I switched my ATV and my son's KFX80 to twist. We both like it better. It's funny how all these "experts" know for sure your child will twist the throttle every time they turn yet have obviously never seen a child ride one. He's been riding for years with the twist and never done that. Also, if it's really that easy to twist the throttle and lose control then why do all the kids dirtbikes have twist throttles? His CRF70 has a twist throttle as well and loves it just as much.
My :2cents:...
When riding a dirtbike through a lefthand turn the dirtbike leans with the rider maintaining an acceptable distance from right shoulder twist throttle.
When riding an atv through a lefthand turn while sliding the rear wheels you counter steer maintaining an acceptable distance from right shoulder to twist throttle.
When riding an atv through a lefthand turn without sliding the rear wheels the higher the speed the farther the child will lean to the left causing the distance from right shoulder to twist throttle to increase because the atv does not lean with the rider like a dirtbike will.
With a thumb or extended thumb throttle as the childs arm reaches maximum distance from the grip as their hand starts to pull with their body weight trying to hold on the grip, the first thing to relax is the thumb reducing engine power.
With a twist throttle the child that will simply hang on will increase the engine to WOT(wide open throttle) because of the mechanics of their body's weight applying a constant building pressure to the twist throttle.
These are novice mistakes and it sounds like you and your son are a few levels above novice.
Things to think of when going to a twist throttle system on an atv are:
1. Riding experience and level of expertise of the child.
2. Size of the child in relation to the atv ( a younger or smaller framed child will have more of a difficult time due to shorter arms)
3. Using a governing system to ensure the child gets fully used to the difference before hitting "open water"
In my humble opinion I wouldn't let my child use a twist throttle on their atv until they were old enough to understand and install the twist throttle themselves under my supervision without my help.
I have raced and ridden dirtbikes and quads with twist throttles and thumb throttles. Yes, I even raced a dirtbike with a thumb throttle once, weirdest feeling ever, and the riders who finished behind me weren't to happy when they found out.....:laughing:
