Is there a convention for which way the handlebar of a motorbike etc rotates
to control the throttle? I ask because I have an electric wheelbarrow with
rotary throttle and it rotates the opposite way to the way I'd have
anticipated, so I wondered what the standard was.

The throttle is on the right hand side. I would expect to rotate the top of
it away from me to increase speed, and towards me (bending my hand back
towards my arm) to reduce speed. But it rotates the opposite way. Looking
end-on to the handlebar, from the end towards the central handlebar axle, it
rotates clockwise.

One of the implications of this is that if the speed control is turned
slightly too far in relation to how fast you are walking, the barrow shoots
ahead, turning the control further *on* - until the barrow leaves your hand
when obviously the throttle closes due to its spring. It's also
uncomfortable to bend your hand back at the wrist to hold the power on; it
would be more comfortable to bend the hand forwards (palm towards wrist).

NY wrote:
Is there a convention for which way the handlebar of a motorbike etc rotates
to control the throttle? I ask because I have an electric wheelbarrow with
rotary throttle and it rotates the opposite way to the way I'd have
anticipated, so I wondered what the standard was.

The throttle is on the right hand side. I would expect to rotate the top of
it away from me to increase speed, and towards me (bending my hand back
towards my arm) to reduce speed. But it rotates the opposite way. Looking
end-on to the handlebar, from the end towards the central handlebar axle, it
rotates clockwise.

Motorcycle throttles are 'top towards you' to increase speed.

.... or as you say, looking at the end of the RH handlebar, you turn it
anti-clockwise to increase speed.

--
Chris Green
·

On Tue, 6 Apr 2021 09:38:24 +0100, Chris Green wrote:

NY wrote:
Is there a convention for which way the handlebar of a motorbike etc rotates
to control the throttle? I ask because I have an electric wheelbarrow with
rotary throttle and it rotates the opposite way to the way I'd have
anticipated, so I wondered what the standard was.

The throttle is on the right hand side. I would expect to rotate the top of
it away from me to increase speed, and towards me (bending my hand back
towards my arm) to reduce speed. But it rotates the opposite way. Looking
end-on to the handlebar, from the end towards the central handlebar axle, it
rotates clockwise.

Motorcycle throttles are 'top towards you' to increase speed.

... or as you say, looking at the end of the RH handlebar, you turn it
anti-clockwise to increase speed.

Not just me then where looking at the rotation direction from the
middle is a bit 'unusual'? ;-)

Now it may well be on an 'electric wheelbarrow' you have two steering
arms (reminiscent of typical wheelbarrow handles but not what I took
from 'central handlebar axle') and so could be viewed from the inside
out?

Not having a go at NT, just interested in how others approach things.
;-)

Cheers, T i m

On 06/04/2021 08:59, T i m wrote:
On Tue, 6 Apr 2021 09:38:24 +0100, Chris Green wrote:
NY wrote:

Is there a convention for which way the handlebar of a motorbike etc rotates
to control the throttle?

Motorcycle throttles are 'top towards you' to increase speed.

... or as you say, looking at the end of the RH handlebar, you turn it
anti-clockwise to increase speed.

Not just me then where looking at the rotation direction from the
middle is a bit 'unusual'? ;-)

That might be a 'right-brainer' thing?

Now it may well be on an 'electric wheelbarrow' you have two steering
arms (reminiscent of typical wheelbarrow handles but not what I took
from 'central handlebar axle') and so could be viewed from the inside
out?

I can't quite understand your technique of making a statement and adding
a question mark at the end? Is that a right-brainer ting as well?

--
Spike

On Tue, 6 Apr 2021 09:38:24 +0100, Chris Green wrote:

NY wrote:
Is there a convention for which way the handlebar of a motorbike etc rotates
to control the throttle? I ask because I have an electric wheelbarrow with
rotary throttle and it rotates the opposite way to the way I'd have
anticipated, so I wondered what the standard was.

The throttle is on the right hand side. I would expect to rotate the top of
it away from me to increase speed, and towards me (bending my hand back
towards my arm) to reduce speed. But it rotates the opposite way. Looking
end-on to the handlebar, from the end towards the central handlebar axle, it
rotates clockwise.

Motorcycle throttles are 'top towards you' to increase speed.

... or as you say, looking at the end of the RH handlebar, you turn it
anti-clockwise to increase speed.

Yup - I've owned about 8 - 10 bikes and ridden about 45 - 50 different ones
and they've all been so, even the ancient iron Hog.
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway

On Tue, 6 Apr 2021 10:08:08 +0100, PeterC
wrote:

snip

Yup - I've owned about 8 - 10 bikes and ridden about 45 - 50 different ones
and they've all been so, even the ancient iron Hog.

It's funny, I assume (obviously incorrectly in this case) that
*everyone* (and certainly in the sort of demographic we find here)
would have been involved in a motorbike of some sort at some time?

Like you (potentially) I have had and been around mopeds / scooters /
motorcycle all my life and currently own about 10 (only one on the
road atm). I've never been 'a biker' as such, happy to walk, cycle,
motorcycle or use the car as they suit, but I would consider myself 'a
motorcyclist' as I enjoy working and being on and going places (or
nowhere) on them. ;-)

Thinking on, the throttle direction rotation question also carries on
with outboard motors where you do typically look at it from the open
end and more throttle is anticlockwise (even my electric one). ;-).

As it is with most taps of course? [1]

Cheers, T i m

[1] And you still get people who ask 'which way to turn it on' with
(conventional) taps?

"T i m" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 6 Apr 2021 10:08:08 +0100, PeterC
wrote:

snip

Yup - I've owned about 8 - 10 bikes and ridden about 45 - 50 different
ones
and they've all been so, even the ancient iron Hog.

It's funny, I assume (obviously incorrectly in this case) that
*everyone* (and certainly in the sort of demographic we find here)
would have been involved in a motorbike of some sort at some time?

No, I've never ridden a motorbike. I went straight from walking to getting a
car. I have more experience with bicycles than motorbikes. I remember riding
a friend's bicycle which was the only one which I've ever encountered with
the front and rear brake levers the opposite way round. Maybe it was
originally for the LHD market where the back brake is placed so the opposite
arm is free when signalling to turn (left) across traffic.

Interesting that they standardised on anti-clockwise for opening a motorbike
throttle, because bending your hand backwards to hold the throttle open is
very uncomfortable for more than a few seconds.

The wheelbarrow has the added problem that although the two powered wheels
have wide inflated tyres, the single rear wheel has a very narrow solid tyre
which leaves ruts in a gravel drive or on grass. A wide tyre might make
steering a bit more difficult but wouldn't get bogged down.

On Tue, 6 Apr 2021 11:10:35 +0100, "NY" wrote:

snip

It's funny, I assume (obviously incorrectly in this case) that
*everyone* (and certainly in the sort of demographic we find here)
would have been involved in a motorbike of some sort at some time?

No, I've never ridden a motorbike. I went straight from walking to getting a
car.

Maybe you are younger than some, or had more money or were 'put off'
motorbikes by your family?

It was the only way I could use something motorised when I was 16. ;-)

I have more experience with bicycles than motorbikes.

Well, same here as I've carried on with cycles as well. Again, pre
mopeds at 16, a bike was the only way to avoid walking to school or
getting on the bus.

I remember riding
a friend's bicycle which was the only one which I've ever encountered with
the front and rear brake levers the opposite way round. Maybe it was
originally for the LHD market where the back brake is placed so the opposite
arm is free when signalling to turn (left) across traffic.

I'd always imagined the brakes would be the same way round whatever
country you live in? That's certainly the case with moped / motorbike
hand brakes (not sure about the *very* old motorcycles).

Interesting that they standardised on anti-clockwise for opening a motorbike
throttle, because bending your hand backwards to hold the throttle open is
very uncomfortable for more than a few seconds.

Yeah, but you don't do that. You grasp the throttle with you wrist
over the top of the bar slightly and then end up with it parallel.

The wheelbarrow has the added problem that although the two powered wheels
have wide inflated tyres,

'Flotation wheels / tyres' I think they sometimes call them. Daughter
had a wood chopper built on a trailer that had very wide wheels /
tyres to minimise the chances of it getting bogged down on soft
ground.

the single rear wheel has a very narrow solid tyre
which leaves ruts in a gravel drive or on grass. A wide tyre might make
steering a bit more difficult but wouldn't get bogged down.

Sounds like a d-i-y mod coming up. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

On 06/04/2021 11:10, NY wrote:
"T i m" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 6 Apr 2021 10:08:08 +0100, PeterC
wrote:

snip

Yup - I've owned about 8 - 10 bikes and ridden about 45 - 50
different ones
and they've all been so, even the ancient iron Hog.

It's funny, I assume (obviously incorrectly in this case) that
*everyone* (and certainly in the sort of demographic we find here)
would have been involved in a motorbike of some sort at some time?

No, I've never ridden a motorbike. I went straight from walking to
getting a car. I have more experience with bicycles than motorbikes. I
remember riding a friend's bicycle which was the only one which I've
ever encountered with the front and rear brake levers the opposite way
round. Maybe it was originally for the LHD market where the back brake
is placed so the opposite arm is free when signalling to turn (left)
across traffic.

Interesting that they standardised on anti-clockwise for opening a
motorbike throttle, because bending your hand backwards to hold the
throttle open is very uncomfortable for more than a few seconds.

The wheelbarrow has the added problem that although the two powered
wheels have wide inflated tyres, the single rear wheel has a very narrow
solid tyre which leaves ruts in a gravel drive or on grass. A wide tyre
might make steering a bit more difficult but wouldn't get bogged down.

Although I have never ridden a motorbike, I have tried a friend's trike.
I found the direction of throttle control totally counterintuitive.

On 06/04/2021 11:10, NY wrote:
"T i m" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 6 Apr 2021 10:08:08 +0100, PeterC
wrote:

snip

Yup - I've owned about 8 - 10 bikes and ridden about 45 - 50
different ones
and they've all been so, even the ancient iron Hog.

It's funny, I assume (obviously incorrectly in this case) that
*everyone* (and certainly in the sort of demographic we find here)
would have been involved in a motorbike of some sort at some time?

No, I've never ridden a motorbike. I went straight from walking to
getting a car. I have more experience with bicycles than motorbikes. I
remember riding a friend's bicycle which was the only one which I've
ever encountered with the front and rear brake levers the opposite way
round. Maybe it was originally for the LHD market where the back brake
is placed so the opposite arm is free when signalling to turn (left)
across traffic.

Interesting that they standardised on anti-clockwise for opening a
motorbike throttle, because bending your hand backwards to hold the
throttle open is very uncomfortable for more than a few seconds.


I suspect it is because on a motor bike you need to be able to operate
the right hand brake lever. When you apply the brake with your fingers
your thumb will rotate the throttle clockwise and close it, which is
probably what you want. I must remember this the next time a use an
outboard engine.

--
Michael Chare

"NY" wrote in message
...
"T i m" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 6 Apr 2021 10:08:08 +0100, PeterC
wrote:

snip

Yup - I've owned about 8 - 10 bikes and ridden about 45 - 50 different
ones
and they've all been so, even the ancient iron Hog.

It's funny, I assume (obviously incorrectly in this case) that
*everyone* (and certainly in the sort of demographic we find here)
would have been involved in a motorbike of some sort at some time?

No, I've never ridden a motorbike.

Me neither and was just a pillion pax just the once.

I went straight from walking to getting a car.

I had a bicycle for years between and still walked a lot too.

I have more experience with bicycles than motorbikes. I remember riding a
friend's bicycle which was the only one which I've ever encountered with
the front and rear brake levers the opposite way round. Maybe it was
originally for the LHD market where the back brake is placed so the
opposite arm is free when signalling to turn (left) across traffic.

Interesting that they standardised on anti-clockwise for opening a
motorbike throttle, because bending your hand backwards to hold the
throttle open is very uncomfortable for more than a few seconds.

The wheelbarrow has the added problem that although the two powered wheels
have wide inflated tyres, the single rear wheel has a very narrow solid
tyre which leaves ruts in a gravel drive or on grass. A wide tyre might
make steering a bit more difficult but wouldn't get bogged down.

My long dead battery lawnmower with speed control rotated clockwise to go
faster but if it was let go of it just stopped, but then it never went all
that fast in the first place and was always blowing up the speed control
module. That is why its an ex lawnmower.
Brian

--

This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Chris Green" wrote in message
...
NY wrote:
Is there a convention for which way the handlebar of a motorbike etc
rotates
to control the throttle? I ask because I have an electric wheelbarrow
with
rotary throttle and it rotates the opposite way to the way I'd have
anticipated, so I wondered what the standard was.

The throttle is on the right hand side. I would expect to rotate the top
of
it away from me to increase speed, and towards me (bending my hand back
towards my arm) to reduce speed. But it rotates the opposite way. Looking
end-on to the handlebar, from the end towards the central handlebar axle,
it
rotates clockwise.

Motorcycle throttles are 'top towards you' to increase speed.

... or as you say, looking at the end of the RH handlebar, you turn it
anti-clockwise to increase speed.

--
Chris Green
·

On Tue, 6 Apr 2021 09:31:04 +0100, "NY" wrote:

Is there a convention for which way the handlebar of a motorbike etc rotates
to control the throttle?

Yes.

I ask because I have an electric wheelbarrow with
rotary throttle and it rotates the opposite way to the way I'd have
anticipated, so I wondered what the standard was.

The throttle is on the right hand side.

Std.

I would expect to rotate the top of
it away from me to increase speed, and towards me (bending my hand back
towards my arm) to reduce speed. But it rotates the opposite way.

So the 'normal' way. ;-)

Looking
end-on to the handlebar, from the end towards the central handlebar axle, it
rotates clockwise.

Correct (a bit of a strange POV for such things but still correct).
;-)

One of the implications of this is that if the speed control is turned
slightly too far in relation to how fast you are walking, the barrow shoots
ahead, turning the control further *on* -

Yup. Watch You've been Framed or Youtube for 'noobs' riding things
though fences and sheds.

until the barrow leaves your hand
when obviously the throttle closes due to its spring.

Yup.

It's also
uncomfortable to bend your hand back at the wrist to hold the power on; it
would be more comfortable to bend the hand forwards (palm towards wrist).

Except you don't typically do that. You hold the throttle in such a
way that you have you wrist at such a point that it keeps it
comfortable (especially when cruising at a particular or tight range
of speeds).

Cheers, T i m

On 06/04/2021 09:31, NY wrote:

Is there a convention for which way the handlebar of a motorbike etc
rotates to control the throttle? I ask because I have an electric
wheelbarrow with rotary throttle and it rotates the opposite way to the
way I'd have anticipated, so I wondered what the standard was.

The throttle is on the right hand side. I would expect to rotate the top
of it away from me to increase speed, and towards me (bending my hand
back towards my arm) to reduce speed. But it rotates the opposite way.
Looking end-on to the handlebar, from the end towards the central
handlebar axle, it rotates clockwise.

It behaves as you would expect a motorbike throttle to then...

One of the implications of this is that if the speed control is turned
slightly too far in relation to how fast you are walking, the barrow
shoots ahead, turning the control further *on* - until the barrow leaves
your hand when obviously the throttle closes due to its spring. It's
also uncomfortable to bend your hand back at the wrist to hold the power
on; it would be more comfortable to bend the hand forwards (palm towards
wrist).

You just start with a grip in the hand down position, such that when its
rotated to the right speed, the wrist position is neutral.


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On 06/04/2021 09:31, NY wrote:

Is there a convention for which way the handlebar of a motorbike etc
rotates to control the throttle? I ask because I have an electric
wheelbarrow with rotary throttle and it rotates the opposite way to the
way I'd have anticipated, so I wondered what the standard was.

The throttle is on the right hand side. I would expect to rotate the top
of it away from me to increase speed, and towards me (bending my hand
back towards my arm) to reduce speed. But it rotates the opposite way.
Looking end-on to the handlebar, from the end towards the central
handlebar axle, it rotates clockwise.

I used to have a push bike with a twist grip for the (3 speed) gear
change. It was remarked that it appeared to be the opposite way to a
motorbike; to go up a gear you rotated the top away from you.

--
Max Demian

Max Demian wrote:
On 06/04/2021 09:31, NY wrote:

Is there a convention for which way the handlebar of a motorbike etc
rotates to control the throttle? I ask because I have an electric
wheelbarrow with rotary throttle and it rotates the opposite way to the
way I'd have anticipated, so I wondered what the standard was.

The throttle is on the right hand side. I would expect to rotate the top
of it away from me to increase speed, and towards me (bending my hand
back towards my arm) to reduce speed. But it rotates the opposite way.
Looking end-on to the handlebar, from the end towards the central
handlebar axle, it rotates clockwise.

I used to have a push bike with a twist grip for the (3 speed) gear
change. It was remarked that it appeared to be the opposite way to a
motorbike; to go up a gear you rotated the top away from you.


But it still pulls the cable in the same direction. Its just that a
Sturmey Archer gear and most road bike derailleurs change to a lower gear
as the cable tightens. MTB changers tend to work in the opposite fashion
though.

Tim

--
Please don't feed the trolls