How to Fix a Sticky Throttle on a Dirt Bike – Cheap, Easy, and Fast Solution

I’ve ridden more than one dirt bike that had a sticky throttle – it’s not fun.

There are quite a few different reasons your throttle could be sticking. If you went down and your handlebars got jammed, got dirt or mud in there, or maybe… you’ve never cleaned out the throttle tub or handlebar.

Just a few weeks ago my father-in-law picked up a used dirt bike. He got a 1996 XR650. Pretty darn cool bike, actually.

But, within 2.7 seconds (ish) of riding it, I could tell that the throttle needed some attention.

It had a definite and annoying stick at the start. Not only was the dirt bike throttle sticking, it was not snapping back and it seemed like the throttle wouldn’t return. Although it would, eventually.

And forget “rolling it on” slow and smooth. Nope. You had to crank that thing to break it free.

And you know what that means. Legs flying off to the side… popping a wheelie (on accident)… looking and feeling like a complete noob. Thankfully, the throttle wasn’t sticking wide open.

Either way, not cool.

The good news? I had a hunch as to why the throttle was ticking in the first place.

So, you might understand my excitement when I was able to show my father-in-law a thing or two on his dirt bike. Usually he’s the one schooling me on stuff, so this was a nice change.

What Causes the Throttle to Stick?

I’ve fixed a few stuck throttles over the years. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to fix a four stroke or a two stoke, it’s usually because of the same reasons.

A throttle tube with some, or all, of the following is what usually makes your throttle stick.

• Mud
• Dirt
• Debris
• Burrs

I’ve crashed so many times that I’ve filled a few throttle tubes with dirt and mud – leaving residue and burrs that contribute to a sticky throttle.

I knew just what to do.

Fixing a Sticky Throttle

Don’t worry. If you’ve ever wondered how to fix a sticky throttle on a a dirt bike, this is surprisingly easy.

All you need are some shop towels, a Scotch-Brite Pad, a light grease (WD-40 works), and a few wrenches.

A good torque wrench is recommend in the owner’s manual for a few of the bolts, but honestly, probably not necessary.

Remove Throttle Tube

The first thing I recommend is taking the throttle tube off and cleaning the handlebar and inside of the throttle tube.

In order to remove the throttle tube you’ll need to remove the two bolts that clamp your throttle tube to the handlebar, remove the throttle cables from the pulley and attachment (mine is the white piece in the second picture below) and then slide the throttle tube off of the handlebar.