Crampbuster Vs Throttle Rocker

Updated 23.05.2011

I own both of these and now having tried both to ease cramp on long rides I want to share my findings.

Both are small devices that affix to the throttle grip to allow you to hold the throttle open by your palm so you can release your grip around the throttle and stretch your fingers for a bit. Both when installed need to be angled slightly higher than horizontal due to the amount of rotation needed for highway speeds. (this has been the case on 3 motorcycles I have owned and would likely apply to most)

A couple of years ago I purchased a Throttle Rocker seeking to ease hand cramp that creeps in on a long rides and when finishing the day on highways or other boring roads.

The Throttle Rocker is a good size and curves down on the inside left corner of the lever to interfere far less with the throttle when you back off or are not cruising and coming to a stop. It affixes to your throttle grip with a Velcro loop which unfortunately just doesn’t manage to hold it in place for very long. So while it works quite well while fixed in place no matter what I did it rotated down and became useless within 20 minutes of use.

I purchased the Crampbuster last month for my Easter tour and it is affixed not by Velcro but rather in the way it is designed. It is spring steel that you spread and push onto your grip and once fitted it can rotate up but never down on the throttle grip. That’s the good news. Unfortunately I found that when I was not cruising the Crampbuster often made me accidentally open the throttle more than I wanted to which once was quite dangerous. It is wider than it appears in the above photo where someone has placed it half on the bar end. There is a thin version however this is far too long and would be more awkward in the off throttle position. People say simply rotate the Crampbuster up and out if the way when needed and then return it into place however this is not super easy on the roads and the tendency is to not do this if just slowing for a small time.

A slightly better device would be one with the shape and size of the Throttle Rocker with the clamping system of the Crampbuster. Apparently the original Throttle Rockers were exactly this but changed due to infringement on Crampbusters design. If you decide you need one of these things then the best possible approach I can think of might be the long thin Crampbuster model which you then cut down and file smooth to get something that will not interfere so much with riding when away from the highway.

Conclusion:

So how effective are they?  Theses sort of devices do offer you some means to relax your grip on throttle. They are a better bet that throttle locks in my opinion which have your bike either gradually slowing or accelerating and have to be disconnected and reapplied to give a few seconds of relief at a go. If I was going for a long ride for just $20 I would pack one but they are a bit awkward and will not suit everyone’s riding and ultimately are not the answer for me.