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Ckcarr,
Wow! Instant death! I had a ‘90 Kawasaki Concours to which I did a similar mod. It was explained in a Concours forum (so it had to be correct and safe). A particular John Deere, yellow o-ring was just the right size to fit around the outboard end of the throttle twist grip. While riding, it could be rolled into the space between the grip and the bar end weight. Worked great: strong enough to hold the throttle open but weak enough to be overcome and allow closing the throttle with small effort.
While on a ride one summer day, I attempted to engage it to allow me to zip up the cuffs on my jacket. I rolled it to the gap and took my hands off the bars. Unfortunately the o-ring rolled back onto the grip and the bike decelerated abruptly. Being a geometric widow maker by design, the Concours immediately entered an uncontrollable tank slapper. I was sliding down the street on my butt watching the Concours slide into the oncoming lane.
Fortunately the closest oncoming car got stopped and the Concours ended up a foot in front of the car. The visibly shaken driver jumped out and asked me if I was alright. I asked if there were any hits on my helmet. He said there weren’t so I said was OK.
Here is a motorcycling tip that has come in handy more than once: Many bikes are heavy and hard to pick up. Such is the Concours and with my bad back, I would have injured myself if I attempted to lift the bike by myself.
The driver was so pumped up on adrenaline that his eyes looked like saucers. They were bugged out so far you could have knocked them off with a stick. I figured this guy will have a few seconds of extra strength and asked him if he would help me pick up the bike (laying downhill). He instantly picked it up-without my help. I picked up my foot peg and hurried away before the authorities came…
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