Collapsible control lever

A control lever assembly for use with a vehicle control system that includes a handlebar defining a handlebar axis, the handlebar having at least one hand grip, a lever mount mounted to the handlebar and being configured to pivotally support said control lever assembly about a primary pivot axis, said control lever assembly comprising:

• a lever section defining a hand contact portion;
• an intermediate section, said intermediate section coupling said lever section to said mount, said lever section being located alongside said hand grip and supported for pivotal motion toward or away from said hand grip around a secondary pivot axis defined by said intermediate section, said secondary pivot axis being substantially transverse to said handlebar axis;
• a biasing assembly configured to bias said lever section toward said hand grip;
• an abutment surface on said intermediate section configured to limit the motion of said lever section by said biasing assembly, said lever section being deflectable from its normal position in a direction away from said hand grip;
• wherein said biasing assembly comprises a spool mounted on said intermediate section on said secondary axis, and a torsion spring wound on said spool, said torsion spring having a first end and a second end, said first end being anchored to said spool and said second end being anchored to the lever section.