Kaoko Harley Throttle Lock Review

I purchased the Kaoko Throttle Lock for my Harley Davidson Deluxe through Revzilla for $145.00. I purchased the snub nosed version designed for a universal fit. I wanted to get a better Throttle Lock then the stock thumbwheel lock that comes on my bike because I was about to embark on a 3300 mile highway trip. After speaking to several friends, the Kaoko seemed the way to go.

Installation: Revzilla talks about how easy this is to install. This might be the case if you buy the bike specific throttle stop. Well, I use Burly Brand 16 inch apehangers with Aftermarket Harley Davidson brand grips. I had to shave a lot off the expandable sleeve to get the throttle lock to slide into the end of the handlebars and I had to cut approximately one inch off the end of my grip. I'd say it took about two hours to install. I had to use a cut off wheel, file, dead blow hammer and an Allen wrench to install.

Use: I installed the lock approximately a month before my trip. I run a relatively congested highway and a highway with little traffic twice a day on my commute to and from work. During this time I rarely felt comfortable using it. However, once I started my trip down Route 95, I got more comfortable. To use it, turn the lock towards you until it holds the grip in place. Then, use your pinky and palm to tighten it a little more. I tried to be about 5 miles under speed because the grip will turn as you tighten that last bit. This should put you where you want to be.

Pros and cons: It works much better than the stock thumbwheel and is much easier to turn off when needed. The install wasn't horrible but was harder than stated by the manufacturer.

This works good on flatter roads but can be a pain on roads with a lot of elevation changes. It's a mechanical device so the bike will slow down going uphill and speed up going down. When we got into North Carolina it became almost impossible to use the stop safely. However, this is the same issue with all mechanical stops. Also, the set screw on the wheel that acts as a tension hip backed out on me. This allows the tensioning wheel to spin freely. The stop still works but the wheel will back out when not in use. They supply an Allen wrench to adjust the screw but this seems like a design flaw that could be remedied with some thought.

Would I buy again? After some time getting used to this throttle stop, I was relatively satisfied with it. Again, it's a vast improvement over the stock stop. I'm not sure I'd want to spend that amount of money again but now that I have it installed, I'm glad I have it.