I AM THINKING OF CHANGING MY NEPHEWS THUMB THROTTLE TO A TWIST HE IS 12 AND RIDES A BLASTER, IT SEEMS WITH ALL OF THE LITTLE GUYS THERE THUMB GETS TIRED BEFORE THEY WANT TO STOP RIDING SAME THING HAPPENS WITH MY OTHER NEPHEW WHO IS 7 AND RIDES A T-REX 90 AND MY DAUGHTER WHO IS 5 AND HAS A E-TON 50 SHE ONLY LASTS ABOUT 3 LAPS AROUND MY YARD BEFORE SHE STARTS SHAKING HER HAND. WHY DO QUADS HAVE A THUMB THROTTLE.
2002 400EX
AC NERFS

 

well, i just installed a twist on my 300EX. NOW, i know why they put the thumb throttle on quads. ride a dirtbike and then ride a quad. quads are far harder to turn because of obvious reasons. having the thumb throttle makes it easier to steer the quad. the twisting and hard turning is not a good mix. with the thumb, you can push on the handlebars with your palm and not have to worry about twisting it at the same time. the combination of twisting the throttle and trying to steer the quad is rough. stay with the thumb throttle. the kids are young....they will get used to it. i regret putting the twist on mine. wish i still had my thumb....but i sold it.

NT

 

I have the twist throttle on my blaster and I absolutely love it.I too had the same problem with my thumb getting tired. If they ride enough they will get used to it but I say get them the twist. It is much easier for me to keep the throttle steady through rough terrain with it. They might not get used to the twist method as fast iof they are alreayd kinda used to the thumb but I say go for it because I love mine.

 

on a 2 stroke i like to have a twist. i think a blaster would be a perfect quad for a twist.

 

there was a twist throttle on my tecate when i first got it, and i hated the thing. i couldnt stand it, one of my friends tried to get me to put one on my 300ex before i traded it, but i wouldnt because it was a 4 stroke. i figured it would be okay on a 2 stroke, but 2 days after i got the tecate, i threw the twist throttle stuff away and put the thumb throttle back on,, just my opinion

 

i hated the twist on my quad. It wasn't at easy to control the throttle, esepically through hard bumps or quick sharp turns. I think it would be even harder for a child with shorter arms. Also it might make their wrist tired from turning it constantly instead of their thumb.

 

Don't do it. There is a safty issue for the young ones. With a thumb throttle, when the quad accelerates faster than the ride expects, the sholders move back and pull the thumb off the throttle. With a twist, as the sholders move back, it causes the hand to unrap from the grip giving it more thottle. After they have more experience, go for it.

Something that might help. Try repositioning the lever up, IOW if you are looking at the throttle from the right hand side of the quad rotate the whole thottle mechanism clockwise. This will make it so they kids don't have to reach there thumbs so far.

From what I have seen most bikes, motorcycles and atvs have all there levers set too high. When sitting down the rests are bent back when the fingers reach for the levers. For someone that rides sitting, the top of the hand should be in line with the forarm when the fingers are on the levers.

Good luck and keep those young'ns safe.

 

Also keep the cables lubed and you can make modify the carb spring for easier push by reducing the diameter of the material with a file.
ERIC

 

In a hard right turn, when the bar end is sticking you in the gut and your hand is crimped, it is almost impossible to modulate a twister. Aren't there some extenders that attach to a thumb throtle to make it longer and give a bigger mechanical advantage? This might be an easy solution.

 

James Lucky has a cheap one for about $12.
ERIC