In looking to upgrade the bars and add heated hand grips to my 2011 Road Glide Custom, I've learned that my bike has Throttle By Wire (TBW). Can anybody give me an Elementary School level explanation of TBW? I'm also curious what existed before TBW.

 

TBW is a potentiometer basically stuck in the end of your bars that sends a signal to your scoot. and before that there were Cables like your clutch has.

 

Well, I am pretty good at elementary stuff. TBW has replaced "throttle by cables". Some guys really don't like the TBW for reasons they can explain. My 2010 has TBW and I love it. I have had two previous HDs with traditional throttle cables, and I prefer the TBW.

The TBW system has a sensor in the grip that sends a signal (via a wire) to an interpretive unit called a throttle control actuator attached to an induction module that in turn ultimately manipulates the fuel injection system. This is what makes you go vroooooooom...

My 2010 Ltd came with heated grips, but I didn't like the stockers, so I upgraded to the Harley Chrome and Rubber heated grips. That change required that I purchase a new grip sensor assembly. It was installed by HD and has given me no problems so far.

 

Excellent explanation. I get it. Thank you.

 

Is it only the touring models that have TBW???

 

I never had a problem with mine.
I looked at the heated grips thing. From other posts they say its not as good as heated gloves, which also warm the tops of your hand. I guess it depends on how cold you get...

 

not wanting to get hyper critical or overly technical, just an fyi, the throttle grip (switch) sends the signal to the ecm, and the ecm drives the actuator. don't want to forget the brain. the throttle actuator is a motor that only drives the butterfly. it also has a air temp sensor built into it that also sends signal to ecm. the ecm controls all signals coming in

 

elementary my dear Watson elementary.

 

I know this an old issue, but today I was riding in the mountains and my throttle quit working, I could not rev. I shut the bike down for a few seconds and cranked it back up and the throttle was working again. It happened again about 40 miles later. No throttle response. I pulled of the HWY onto the grass and shut her down. Luckily when I cranked it back up the throttle worked again and I was able to make it home. Question #1 Has anyone else had this problem? #2 How did you fix it? I would really hate to be stuck out in the middle of nowhere and this not fix itself. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

Have you ever changed the handlebars or the switch housings...Pinched wires are easy to come by...