they can be good for long rides, but if you are trying to climb through ravines / etc, it makes it really easy to twist the throttle at the wrong time when you are trying to pull your weight forward for the climb. I've seen way too many people with twist throttles shoot their quads straight up or have them come back on them. Just depends on the type of riding you do. There is a slip on type that when you twist it activates the thumb throttle but that you can twist forward out of the way which may be the best of both worlds, but I've never tried it.