Riding Tip: Intro to Throttle Control (p2)

Published: Posted on August 2, 2022March 4, 2024 by Bill Seltzer

Last Updated: March 4th, 2024

Riding Tip: Intro to Throttle Control (p2)

In our last article, we introduced a series about throttle control. We provided a definition of throttle control and in this article we will answer this question:
How do I know if I have precise throttle control?

Managing Air/Fuel Mixture Delivery

We typically see new riders expressing a healthy amount of fear regarding the throttle. Along the way riders gain more comfort and confidence, and the fear subsides. We add more and more engine speed upon take off and slam the throttle shut upon braking with a sense of impunity. Is unfettered use of the throttle a result of hubris or just a general lack of awareness about how we are affecting the motorcycle negatively? We think it is the latter. So how do we determine if we have precise or imprecise throttle control?

Testing Your Throttle Control

When working with individuals for our entry level courses and our skill improvement courses, we focus on throttle control in a building-block fashion. We are creating a series of confidence-competence loops for our participants to help them better control their motorcycle. Below are the challenges we use to help riders and coaches understand rider proficiency with their motorcycle controls.

Challenge #1

• Manipulate the throttle with the bike parked, engine warmed up and running, in neutral, then
  • With the handlebars square, hold the throttle steady at various rpm levels (ex. 1,100, then 1,300, then 1,500)
  • With the handlebars full lock to the right, hold the throttle steady at various rpm levels (ex. 1,100, then 1,300, then 1,500)
  • With the handlebars full lock to the right, hold the throttle steady at various rpm levels (ex. 1,100, then 1,300, then 1,500)
  • Finally, while sweeping the handlebars back and forth with different levels of intensity, hold the throttle steady at various rpm levels (ex. 1,100, then 1,300, then 1,500)
    • Superficially this may seem like an easy test, but we quite often see riders struggle with various aspects of this challenge
    • Where are your eyes?  Looking down?  It happens.  It is a sign you are using a lot of cognitive power to manage the throttle.  Ideally, we want to be keeping our eyes up looking in the direction of our handlebars.
    • Questions to ask yourself:  how precise was my throttle at each step?  When sweeping from one rpm to the next, how quickly and how accurately could I obtain my desired engine speed?
    • NOTE:  Try to keep RPM levels relatively low and avoid performing this at length as a motorcycle’s engine doesn’t like to spin without a load for extended periods of time.  Use this challenge to get an initial understanding of your throttle control.

The key here is that we are honest with ourselves.  If your first attempts revealed inconsistencies…GREAT!  Now we have something to practice.  The sooner we come to grips with our deficiencies, the sooner we can improve.  Remember, perfection doesn’t exist, but we can have fun practicing by striving towards perfection.

Challenge #2

• Clutch control lane – While traveling through a 2′ wide, 40′ long lane in first gear, hold your throttle steady and slightly elevated from idle as you manage the friction zone with your clutch lever
  • The challenge is to maintain a smooth, steady, slightly elevated throttle the entire length of the clutch control lane. We want to spend between 8-10 seconds, or more, in that lane.
  • Body position: Focusing on our throttle control may cause us to develop stiff arms and body. Our goal is to be relaxed while performing these challenges.  Therefore, we are working towards having our hands, arms, shoulders, and vision all be relaxed. Our eyes up and looking 100 meters ahead. Knees gently squeezing the tank.

We introduced this element in one of our Slow Speed Maneuvering videos. It is a foundational piece to riding and is an element that causes most “experienced” riders some level of difficulty. Questions to ask yourself include: How precise was my throttle the entire duration of the clutch control lane? Did you notice any changes as the handlebars moved or while you were maintaining your balance? Where were your eyes?

Challenge #3a and #3b

• While traveling through two different weaves in first gear, hold your throttle steady and slightly elevated from idle as you manage the friction zone while turning the handlebars.  Can you keep the throttle steady?
  • #3a: Establish an offset weave of 19′ x 7′. Why nineteen feet? Parking spaces at most industrial or commercial areas in the United States are 9.5′ wide. Therefore it can be easy to setup a weave using parking lot spaces.  Don’t have cones?  No biggie.  Cut some used tennis balls in half and they’ll work great.
    • Determine how precise your throttle is as you sweep the handlebars back and forth.  You may find it helpful to hold your clutch lever steady as well.
  • #3b:  Establish a cone weave of 15′ x 0′.
    • Try to quickly turn the handlebars from one side to the other without altering the throttle position.
    • As you become more precise with your throttle control, reduce the distance one foot at a time until you are left with a 10’x0′ cone weave.

There are a ton more throttle control exercises to perform for difference scenarios (cornering, swerving, etc), but these three challenges are a great place to start.  Performing these exercises will give you a good indication of the state of your throttle control.

Next up we’ll dig into the major benefits of good throttle control.  Some of them may just surprise you!

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Bill Seltzer has been a Motorcycle Safety Foundation RiderCoach since 2003 and a Total Control Advanced Riding Instructor since 2011.  He currently serves as the Marketing Director for TEAM Arizona and is a member of the Arizona Strategic Highway Safety Planning committee.  Have questions or comments about the article?  Email him: Bill@MotorcycleTraining.com