Do you have a problem with RTS (Runaway Throttle Syndrome)? You know, the tendency of that little right-hand grip to accelerate “all on its own” leaving you smiling past the scenery at triple digit speeds. I hate that! (I particularly hate it when it’s called to my attention by well-meaning peace officers).
If you have this problem, and/or are only recently graduated from RTS Rehab, you should avoid California Highway 166. Especially, the 80-mile run from Route 101, near Santa Maria, to Maricopa. It’s a piece of rural roadway in Central California that has some inexplicable throttle-winding properties that continue to bewitch that right handgrip into the high-amusement zone regardless of the rider’s best intentions.
It’s one of those roads that I’ve ridden so many times I’m sometimes afraid I’ll kill the thrill. Regardless, I keep trying to bear enough discipline on that throttle to keep it from getting too independent. Alas, it only seems to get more difficult with greater road familiarity.
Fortunately, the route is periodically patrolled by the good guys who give out hand-written prescriptions to RTS, although I’ve found their intended remedy is mostly short lived. More significantly, a side effect of such a prescription is the requirement of a deduction from your bank account.
So why is RTS so pervasive on this road?
I don’t know for sure. Perhaps some kind of space alien influence? I can only conjecture that there is something very funny about this valley that so victimizes otherwise responsible motorcyclists. Sure, it could be argued that it looks pretty innocent. The roadway meanders enchantingly by way of a number of long sweepers and a series of equally fine twisties that keep the smile factor mode in full application.
In fact, not surprisingly, most of this route has earned the California Scenic Highway badge represented by the colorful “poppy” signage. No doubt due to the Los Padres Padres National Forest and its Sierra Madres Mountains along the south that watch over Route 166. As well, the Caliente Range, Carrizo Plain National Monument, and the San Adreas Fault all hang out north of Highway 166, adding their own bit of magic to the mix.
Route 166 is also known as the Cuyama Highway: rightfully so, as it winds along the Cuyama River through the Cuyama Valley. And if that’s not enough “Cuyama” for you, there are also the towns of Cuyama and New Cuyama, the latter existing as the primary source of food and gas in this area. New Cuyama could just as well be called Instant Cuyama, since even with the throttle under severe disciplinary restraint, your lunch break at the Cuyama Buckhorn Restaurant will fly by that fast.
And by the way, what the heck does “Cuyama” mean?
Would you believe it’s a Chumash Indian word for “clam”?
Hard to imagine a clam could ever find its way into this serene valley surrounded by mountain crests, rolling hills, and dry grasses. It seems the Cuyama namesake is derived from millions of petrified prehistoric clamshells spread out in the surrounding areas. Hmmmm, perhaps now we are getting at something important. Could it be that these are some kind of space-alien-transported-shells that account for the unique source of magnetic agitation to Runaway Throttle Syndrome? Alert the media!
Regardless, if you are prone to RTS, Highway 166 is definitely a road to avoid (at least until all these shells are located and removed).
ahhhh, the sound of the harley pipes, the heat from the exhaust, the engine, the wind, fresh air, scenery, if your a true motorcyclist, it can be controlled, but there is those times that it gets ahold of you. Be alert, safe, and eyes totally open
I did have a case of genuine RTS with a Suzuki T250 in the early ’70’s. I had dropped the bike when a curving high speed road turned to thick gravel half way round an 80 mph bend – I didn’t see the sign! This was followed by a drenching downpour. I then got lost in NZ’s largest city, trying to cross the harbour bridge in heavy traffic. Every time I slowed to idle, the revs wound up until it was near redline after a minute. I ended up dumping the clutch and shooting out on a red light.
Turns out my carb slides were sticking after the soaking they got. Cure? CRC, and plenty of it.
I now have a little Yamaha 223 single, only 19 hp, and if I whack the throttle open, nothing bad happens. Anything over 40 hp is too much for my inner hooligan to resist!
Luckily for me I started with smaller street bikes and over the years have pretty much gained control over my RTS attacks. Every so often I do get hit by an RTS event that I did not see coming, in almost two years I have had the Bandito there has only been twice I did not catch on it being an RTS moment prior to hitting triple digits.
Aside from leasons learned a few other thing help me keep my RTS in check. I am allergic to to HIP (higher insurance payments). I am deathly afraid of DADD (dumb @ss distracted drivers) and the simple fact that the road IS NOT a race track.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VruWHHEnZGw
I’ve found that in my younger years, alcohol played a large part in my RTS. As I’ve gotten older (wiser), I’ve found that RTS isn’t as difficult to control. I now care more about living to ride another day.
OK, here’s the final word on RTS. It is basically sex linked. Women have XX chromosomes and men have XY. The RTS inhibiter is on the extra tail of the second X that women have so most women don’t have it. But it’s on men’s genetic makeup so it’s not our fault.
Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. I have a long ride, Darwin to Brisbane every year, 3500 kms, the best part is 1400 kms to the boarder. Keep to day light running fixers the live stock. Keeping your shit together and keeping your mind on the job can increase the fun factor.
RTS can happen on any road. U.S. 1 here in the Keys… U.S, 41, the Tamiami Trail across the Everglades and I-75, Alligator Alley also across the Everglades.
Help for RTS?… age for me, 65, makes me want to live longer and not become roadkill.
Imagine your kids and grandkids saying the old man was killed by hitting a deer or, even worse, an armadillo at 100 mph. I don’t want to leave that image behind.
I keep two things formost in my mind 1) that i am invisible (not invincible) and 2) that i have no brakes. yep, i ride and drive like a little old man and try to give it 110% focus all the time.
I like the comment above that says “may you always put the kickstand down as many times as you put it up.”
ride with the wind.
Goo
I ride by a site regularly that was the last curve a biker didn’t take. It tends to keep me under control. Plus Central PA roads have too many pot holes.
Other than great gas milegae, 55 to 84 per gallon, that’s the other great thing about having an under powerd 35 HP cruiser. The automatic “Anti-RTS feature is almost always on the job. LOL It works most of the time but it did let me down one time and I had to take manual control at 96 MPH. Good thing I intervened when I did huh. LOL
2004 Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe
Just turned 50,000 on her last week!
Ride safe and often!
Pete
I live in West Virginia. I seem to have this problem (RTS) on all the roads. Not a lot of Policemen around here either. Thank God for country!!! I almost nailed a deer once. Just caught it enough to make it stumble – nothing to me except a major rush. I chased a black bear up the road one morning – only till I had time to realize what it was and get hard on the brakes.
RTS…?
It seems the older I get the faster I want to go! And my XX bird never lets me down. You ask on what stretch of road do I get RTS. All roads. I will till you that what ever I am riding my moped or my bird or even my cage. I Drive / ride or pilot as fast as I can all the time. Any questions..?
“Life’s all about the corners.
My you always put you kickstand down as many times as you put it up!
ocean pkwy 17miles of almost dead straigh road with two or three entrances and exits in the left had lane seen to Cause RTS there are two things that keep my addiction to RTS at bay 1) the fact that I know that my FJR can do every bit of 140+ (as I have proven in the past)!! and 2) When you get to a certain age you have no need to prove that your FJR can do the speed that it is capable of- but when RTS threatens to rear its ugly head its a great comfort to know that your RTS can be sated!!!!
Prescription:
take two crashes, allow 20 years to take full effect, call me in the morning
Side effects:
a boring life
Avoid:
Minnesota state highway 1from the North Shore of Lake Superior inland to Ely
I guess we have to differ on the definition of “good guys”.
Cops hardly qualify for writing their selectively-applied taxes.
I have found as I age, RTS has diminished greatly. I also keep it under control by using the cruise control on my Wing whenever possible. Mostly the roads here in NE PA keep my RTS at bay, as well as the thought of WAM, as Medium Mike mentions. There are way too many deer up here! This also keeps my night riding to a minimum with all the four legged activity. Hopefully the deer alerts I have on my bike actually work!
we do have some stretch here in the philippines that i experience RTS but i noticed that i only get affected by it if i am using my brother’s sports bike… i get to have more control of the throttle when i use my cruiser… i feel better coz i get to enjoy the scenery more…
may be it is the body position that we have while on the bike that really affects us…
but none the less… the mindset of enjoying the ride rather than conquering the road works best for me…
ride safe brothers
Not to worried about that happening here during work hours, but at midnight, well the 5km stretch is really alluring
166 is a fun road, but watch out for heavy traffic in the early morning and late afternoon. A lot of big commercial trucks use the road and there is also no cell phone reception beginning just east of Santa Maria and continuing for about 10 miles.
The thought of WAM (Wild Animal Mashing) helps with RTS. Keep in mind they come out of nowhere. I’ve had my share of RTS, and it is very addictive. I’m constantly reminding myself of WAM. But, when you find that perfect stretch of road, the one with little or no traffic, the one with gentile bends, it’s hard to keep WAM on the brain.