The Importance of Throttle Control
Deep within most dirt riders lurks the Brapp Beast—a deceptive force that tricks us into thinking that more noise equals more speed. When we’re roosting, power sliding, and fishtailing through the trails, we might feel like Ricky Carmichael or Jonny Walker, but in reality, we’re often losing time rather than gaining it.
All the top extreme enduro riders—Graham Jarvis, Jonny Walker, and Chris Birch—come from trials riding backgrounds. They learned to use precise throttle control to maintain maximum traction in all conditions.
One of the best ways to improve your throttle control is by riding in a higher gear than normal. Why?
- Excessive noise tricks your brain into thinking you’re fast.
- A quieter bike allows you to focus on technique.
- You can brake later, carry more speed through corners, and accelerate earlier.
- Better traction means smoother power delivery and improved control.
The Noise Deception: Why Loud Doesn’t Mean Fast
From childhood, many of us were drawn to the roar of fast machines. This obsession follows us into dirt riding, where we instinctively grab big handfuls of throttle, making a racket and assuming we’re tearing up the track. But here’s the truth: noise doesn’t equal speed.
As Graham Jarvis says:
“If you want to ride fast, first learn how to ride slow.”
Experimenting with Higher Gears
Try this simple test with a riding buddy of similar skill:
- Have your buddy ride as aggressively as possible, revving high and making lots of noise.
- You, on the other hand, should focus on smoothness, riding in a higher gear, braking late, and carrying speed through corners.
- Compare your performance—you’ll be surprised at the results!
Mastering the Clutch as an Extension of the Throttle
Once you’ve refined your braking, monitoring, and traction techniques, you can start reintroducing lower gears and higher revs. The key? Smoothness.
- Instead of shifting down when approaching a corner, try slipping the clutch on exit.
- On wet rocks, slippery mud, or clay, using a higher gear and slipping the clutch gives you more traction.
- On steep hill climbs, clutch modulation helps control power delivery—just watch Chris Birch in action!
Taming Aggressive Throttle Response
Some two-strokes have a snappy throttle response, which can make traction tricky. Even some fuel-injected four-strokes have this problem. Here are a few ways to tame your throttle:
- G2 Throttle Tamer: Slows initial throttle input for smoother power delivery.
- Flywheel Weights: Especially useful for two-strokes, making power delivery more linear.
Throttle Control in Professional Riding
Even in motocross, where riders seem to be wide open all the time, top racers are constantly modulating the throttle to get the best acceleration. The same applies even more to enduro riding.
As you get faster and rev higher, throttle control becomes even more crucial. Learning to control your bike without relying on excessive revs will transform your riding skills.
Final Thoughts
Mastering throttle control will make you a smoother, faster, and more efficient rider. Rather than relying on noise and wheel spin, focus on precision, traction, and technique.
Start today, and remember:
A quiet bike is a fast bike!
