This is my second time using this throttle tube. I put one on my son's bike too. It seems to be made of a plastic with a higher amount of fiber reinforcement than most stock tubes hence it is more ridgid and harder to crush. Didn't want to get metal because if it gets dented or bent it won't slide on the bars, could get stuck, not safe. Plus they are too expesive. Plus the end pops right out for handguards.