| Author | Message | ||
     Chopped_burban |
Okay, need some help here. I picked up a 2009 1125R back in August site unseen and didn't get to ride it until two weeks ago. Well, I must be doing something wrong and need some help. My right hand starts to hurt after about 5 minutes on the bike and is pretty numb about 20 minutes in. I've never run into anything like this with the other bikes I ride (Ulysses, DRZ-400, V-Strom). I'm new to the sport bike seating position and found a couple threads that suggested I might have been putting too much weight on it leaning forward, so I made sure that wasn't the case and I'm still having the same issue. My left hand feels just fine. Any ideas? I love the bike but right now I'm thinking I should have just stuck with the Uly. Thanks. | ||
| Captain_america |
I've read on here that some guys weight the bar ends. They use Bird shot or bee bee's or something inside of the bar itself. Not sure how much weight but I think it helps. | ||
| Too_tall_ss |
Oh, this is about riding your bike... Moving on now. | ||
| Pariah |
Hmmm... I have a DR-Z400SM, too, and that thing vibrates more than my 1125R. My hands will start to numb from vibration on the DR-Z after about a half hour of riding. I don't have this numbing issue on my 1125. I ride in a partial tuck position always (one benefit is that I can use my mirrors!). Make sure your upperbody is supported by your abs, lower back and legs. There should be no weight at all exerted on the handlebars, except inevitably when braking hard. That said, I think this vibration issue has come up for others, and I think Zac4Mac went even as far as putting lead shot in his handlebars to weight them down and smooth things out... there are some threads on this. So there is a fix if you're interested. | ||
| Metalrabbit |
Usually leaning hard on the grips will do this, gripping to hard is another one. If your gloves are too puffy you will have to grip harder to turn the stiff 1125 throttle. A good way to check if you leaning on the bars,, put foot pressure on the pegs. If the bars go to a neutral feel then you'll know your leaning on the bars. Getting your forearms more level when getting in a tuck will also make the bars goto that neutral feel. Actually thats the way the 1125 was meant to be ridden. Thats when you get to learn all about its telepathic abilities. | ||
| Lastonetherebuys |
Last summer I was having the same issue but this winter I was reading on here and a few other places and I found a few things that I have tried so far this season and I have about 1000 km on so far Like was said before be conscious about using your body to hold you up not your arms. I found that if you hug your knees tightly into the tank it makes your lower body do more of the work to hold you up. A quote from a racing instructor "imagine there is a $50 dollar bill between your knees and the tank if you loosen up on it the bill will fly away and its gone" Another way I found works but is uncomfortable for me is keeping your neck more in line with your spine and look up with your eyes something to do with the nerves in your arms run somewhere to the back of your neck not entirely sure on that one | ||
| D_adams |
If you use the lead shot in the bars, make sure to bag it. There are holes in the bar (small ones) that the shot can get out through and it will short stuff out. | ||
| Nattyx1 |
I put a set of barkbusters on my CR and the vibes went to nil. | ||
| Xnoahx |
Check these out http://www.vibranator.com/ProductDetails.asp?Produ ctCode=SS-710-I-002 | ||
| Sinjhin |
I have noticed my hands going numb too. Being this is my first bike I just thought it was the cold. So, vibration is the cause of this? There are times the tips of my fingers get so numb they actually loose ALL feeling, as if I had straight up anesthetic shots. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
use the other hand | ||
| Sinjhin |
oh, but when the fingers are numb it is so much easier to imagine it is someone else... heheh. | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
'the stranger'.... try changing your posture gripping with your legs and slight pressure on your feet will help | ||
| Svt |
^ lol | ||
| Mountainstorm |
I've had a similar issue and I really think it's about developing a better riding posture by using your legs and core more to support you and keeping a lighter but still firm grip on the bars. I no longer have that issue and I can ride 300 miles at a stretch with greater comfort. | ||
| Jules |
Look at adding a bit more weight to the bars to dampen vibrations (the bird shot route is a good one to go) and think about the amount of weight you put on your wrists when riding, use the core muscle group to support you more. Lots of people (myself included) initially had issues but after riding around "thinking" about how I support myself it's now become second nature and I can ride whole days without any discomfort/numbness. It seems to be a combination of weight and vibrations, both of which can be easily addressed.. | ||
| Scottorious |
all of those suggestions are good but a little add on is that i wear some mechanix wear gloves that have some really nice padding on the palm which helps me. | ||
| Jjk |
Getting your engine tuned with an aftermarket ECU flash will make the biggest difference (and I assume the EBR ECU would do the same). You honestly will not believe how much smoother the engine runs at all revs. | ||
| Milt |
I had a similar problem on a CR. I found that if I get really intimate with the airbox, it takes some pressure off my hands. Additionally, this small change made a big improvement in handling, probably because it just feels better. (No snickering, please.) I concur with many other observations here: develop the core muscles, use your legs, hold the grips lightly. | ||
| Redduck124 |
The type gloves you wear can make a difference, as can adding a bar end weight (I plan to add a throttlemeister myself.) But one thing that helps a lot is to use your knees to grip the tank/frame to take the weight off your wrists and back. It's easier than is sounds and works. Also, angling your hands where the V shape between the thumb and forefinger is not pressing directly against the grip, more at an angle toward the inst. cluster, helps me. Just a couple things I've found that work well for sportbike seating positions. | ||
| Sparky |
If it's just your right hand going numb, the problem may not be vibes from the bike but rather, it's probably the constant gripping of the throttle and twisting it that's causing the muscles and tendons in the hand to press on certain nerves in the hand resulting in numbness after a while. If that is the case, try a Throttle Rocker or similar device on the twist-grip. It is a lever type of thing that slips over the rubber grip and allows you to open the throttle by pressing your palm or wrist on it instead of gripping with your fingers. It allows you to relax your right hand while still working the throttle. I've put one on each of my bikes and I won't ride without one for very long. It makes that much difference for me. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Your SHOULDER is the problem. Trust me. I spent nearly six months in PT during the winter of '08, and a torn rotator cuff with nerve damage was one of my issues. You're not used to having your arm / shoulder in that position for that long, with that kind of weight on it. You're pinching a nerve in there and keeping it in that position, and that's pissing it off. Get a light barbell - 2.5 or 5.0 lbs - and practice SLOW 'jumping jack' stretch/motion exercises, both to the sides and to the front/back (I guess those would be pinwheel-type motions). I bet you feel a twinge or twitch every time your arm goes through the position its in when you ride. Practice, and work it out. Rule of thumb for PT - if you get a sore, "too-long-at-the-gym" ache afterwards, you're OK. If you get a sharp sudden pain, STOP IMMEDIATELY and regroup. Don't overdo it. | ||
| Chopped_burban |
Thanks for all the great responses. I went out today and tried out the suggestions about more leg and core muscles. It did help quite a bit, but still getting a bit of discomfort. I also worked on the grip, or letting it looser, and still had the numbness, just took a bit longer for it it set in. I'm thinking Ratbuell and Sparky may be on to something in my case as far as nerves pressing the wrong way. Not sure if it's hand or shoulder though. As for the weighted handlebars, I think I'm going to have to pass on that one. I jumped on the Uly an hour after my 1125 ride and that bike has much more vibration than the 1125. No numbness at all. So I'm thinking some more practice and time in a gym might be the cure. | ||
| Aeholton |
As for the weighted handlebars, I think I'm going to have to pass on that one. I jumped on the Uly an hour after my 1125 ride and that bike has much more vibration than the 1125. No numbness at all. Don't be too quick to discount. I believe it is more a matter of vibration frequency as opposed to amplitude. That said, I don't suffer numb hands since I installed the raised bars. So, I would say position is the biggest factor. | ||
| Blake |
If you don't already, you might also try riding with the balls of your feet atop the pegs. Switching from resting your feet on their arches to the balls of your feet can make a significant difference in posture and weight on the handlebars. | ||
| Guard_rail |
My hand use to go numb but then I switched from baby powder to vasalene. Yeah it beads up in the shower but my wrist feel much better | ||
| Jasbiz66 |
at least you know what it does in the shower...... I had no idea........ lol | ||
| Azxb9r |
Try a cramp buster. They are about $10-$12 dollars, pop on and off in a few seconds, and take a lot of stress off your hand when you are holding at steady throttle. I dont like it for aggressive riding, but for sections when you are cruising at a steady rate for periods of time it is great. | ||
| Easy_rider |
I believe that there's a nerve that runs through the lower/outer part of your palm that may be contributing. Gloves that have padding in that area have helped me, but there are still some occasional issues. I'll gave to look into Rat's thoughts to see if that will help. | ||
| Hootowl |
What Blake said. Doesn't sound like much, but it does take some stress off your arms. Also, try not to let your wrists bend backwards, keep the back of your hand parallel with your arm. |
