Review: dual brake throttle combo

[mickey]

My Schwinn Skyliner came with very narrow handlebars that crowd all the controls together. Since my throttle was wearing out anyway, I ordered a combination dual-brake-kill switch-throttle assembly from Birddog with the hope of relieving this congestion.

On first impression, the assembly is all metal (except for the twist throttle barrel which is plastic) with the quality I have come to expect from China. It uses hex and phillips head bolts rather than the allen bolts. The brake cable path is not slotted for easy installation. There is a locator pin in the housing that I had to grind off to get the assembly to fit on my bars. Some might prefer to drill a matching hole in their bars. That would make a very secure mounting but I didn't want to do it that way. The provided grips are comfortable and the throttle action is smooth and short throw.

The kill switch wire broke off immediately due to poor design and execution. Its soldered on with no form of strain relief to prevent it from working during any handling.

Most important, the throw of this assembly is only suitable for side-pull brakes. There is insufficient leverage for V-brakes. This should be noted on the sales site and it does not appear to be (although, you can infer it from the photo). I do not believe a bike with V-brakes will stop safely with this assembly.

The price was right @ 19.99 and though it proved unsuitable for my bike, I wouldn't rule it out for others. I cannibalized throttle cable and grips to repair my existing throttle and so I didn't lose anything with this effort.

 

[hot70cc]

This is overated and pointless, Making your hand try to throttle down and apply brake at the same time is going to make the person do some thinking just trying to stop correctly, therfore problebly taking there concentration off the road and the surrounding vehicles and causing an accident, just cause the person thought it would be a advanced upgrade for their bike and wanting to have the newest piece on their bike. I feel ashamed at these dealers. Having a duel brake lever is a great invention, but not on the same side as the throttle. Yeah motorcycles have the front brake on the same side as the throttle but thats only 1 brake not both. That way you have a choice, not relying on one lever. Crazzy crazzy crazzy. IMO

 

[wayde]

for the most part if your slowing down or stopping your likely gonna be easing off the throttle anyways so as you reach for the lever you are almost forced to throttle down

 

[hot70cc]

It could go either way when you are doin this, When you reach for the lever in between your thumb and pointer finger wants to roll the lever in the throttle down position, but when you actually apply the brake the grip turns the throttle the other way making it throttle up. Try it sometime. It's different for everyone. I know when i had my brake lever on the throttle side i had a hard time trying not to accelerate when applying the brake

 

[mickey]

It's different for everyone.

I mostly use my front brake/right hand only to stop, and goose the throttle with the web of my thumb at the same time, because it won't idle.

And chew gum at the same time.

 

[Large Filipino]

Motorcycles don't have pedals therefore they can have a foot operated rear brake thing. Unless you have a coaster brake the only place you can have brakes is with your throttle.
I put both my brake levers on the right side. I like the idea that if one brake cable fails I still have a lever for the other one. I can also moderate it adjusting on the spot at the moment cause anything can happen that would impede a dual cable single lever application like if you suddenly lose a spoke or you hit a bump causing your rim to get bent,you would instinctly (or at least I would) NOT use the brake to that wheel but use the other wheel to stop your ride. But if you have that single lever deal all you can do is use both your brakes and that just may lock up that wheel. Also adjusting them both to have so much pressure per wheel is all nice and good but there will be a time when more pressure is needed to the front tire or vise versa.
Also if your lever breaks,oh noes....

 

[SirJakesus]

That thing scares the heck outta me. Imagine a failure that would mean no brakes,no kill switch and wide open throttle. That would be fasinating.

I find it incredibly unlikely for all of the controls to fail at the same time. If somehow you were unfortunate enough to have all the controls fail at the same time its probably a sign that either somebody is trying to kill you or that you should stop using a motor on your bike altogether. But if I stop posting here all of a sudden feel free to blame it on the brake lever combo.

 

[ThatGuy]

I find it incredibly unlikely for all of the controls to fail at the same time. If somehow you were unfortunate enough to have all the controls fail at the same time its probably a sign that either somebody is trying to kill you or that you should stop using a motor on your bike altogether. But if I stop posting here all of a sudden feel free to blame it on the brake lever combo.

Update: He died.

 

[Crisco]

that has to be the funniest comment so far "fasinating" lmao

Hahahaha..! Thoroughly fascinated as I'm heading towards that tree @ 60kmh, no brakes, and engine screaming at WOT..!

 

[Frankenstein]

Hahahaha..! Thoroughly fascinated as I'm heading towards that tree @ 60kmh, no brakes, and engine screaming at WOT..!

Guess fascinating is Australian slang for scared s**tless. I would be too if that's the case!

Update: He died.

Thank you for digging up a thread the right way.

 

[CrazyDan]

Update: He died.

Well played, good sir.