A motorcycle cruise control setup can provide wrist relief when riding down the freeway.
But if your bike is like mine and did not come with an electronic cruise control, an option is a motorcycle throttle lock.
A throttle lock locks the throttle when cruising at highway speeds.
I looked at the Kaoko throttle lock, which looks nice and almost like a stock piece, but could not justify the $100+ price.
Instead, I bought a Go Cruise 2 universal motorcycle throttle control, which locks the throttle in a specific position to maintain the desired speed.
I, also, bought a Crampbuster CB2 Wide, which is a throttle assist. I compare and review both in this article.
Go Cruise GCA1BK Universal Throttle Lock
The Go Cruise throttle lock provides relief from squeezing the throttle grip the entire ride.
The Go Cruise 2 is adjustable to just about any grip size with the included silicon ring and adjustable tension gear. It is a universal product, which should work with most motorcycles having a twist throttle — whether Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda, Harley-Davidson, etc.
The Go Cruise 2 throttle control is CNC’d from 6061 Aluminum Alloy and has a textured, tactile feel to it. There is a protection strip, which contacts the brake lever in use, to keep the lever from being scratched.
Setup can be done quick — under a minute or so.
Once the desired speed is achieved, the throttle control lock is pressed against the brake lever. The bike will hold its speed. It will not readjust the speed automatically when going up inclines. The product provides a temporary mechanical cruise control.
To turn off the lock, the throttle is twisted forward to disengage it.
The Go Cruise 2 works well but does require me to push it forward to contact the brake lever while holding the throttle. A few times, I had to made minor adjustments to the tension gear, which was doable with gloves.
Note: Anything that touches the throttle, front brake, or may take your eyes off the road could be dangerous — especially for inexperienced riders.
The package has a big warning label. See below.
All-in-all, the Go Cruise 2 is an inexpensive product that works and provides wrist relief on long rides.
It did reduce fatigue in my hand when I used it on a trip because I wasn’t squeezing or gripping the throttle for 2 hours straight.
Note: I only use it when I am riding the Interstate / freeway at 65-70 miles per hour. The trip is straight, long, and speeds rarely change.
I will not use it in the city or curvy roads because it could be dangerous.
The Go Cruise 2 has a two-year limited warranty.
Crampbuster CB2 Wide
The Crampbuster CB2 Wide is a throttle assist, not a throttle lock.
Its design is pretty simple — just a paddle with a “C” opening to fit over the grip. There are no mechanical parts to break.
However, I did read customer reviews of the plastic breaking. Mine has not broke, though.
The Crampbuster fits grips up to 1-3/8 inches, and the over-sized version fits grips larger than 1-3/8 inches.
It works just like the company says it does. It did reduce fatigue in my hand when I used it on a trip. (I only use it on the freeway, where it is straight and the trip is long.)
From what I found: It is easy to goose the throttle more than expected when pushing my palm on it until I got a feel for it.
The Crampbuster does take getting use to and is probably not a good idea for a new rider.
Although the Crampbuster works on the the freeway for those long, straight hauls, it could be dangerous in the city or in the twisties.
It is easy to take off and is what I do when I am not on the slab.
For me, the best solution was to place the Crampbuster half on the grip and half on the bar weight. I can still maintain throttle control without touching the Crampbuster but can also rest my palm on it when necessary.
No electronic cruise control — no problem for me!
Although there are more good throttle assists and locks on the market, I only bought these two products. Both work well for their intended purpose.
The Go Cruise 2 is easy to use and does provide a mechanical style cruise control on a motorcycle. It is made from aluminum, so I expect it will last. I think it looks kind of funky on the bike — sort of like an aluminum close pin.
The Crampbuster is a throttle assist, which allows a more relaxed hand position on the bars. It allows the throttle to be controlled with your palm. The Crampbuster is easy to use and inexpensive. It is made of plastic, so it is difficult to say how long it will last — especially in colder weather.
Neither product is for inexperienced riders.
Maybe when I can afford a BMW R 1200 GS Adventure model, I can get electronic cruise control on a motorcycle. Until then, I will stick with the less expensive mechanical motorcycle throttle locks.
Find good throttle locks for motorcycles in 2023 on Amazon.
UPDATED 5/29/2019: I did a 2,020 mile road trip last week. The trip took me from Illinois to Kentucky to Tennessee to North Carolina. I also went through Indiana. The route required a lot of interstate riding to get to my destination.
While I was on I-39 in Illinois, I used the Go Cruise throttle lock was great success. It performed flawlessly. The last time I used it was about 2 years ago when I took a long motorcycle trip to Colorado. Even two years later, the device is still functional and worked without a hitch.
Side note: On long stretches of flat highway, it works perfect. I do take it off if the region is mountainous, roads are twisty, or traffic is bad. Remember that this device connects to the throttle and can obscure the front brake lever a bit.
- Safe and effective: Say goodbye to some complicated hand gestures when riding on highway, just press down/up the switch to gain innovative throttle assist
- Anti-fatigue: Relax your grip on the throttle, making pins and needles and fatigue a distant memory
- High Quality Material: Made from durable nylon and rubber; Simple design emphasizes reliable function over flashy styling
- Universal fitment: Interchangeable rubber inserts allow use with most grip configurations (7/8" and 1" handlebars for OEM grips; Aftermarket grips with minimum 1 1/8" to maximum 1 3/4" outside grip diameter)
- Easy to install: With our mounting instruction you can easily install the cruise control kit and gain all the functions in 15 minutes
- 【Anti Fatigue Throttle Assist】Rely on the brake lever to keep the throttle open.Eases the discomfort that long rides cause in your wrist.
- 【Total Control Clamp】The On Top Dial helps you tune in the safest and best fit for your grips.Knurled screws can be easily adjusted.
- 【Universal Cruise Control】Cruise assist for your motorcycle/bike, designed for most Motorcycles and Sports bikes.Manually extinguish the throttle to disengage the cruise control.
- 【Easy Installation】Put the silicone ring through the throttle handlebar of your motorcycle, clip the clamp and then tighten the clamp. No tool required.
- -【Styling Design】Smooth and bright color, unique appearance for increasing your racing unique; an add-on decoration to makes your motorcycle to be eye-catching.
- PLEASE READ: Find your Motorcycle by clicking the User Guide [pdf] under the "Product guides and documents" section below
- Thumb Activated Mechanical Motorcycle Cruise Control
- Adjust your speed while it's engaged for incremental speed adjustments
- You retain 100% throttle control whether engaged or disengaged
- Simple Bolt-On Installation made of Stainless Steel
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