanket statement that it can be learned quickly. Yeah, you can learn that twist = go, but it's using it properly in every situation that gets riders in trouble. People who say, "go easy on the throttle and respect the bike" don't get it. It's my opinion that anybody who says this and actually believes it never thinks about what could happen in an emergency, nor the learned skills required to act appropriately. Avoiding situations like this is easy, but they happen, and getting out of them unscathed is a true test of what you've managed to retain.
If you want to get more into it, body position, throttle control, brake control, situational awareness, and just as important - a solid understanding of the physics of riding - are all skills that need to be learned and used in relation to one another when on a bike.
And like I've said before, just being able to survive is not what riders should be aspiring to. Being a safe and responsible rider should be the objective.
What is throttle control and why is..
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