Kaoko cruise control?

[briana]

I'm looking to get a throttle lock for my bike. Does anyone have experiecne with these from Kaoko? It looks like it might be a little easier to use then the Throttlemiester brand.

Brian

http://www.kaokousa.com/mm5/merchant.mvc..._Code=KAOKO_BMW

[jaherbst]

I have one and like it. Do not get the Wunderlich, it locks in the opposite direction. I sent it back . Too awkward to use.

Jack

[RogerA]

I have used one on my 2007 R1200GSA for about 40,000 miles. The problem with the GSA/Kaoko is that the throttle spring is very strong and I really have to tighten the Kaoko to stop the throttle closing.
I don't know about other bikes.

[widebmw]

I have had one on my 09 R1200GS for a month and it works great.

[coalminer]

I have one on my 08 GSA. I like it. I had a Throttlemiester on a 91 R100RS and a2000 Honda ST100 (I believe it was a 2000, can't remember for certain). I like the Kaoko better but don't find it to be any easier than the Throttlemiester. I also have a Throttle Rocker on the GSA for the in between times.

[deilenberger]

I had one on my R1200R for about a week - and took it off (it's sitting on the shelf.. while I decide if I want to sell it..)

The reason I took it off - using the heated grips caused it to lock on.

I want a throttle with 0 force required to hold it's position - and one that can be easily turned back to OFF. This was easy to achieve on K bikes using the throttle-lock screw BMW sold (which had a spring-loaded plunger that pressed against the throttle-end in the throttle housing.)

ALL the bar-end throttle "locks" press against the end of the throttle tube - the plastic bit that has the grip (and heated element) on it, and lock it to the center of the bar. Problem is - this plastic tube gets longer when the heated grips are used, and what was just-right-drag now becomes locked on throttle, requiring me to release the "throttle-lock" in order to close the throttle.

Probably not as big an issue for a lot of highway use - but a royal PITA for me in urban commuting. Just wasn't worth it to me.

I went back to my O ring under the bar-end weight. The O-ring also adds friction to the plastic throttle tube - between the tube and the inside edge of the bar-end weight. By picking the right size O ring, and using a bit of silicone grease on it (for lubrication and to help longevity by resisting ozone attacking the rubber) - I can have exactly the feel I want. Neutral throttle action. It moves when I make it, and doesn't unless I make it move. Makes it easy to shake out my carpal-tunnel problems.. and eliminates some of it by not requiring force to hold the throttle open.

I found it a good idea to use some blue Loctite(tm) - medium strength - on the bolt holding that bar end weight on. The turning force transmitted by the O ring will tend to try to unscrew the bar-end. The Loctite(tm) eliminates that as an issue.

YMMV.. wish someone DID make an adjustable bar-end-throttle-lock that wasn't temperature sensitive, but haven't found one yet..

Oh - the O-ring is about $1.00. A bit of a cost savings over Kaoko.

YMMV, but not a lot..

[MPMARTY]

I'm very glad I have the factory cruise control. Neatest accessory on the bike and it is loaded with farkles. A mere touch of the left thumb can increment or decrement my speed at will. I got stopped by a guy on another brand of bike when as I rode alongside of him, me on the left and pointed forward with my right hand and thumbed the cruise control with my left. He wanted to know how I was able to manage the throttle with my right hand hanging in the air.:clap

[Polarbear]

The Kaoko on my GSA1200'07 and at 50000 miles with it on the bars. Works better than any I've ever had, including the TMs. Never an issue with heated grips either, on my bike. Randy

[deilenberger]

The Kaoko on my GSA1200'07 and at 50000 miles with it on the bars. Works better than any I've ever had, including the TMs. Never an issue with heated grips either, on my bike. RandyI suspect that depends on how you use it.

I want it to provide "drag" to the throttle - not to lock the throttle. It works fine if all you want is a roll-on-lock-throttle/roll-off-unlock-throttle scenerio. It didn't do that with the heated grips. Within minutes of turning on the heated grips it would change from drag to locked.. and that meant I had to roll it off to close the throttle, basically making it useless to me.

BTW - I've heard the same exact complaint on all the bar-end throttle locks, Throttle-Meister, Bobs-Wrist-Rest, etc. It's not unique to the Kaoko... it has to do with the sleeve on the throttle expanding when it gets hot - which is pretty much basic thermodynamics and not subject to manufacturer modification. Same theory of operation will result in the same results.

[jaherbst]

Hmmmmm-Veddy Interesting. Have not used the bar heat yet here in AZ. Would not really like the lock up in traffic. Thanks for the heads up.

JACK

[dumfounded]

I use the Kaoko on my R1200R with no issues- I just back it off when I'm not using it. I don't use it for tension on the throttle, just lock it in at cruise. No around-town use. I find it very easy to use with its knurled knob and it looks decent on the bike.

[widebmw]

When I have my heated grips on it does make the drag a little harder but I would not say that it "Locks the throttle".
You just move your hand to the right to roll it on or off.

[deilenberger]

When I have my heated grips on it does make the drag a little harder but I would not say that it "Locks the throttle".
You just move your hand to the right to roll it on or off.

It made enough difference to make it unuseable for my needs.. and that's all I'm warning him about. I need a neutral throttle because of carpal tunnel. I don't need to fiddle with the adjustment when I'm riding - I'm not that capable to do it safely. Multitasking in some situations didn't seem like a good idea. The O ring works fine for me - and seems to last about 30,000 miles or so (plus carrying a spare isn't a big deal.) It wasn't that I'm cheap - I still have the Kaoka sitting on the shelf (I was thinking of machining the back of the spinner part to take an O ring.. but then decided why bother?..) I really should put it on the flea-market, although I've probably lowered it's value now.. :D

[engjacques]

I miss the cruise control on my GS1200. I have one on my Royal Star Tour Deluxe and love it. works just like the one on the car. Got a cramp buster on the GSwhich helps, is easy, not complicated and cheap.

[Anyname]

I did this conversion on my 2005 R1200GS, and it is much more convenient than the bar end throttle lock I had previously used:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=470646

[AZ-J]

I have one on my R1200S over a year. It worked great from AZ to Gray and home last summer. I use it on long trips, on short ones, I use the old-style Throttle Rocker. Both are excellent.

[DcnDog]

I went back to my O ring under the bar-end weight. The O-ring also adds friction to the plastic throttle tube - between the tube and the inside edge of the bar-end weight. By picking the right size O ring, and using a bit of silicone grease on it (for lubrication and to help longevity by resisting ozone attacking the rubber) - I can have exactly the feel I want. Neutral throttle action. It moves when I make it, and doesn't unless I make it move. Makes it easy to shake out my carpal-tunnel problems.. and eliminates some of it by not requiring force to hold the throttle open.

I found it a good idea to use some blue Loctite(tm) - medium strength - on the bolt holding that bar end weight on. The turning force transmitted by the O ring will tend to try to unscrew the bar-end. The Loctite(tm) eliminates that as an issue.

Don,

Recently purchased a 2010 GSA Adventure and beginning to farkle ('87 K100LT looking for new owner). The o-ring sounds great. Better internal than external. Do you remember the size perhaps?

Thanks!

[Sailorlite]

I made a note a couple of years ago that I could get a suitable o-ring, yellow in color, from the Caterpillar dealer - part no. 8M-4991.

[DcnDog]

Thanks! Much appreciated.

[glenfiddich]

I have one and like it. Do not get the Wunderlich, it locks in the opposite direction. I sent it back . Too awkward to use.

Jack

I had just the opposite experience. I have the Kaoko on my solo GS and the Wunderlich on my sidecar GS. Having used both for several thousand miles I prefer the Wunderlich. But I use them differently. The Kaoko can be engaged while on the open road without missing a beat. To engage the Wunderlich I pull in the clutch and roll it on till it just starts to engage, then release the clutch and fine tune the level of friction.

My only complaint with the Kaoko is I have wide hands and the size of the knobs on the ring irritate the side of my little finger. That can be real annoying on a long trip, and I don't have that issue with the Wunderlich.

Pete

[dhgeyer]

On longer trips I use one of my daughter's elastic hair ties. She leaves them all over the house, so it's never hard to find one the right size. I use it basically like Don uses his O-ring. Sometimes I have to wind it double. So far she's never complained or missed one.

[gregfuess]

What bike are you riding? I have used the Throttlemeister and the Kaoko. Prefer the Kaoko if those are the only choice. If you have a K75 or something that will accept the Flip a Lever, those are the best.

[DcnDog]

Greg,

R1200GS Adv.

Was interested in the o-ring method that Don wrote about above.

Lots of people using an o-ring that they roll into or out of position to lock the throttle.

Reading Don's comments he actually places an o-ring between the bar end and throttle. Now wondering if the BMW hand guards may make any difference with that method. Cheap enough to try.

[JDOCKERY132445]

I put over 200,000 miles on my old R100 with the ThrottleMeister with no problems. I took the Kaoko off my R1100 after 50 miles.

I suppose that is why there are several products for us to choose from.

[Polarbear]

Kaoko for my KLR650....I still think its the best for my GSA and KLR. Had many others, which were alright. I like the knobby grip of the Kaoko. Randy:thumb

[beckgr]

For some reason with winter andd heavier gloves I was doing something with my hand that was turning the Kaoko to the locked position. I have no idea what I was doing to make that happen. Somehow it would tighten without me realizing it, then when I released the throttle I was still under about 25% throttle or more. Scared me enough times to remove it. I still can't figure out what i was doing to make it do that repeatedly, but I believe it had to be that my gloves were grabbing those knobs. It was on an 08 1200GS. I have not heard of anyone else having this issue however.

[AZ-J]

That is scary, but never happens to me on my R1200S!

[beckgr]

My last post I commented that my Kaoko was tightening inadvertantly with heavy gloves. While talking with a couple buddies today they told me I needed to tighten my set screw to a fairly snug setting and that will prevent the free wheeling and thus inadvertant tightening. Appears this will do the trick. It might be a touch more difficult to set one handed, but far better than my throttle sticking when I expected it to release.

I just thought I needed to follow up and clarify what I could have/should have realized on my own.

[BlackdogGS]

I have the Kaoko on my 2010 1200GS and Buell XB12XT. I like them very much, no problems at all.