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Numb throttle hand

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:53 am
by wapam
My right hand gets numb after a while of going at a steady speed. I have read about a lot of remedies from gel gloves, different grips, holding the throttle differently, the Throttle Rocker, putting BBs in the handlebars, solid handlebars, etc. I'm wondering if anyone has actually gotten rid of the numbness with any of these remedies or are they just "wives tales".

Thanks for any help.

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:09 am
by blues2cruise
I had numbness in the beginning because I was holding on too tight. Try relaxing your grip a bit.

A throttle rocker does help. It helps prevent fatigue on a long ride.

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:53 am
by storysunfolding
Wow, that's an impressive list. What do you ride?

Changing the bars and grips on an old xs400 made a huge difference for me. Knowing the bike would help me suggest things though.

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:18 am
by Flting Duck
blues2cruise wrote:I had numbness in the beginning because I was holding on too tight. Try relaxing your grip a bit.

A throttle rocker does help. It helps prevent fatigue on a long ride.
I wouldn't recommend a throttle rocker for a noob. Too much chance of inadvertently giving the bike too mcuh throttle in city riding, stop lights, slow traffic, etc...

Just my .02.

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 12:01 pm
by flynrider
On a long stretch of highway, when I feel my hand getting numb from holding the same position, I just change my grip. If the numb position is wrist low, then go to a grip with a higher wrist position, and vice-versa.

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 1:04 pm
by hi-side
You're holding too tight onto the bars and putting too much weight on your hands. You should be holding your body up with your mid-section (abdominals), not your wrists. There should be no weight on the bars . The only time there should be bar input is to turn the bike.

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 1:15 pm
by blues2cruise
Flting Duck wrote:
blues2cruise wrote:I had numbness in the beginning because I was holding on too tight. Try relaxing your grip a bit.

A throttle rocker does help. It helps prevent fatigue on a long ride.
I wouldn't recommend a throttle rocker for a noob. Too much chance of inadvertently giving the bike too mcuh throttle in city riding, stop lights, slow traffic, etc...

Just my .02.
Good point....I only use the throttle rocker on the highway...not in the city.

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 1:51 pm
by Fathertork
I turn on my cruise control :lol:

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 3:53 pm
by darsek
You're holding too tight onto the bars and putting too much weight on your hands. You should be holding your body up with your mid-section (abdominals), not your wrists. There should be no weight on the bars . The only time there should be bar input is to turn the bike.
+1 :thumbsup:

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 2:15 am
by hi-side
This is actually part of level 1 at the superbike school. The drill is to be "relaxed", slumping in the seat, no bar input. easy to say, hard to do, especially when you're trying to go fast. The problem with weight on your wrists is that you're putting input into the bars which is translated into the front end.