Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB

Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/)
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-   -   Scott oiler 'Crampbuster' - a review. (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/equipping-bike-whats-best-gear/scott-oiler-crampbuster-a-review-34433)

Matt Cartney 10 Apr 2008 14:17

Scott oiler 'Crampbuster' - a review.
 
Not much to this review except to say that it really works!

The 6 or 7 pounds that it cost did seem a little steep for a piece of curly plastic, but it was worth every penny. For those that have not seen one, it clips on round the end of your throttle meaning you can rest your palm on it which, in turn, means you don't have to keep a tight grip on the throttle, easing the cramps you get from gripping your bars tightly on long journeys.

Interestingly I used to get cramps in both hands, my brain not being sophisticated enough to grip tight with only one hand. Having just returned from a lightning trip to Chamonix in France with some quite long motorway days (including one 1000km plus day I've been bragging about in the HU bar) I consider the 'Crampbuster' properly road tested. I suffered no cramps at all in either hand, the thing is FANTASTIC!

The one down side is that it reduces the 'free' length of your throttle, meaning that when you are in town, or on twisties etc. you have to squeeze your hand in between the crampbuster and your switches. However, I'd simply remove the thing if I was riding twisties, in town or off road for any extended (more than a few minutes) length of tme. It pops off and on in a second or two.
It takes a little practice to get used to riding at lower speeds with it there, sometimes you forget and accidently open the throttle when trying to slow down etc. but it's not difficult to get used to and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone riding long distances of which there may be one or two frequenting this site!

Matt :)

Guest2 10 Apr 2008 15:03

Hi Matt,
They are expensive at 6 or 7 quid, looks like 10p worth of plastic. I picked up a couple of free ones from somewhere, maybe with a scottoiler I brought.

I would add to your review that when trying it out for the first time, try a couple of emergency stops as I found myself opening the throttle when pulling the brake lever hard.

Anyway if some one wants free one there is one somwhere in the bushes at the juction of the A1 and A428, this is where a threw it after I found the slight design flaw I mentioned above. The other one is in my garage, if anyone wants it just send me some stamps to cover postage.

Steve

backofbeyond 10 Apr 2008 16:21

I've been using one for about a year now and would report pretty favourably on it. I don't suffer much from cramp but do get tired throttle fingers on a long run and thought I'd try it when I found one for (I think) about £4.00 last year.

Initially it did seem a bit strange and I did wonder about it getting in the way when going for the brake in a hurry, but it's not happened so far (getting in the way that is). It does work if you set the height correctly but really only for slow / medium speed. If you have it set to work for large throttle openings it does get in the way when you slow down. Overall I suppose it was worth the £4.00 as it does give you a chance to ease your death grip on the throttle when you've been riding for a few hours.

The only annoying thing is that with handguards fitted it's quite difficult to put on / take off. The plastic was flexible enough to open up when it was new but I do wonder if it'll snap when I try to stretch it after a few years.

Redboots 10 Apr 2008 16:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Cartney (Post 183948)
Not much to this review except to say that it really works!

Matt, I have a Throttle Rocker : Motorcycle Accessories version... (though its te old design without the velcro. They also do a left hander for resting your clutch hand:rolleyes2:

I find them annoying so mine also sits in the garage:frown:

John.

PS. Never did use the Iran map as my visa expired B4 I could get there... next time then.
John

Petrol 26 May 2008 03:43

Bought this little thing on a whim at the u.k. bike show.Shiped the bike to Canada and then rode to alaska and back.Had a bike crash before I went,pin in finger to repair,lol not nice!.I forgot I had it in the pocket of my jacket,saved my holiday:D.If I had not of had it the 500 mile days would have been impossible.The correct position is trial and error.The outside edge of the grip @ 45 degrees down.

kevinhancock750 26 May 2008 18:55

dont work for me neither.
 
i fitted this and tried different angles etc but just was'nt happy with it. probably done about 2 hrs trying it and it's rattled about in my panniers since. i'll take it to ripley and give it to someone there i think!

Matt Cartney 27 May 2008 11:43

As an update:

I still really like this little gizmo...but only on motorways. On ordinary roads it gets in the way a bit, so I pop it off and stick it in a pocket. On the motorways however, I find it an invaluable comfort aid!

Matt :)

Caminando 27 May 2008 16:15

Much of what has been said I agree with....

they are overpriced
they take a bit of getting used to

Yet they are indispensable, and I like to have one with me.

stuxtttr 1 Jun 2008 17:33

I got one of these from Biltema in norway and im sure it was cheap, but by the looks of things they dont do mail order unless you can speak Finish.

Dakota 1 Jun 2008 18:53

I've been using one for the past couple of years with no problems, but it did take a few hundred miles of getting used to. Because I have smaller hands than a bloke, I can easily use the throttle without using the crampbuster, but I think the key to success with it is positioning.

DarylD 24 Jun 2011 16:53

For 'BackofBeyond', ... don't worry about breaking your Crambuster because first of all, you probably can't.... they're indestructible! and second if you do figure out a way to break it, they're guaranteed forever and CrampBuster will replace it free.

DarylD

backofbeyond 25 Jun 2011 08:39

Well we are "a few years" on now and - I haven't broken it yet. To update things I was using it continuously until last winter when I bought a new pair of handlebar muffs (really cheap at my local Velocette dealer :confused1:). The Crampbuster wouldn't work inside the muffs so I took it off. Now that summer's here and I'm doing longer runs without the muffs I'll have to put it back on. It'll have to be severely stretched to go over the twistgrip so we'll see if it survives ...

engjacques 26 Jun 2011 07:10

I like my crampbuster for long straights and highway/motoeway cruising, HAve hand gaurds so cannot take it off, but just twist it round outta way when using throttle control. Had a couple of scary rev uos before gor this fully sorted, but works well enough. As it sticke up a few mms can get a little annoying on long twistie milage, but lelies cramp and ache on steady speeds. Not qas good as cuise control though - thats the way too go - interesting off road though

backofbeyond 27 Jun 2011 07:30

Even more updating - I was out on the bike yesterday and did about 350 miles, around half of it on motorways. I'd forgotten just how heavy the throttle was on the CCM for more than an hour at a time (particularly with thin summer gloves) and by the end of the day it felt like the skin was being ripped off my palm. The crampbuster goes back on today!

Tim Cullis 27 Jun 2011 13:34

If you don't want the throttle rocker/crampbuster at the time, just rotate it upwards and move it out of the way. This is also the way you adjust it for different speed settings (rotate it almost all the way round).

Invaluable on long trips, I did 960 miles back from Poland (>1500km, sorry Matt :)) in 23 hours and without the crampbuster my arm would have dropped off.


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