FACT #1: If you know me you know I am not afraid to get on the freeway and slab it for miles and miles just to get to the dirt. I put on some good music and let the miles go by.
FACT #2: If you know me you also know that when I get to the dirt I like to challenge myself. I wouldn’t say “Hard Enduro” stuff, more like advanced/expert stuff.
Fact # 1 is why I’ve always wanted to try the Atlas Throttle Lock. My 950 and my Hayabusa had a Kaoko Throttle Lock and while I liked it, it was cumbersome to use. For Christmas I had been gifted an Atlas Throttle Lock. They have two versions – Top or Bottom and at the time, based on what they suggested I chose the top kit as I had a heated grips.
They even suggest in their video that top version is the way to go for most KTMs as a way to avoid the throttle housing seam. (:10 seconds into the video). So TOP is what I did!
The throttle lock is pretty simple. It clamps over the top of this ridge on your throttle tube (red arrow) and then pushes against the throttle housing (green arrow) via a friction pad.
I won’t get into too much detail on the install but I will say this. The kit comes with 4 different pad sizes, you can skip all of the trial and fit procedures and just go straight to the thickest pad (#4).
Even with that pad it might not be enough to hold the throttle open. Start with the #4 and then back off if you don’t have freeplay from there.
The pads attach to the unit and it’s easy to swap them if need be.
Mounted up, I got the Atlas Throttle Lock to work as it should have. The build on the unit is top notch and it seems well thought out in design.
You can see the pad doesn’t cross over the seam line in the housing in this picture – which is why they suggested the TOP version.
The Atlas Throttle Lock is clean, it works like it should. The buttons are positive clicks of just on or off. Simple, simple, simple.
WHY I REMOVED MY ATLAS THROTTLE LOCK
Everything was going great! I was loving my new ‘cruise control” and couldn’t wait to use it on the open highway.
I was riding around the neighborhood practicing some of my “hard enduro” skills – specifically loading up the flywheel with a blip of throttle and then while it’s revving but coming down, letting the clutch out to bring the front wheel up in a controlled pop. Wait! What is that you say?
Now honestly, I understand the concept, I just need a whole lot more practice doing it. Get the timing down and what happens? I was either killing the motor (stalling it) or popping the front wheel too high. Practice, practice, practice!
Doing this exercise in an empty parking lot and stalling out was ok. I would just pull in the clutch completely and hit the start button, barely skipping a beat. Doing the same thing in the middle of a obstacle course was much more of an issue as I would generally drop the bike before being able to hit the start button.
But here’s what I found with the Atlas Throttle Lock. And no, it’s wasn’t accidentally locking the throttle on. What it was doing was adding a small barrier for my thumb to have to get up and over to get to start button. I could make it work, but it was taking much much more time or my thumb would hit the side and never get to the start button.
So, I took it off.
I know it may just be a matter of muscle memory. Of just getting used to it. I’ve kept it and might just put it back on again – especially just for the long slabs. I’m not sure yet.
For most people I would guess this is a fabulous product and I would even rate it 5 stars, but I’m also aware that I am not at all like most people and I am ok with that.
He's an avid hockey fan, rides a mountain bike, sometimes rides a road bike, has a few motorcycles (he had a really fast one, had a big cool orange one, rode a really slow one, and is currently building a perfect "BDR Weapon"). If that isn't enough, he makes cheese and sourdough bread, loves strong beer and good red wine, and poorly plays the Mandolin.
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