Numbness

[rodgers1021]

I just came off of a short ride to auburn and back via auburn folsom rd. I started at sunrise and greenback approx. During the ride and even now while i am typing my right hand is experiencing some numbness. i have read some of the other posts on how you should be sitting. My forearms are fine and don't hurt. Just my hand. Any information you could provide would be great thank you. I am sorry if i put this in the wrong spot.

[Raider510]

probably from all the vibration to your throttle hand. it should go away soon.

[rodgers1021]

How long does it take to go away? This really annoying that my hand is numb. Thank you.

[dkcwenge]

make sure your brake/clutch levers are allowing your wrists to be straight

then dont lean on them but use more inner thigh/lower back to keep you up instead

if it still is bad, get better grips, stuff bars with dampening materials, and possibly sync your carbs if you have them (or so i've heard)

[dkcwenge]

oh and dont grip the handlebar super tight

[rodgers1021]

I have adjusted my levers and its better but i am still experiencing numbness especially in my thumb. I am putting two fingers on my brake (as a cover) to help. Somebody had suggested that. It helped but it has not completely gone away yet.

[dkcwenge]

what part of your thumb?

[rodgers1021]

It is mainly from the web to the tip on the inside. I also have so pain in my wrist like tendons or something. Hopefully that helps and thank you for helping me.

[Z3n]

How tightly are you gripping the bars? The correct amount it "not at all".

[xmenrsix]

maybe installing some weighted bar ends might help...

[rodgers1021]

I don't think that i am gripping very tight. I know my grip has gotten looser as the days go by. I am sure at first i had a death grip. It currently getting better but i can't tell because my hurt from riding so much.

[dkcwenge]

the wrist/ tendon part i will bet is from the levers not being in the right position (plus leaning on them) when you are riding, your wrists are probably bent upwards. if you stand at your bike and wrists straight, they should graze the top of the grips and along the levers. adjust so your wrists are straight

also, if you are finding you're leaning too much on the bar, you can add grips to your tank so you can use your inside thighs as leverage. it helps a lot

[edmo]

I also noticed when I changed out the stock bar-ends the vibration increased a lot.

[rodgers1021]

Originally posted by rodgers1021
I don't think that i am gripping very tight. I know my grip has gotten looser as the days go by. I am sure at first i had a death grip. It currently getting better but i can't tell because my hurt from riding so much.

I have corrected the problem with my left wrist. It is my right wirist now giving me fits. It is getting better but it still hurts. I am finding that i have to bring my arm in closer to my body and bring my elbow down some and it helps with the discomfort. I haven't been on any long rides in several days and i am just giving my hands some rest. In 5 day i have put 340 miles on my bike. I am new at street riding and i think i may have over done it on riding instead of easing into it?. Not sure though. But atleast it is slowly improving.

[dkcwenge]

the right usually takes some loosening up / getting used to since you do constantly *grip* the throttle when you turn it. be more conscious about different ways you can hold it and how tightly you have it

[B-mtrd]

i had the same problem at the beginig, i started putting all my weight on my stomach and my lower back rather that my armas, i had to keep reminding myself. it allows your wrists and hans to relax.
just my 2 cents

[dkcwenge]

one thing that helped me out was installing tank grips that help my legs do some of the work my back and arms would have normally been doing to keep me from falling forward

[bpw]

Should get better with experience but you could also try a throotle rocker (or similar) so you dont need to grip so hard. I had a kind that was a small rubber piece that wrapped around the throttle and rested under the outside part of my palm. Really helped on long trips.

Ben

[rodgers1021]

Thank you everybody that has helped me out. My right hand is still a little sore and numbness keeps getting a little bit better everytime i ride.

[Z3n]

Check into the stock bar ends if your bike doesn't have them. They do wonders for damping the vibrations.

[Lazerus]

Nate,

You might want to check out Doc Wong's info on here. He is well educated about ergonomics and repetative strain injuries. He actually does free clinics on body position and setting up controls to prevent just the symptoms you are exhibiting. Sounds like a circulation or nerve problem. Does covering the brake with two fingers feel natural? It may be putting a higher demand on your pinky and ring finger than necessary. It is easier for me to hold the throttle open by using the weight of all four "calouses" of my right hand resting gently on the grip. Using only two fingers on the throttle may be requiring you to use a continuous "twisting" to hold the throttle open.

I remember getting the same sensation from smashing back and forth between sac and pleasanton when I first started riding. For me it had been a combination of resting the weight of my upper body on my hands and holding the throttle too tightly. Now I trust that my butt and legs are enough to keep me in the saddle and have stopped having that problem... instead now my back hurts from holding up my wieght! doh! ;)

[rodgers1021]

it is slowly getting better i went for a 150 mile ride today and my hand wasn't too bad. It started to go numb a few time but not like it used to. I am working on not crushing the grips on the bike and i am using more legs now for support to try and stay off the handlebars. Plus i am giving my hands a rest every few days. I will not ride the bike for a day or two, which seems to be really halping. Maybe the last part is mental? Not sure but i think it works. I have been considering going to some of his clinics. I have heard they are great.

Originally posted by Lazerus
Nate,

You might want to check out Doc Wong's info on here. He is well educated about ergonomics and repetative strain injuries. He actually does free clinics on body position and setting up controls to prevent just the symptoms you are exhibiting. Sounds like a circulation or nerve problem. Does covering the brake with two fingers feel natural? It may be putting a higher demand on your pinky and ring finger than necessary. It is easier for me to hold the throttle open by using the weight of all four "calouses" of my right hand resting gently on the grip. Using only two fingers on the throttle may be requiring you to use a continuous "twisting" to hold the throttle open.

I remember getting the same sensation from smashing back and forth between sac and pleasanton when I first started riding. For me it had been a combination of resting the weight of my upper body on my hands and holding the throttle too tightly. Now I trust that my butt and legs are enough to keep me in the saddle and have stopped having that problem... instead now my back hurts from holding up my wieght! doh! ;)

[bug_eyedmonster]

hey guys,

I have the same problem.... and I tried many of the things you guys recommended. I have new weighted bar ends (R+G) and adjusted the levers so they keep my wrists straight. I've been holding my grips like they are egg shells, but I still get the numbing feeling throughout my whole hand. when I ride through Redwood or Palomares. Normal city riding is fine, but if I go for a longer distance, they get numb too... any ideas? I couldn't make it out to Doc Wong's seminars, but yeah, still trying to get this figured out.

[rodgers1021]

I learned that if my elbows were in line with my wrists it helped the circulation in my hands. When i started my elbows were too far out. I am not sure if that will help or not but it helped me. Also i am gripping the tank more than i was so that has also helped with the pressure on the bars like dkcwenge said. I have tank grips on order and should have them next week. I will post the results that i find with those as soon as i get some time on them. Probably next weekend.

[mlm]

A lot of people have mentioned getting a Throttle Rocker type device. You can also try resting the outer part of your hand on the gap between the bar end and the throttle. I do this when I'm cruising and it takes very little pressure and virtually no gripping to keep a constant throttle.

You can also check out a ThrottleMeister. Adds a bit more dampening to the bars and lets you lock the throttle so you can occassionally stretch out your hand and wrist.

[highonF4i]

My middle, ring, and pinky fingers have been numb at the tips since the newb ride last saturday (july 14th). I'm starting to get concerned because it's not going away, even though I put the bike away for a few days. I think it's a circulation issue in the wrists or something, almost like carpal tunnel. I'm trying to figure out whether I should get it checked out. I also work at a computer, so it may be delaying my recovery...although i have a little keyboard pad and shizz....

[Baptistro]

To all of you who think you are being loose on the bars, please try bending your arms so that your forearms are more parallel with the ground, Use your legs and back to hold yourself up. Please report back after your next ride.