| Author | Message | ||
     Voltage_vector |
I have a long commute, and try to ride as often as possible, anyway after a fairly short distance, like 20 miles my right hand is totally numb. This primarly happens on the highway, around 4000 RPM. I never really noticed this so quickly before on other bikes. On the twisties I never seem to notice it much...maybe a little...I have tried different positions of my grip, installed the Buell traction grips, tried a few different types of gloves, Vanson, my old worn in just right Bates, not much difference. Any one else have this problem? It has become a real issue, as the next 30 miles of the ride gets into bad traffic and it would be nice to be able to feel the front brake. I'm thinking some kind of cruise control to let me shake it out a little, any suggestions guys or am I just getting old?  | ||
| Eboos |
Are you gripping the bars/throttle too tight? My Alpinestars GP tech gloves made my hands numb because they were a tad bit too tight. Other then that, I think that I may be gripping the bars tight, or using one finger to cover the brake may be exposing a pressure point. | ||
| Voltage_vector |
Eboos, oddly enough it seems when I grip tieghter it holds off the nunbness for a little longer... believe me I've tried all kinds of things while riding...like just using my last two fingers.... I went to up state NY for a 400 mile trip with a friend last week for a dirt bike enduro...anyway...he said try asperin...I did and it seemed to work for a few hours...thined out the blood?? | ||
| Whodom |
I'd guess you're stressing your right wrist due to your position on the bike or the way your hands/arms are positioned. There are a lot of things you can try to help. Try adjusting the bars and changing the angle somewhat. Play around with it and see if moving them helps. Next step would be to try a different set of bars. Maybe bars with a different amount of pullback or different height would help. You can give your right wrist some rest with something like a "Throttle Rocker" or "Cramp Buster". These clamp around your throttle grip and allow you to use the weight of your hand to hold the throttle open so you can completely release your grip. Stick with it- you'll figure it out. | ||
| Black_sunshine |
vector.....It could possibly be coming from the vibs in the bar. I had the same problem but instead of buying a bar snake to reduce them I bought a tube of DAP silicon sealer and filled the bars up with it. reduced vibs by about 50%. Hope this helps. | ||
| Trish |
I use a throttle rocker--it allows you to unwrap your fingers but still vary your speeds. | ||
| Voltage_vector |
Thanks guys....I too think it is in the angle at the grips....I guess I ride 'elbows out' and the natural hand / bar position ends up with my little finger fully around the grip and the index finger just barely on the bar...a steeper angle grip might help and looking at my clip ons on my old Ducati, and the bars on my Ninja, the both have a 'steeper' angle...hummmm...in the mean time I'll fill those suckers with Silicone....another note...the bar end mirrors I got from Al at American Sport Bike are rock solid with no vibrations...it would be a shame if I have to go to lower bars as the upright riding position of the Lightning was the reason I went to this bike in the first place!  | ||
| Paw |
I had the same problem and bought a pair of pro gel grips from American sport bike reduced vibration a lot my right hand no longer goes numb. Cheap fix to cost me $8. | ||
| Terminator |
i used to suffer the same problem, i think it was due to pressure on the nerve in the palm of my hand. i put a thin layer of foam in my glove and it seemed to do the trick. that was on a sports bike tho, dont seem to suffer now i found the right bike!!!!! | ||
| Voltage_vector |
Thanks all, I dont feel so alone now! I have some good ideas from you all...we'll see how it goes. Thanks. Rich | ||
| Jackbequick |
You don't have any carpal tunnel syndrome problems do you? Like fingers going to sleep after using keyboards for a while? I had the same problems you describe and it went away this spring after I had surgery to relieve my carpal tunnel problems. I was wearing gloves with padded palms and using a CrampBuster CB1. The CrampBuster let me ride with a my fingers relaxed. Since the surgery I use the CrampBuster occasionally but it is not an essential any more. Jack | ||
| Voltage_vector |
Jack...no known carpal tunnel ...hope the op you had was not too bad...it did square you away though...right? | ||
| Xbdude |
Had the same problem, Jack, and they thought it was carpal tunnel. It turned out to be a nerve being pinched in my neck. It caused my right hand to tingle, the "pins-and-needles" kind of tingling. It eventually got worse, and I went for surgery, having a titanium plate installed in my neck. Recovery was hell (5 weeks of doing nothing) and after three years it's starting to come back. I hope VV's problem is solved much easier. | ||
| Cowboy |
Voltage you are not getting old. you may want to try riding like I do on long trips. I lay my left arm on the tank, place my right arm in my left hand and just lay on my left arm. relax my grip on throtle and just let her rip I can run for a 100 miles like that only stop for fuel.you can just let your whole body relax. | ||
| Voltage_vector |
what a great bunch of guys(and gals) you Buell folks are....  | ||
| Oldog |
I hold the tank with the knees and take my weight off of the arms and move continuously, bad posture, the traction grips help some too. I want to get a throttle rocker. you probably getting old too  I turned 49 monday (Message edited by oldog on August 03, 2006) | ||
| Henrik |
A couple of suggestions: - don't put too much weight on your arms/hands. Try to take some of your weight using your abs/back. It helps using your legs to hold on to the tank. There are a couple of rubberized grip type products on the market that'll make that easier. One in particular stays attached to the tank with some sort of static cling. The very nice additional advantage to that technique is that it helps prevent the "death grip" on the bars. - Also, take the time to adjust your hand controls. If you put your hands on the grips and your fingers on the levers, your hands and fingers should form a straight line with your forearms. It might actually also help to get higher bars with slightly different bends/droops. - finally, I've had very good luck with barrel shaped grips. Al at American Sport Bike sells #5662 - Gel Thick Handlebar Grips. That type of grips help keep your hands in a more natural, rounded shape putting less pressure on the nerves and blood vessels "feeding" your hands. Henrik | ||
| Xring |
I sometimes get numb hands when riding motorcycles or bicycles. I've never found out for sure why sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't, although it seems to be getting better in the last few years. If they go numb, it is almost immediately, like you say. I filled the bars on my old FJ11 with lead shot, and it helped some. Have a Bar Snake in my XB9S. But it happens on my bicycle, too; I've tried all sorts of different postures, grips and gloves, to no avail. A physical therapist/sports doc may be able to help. Good luck, Bill | ||
| Essthreetee |
When I switched my handlebars from the touring bars to the lower bars, I went numb in 20 miles or less. Switched back to the touring bars and...gone. Taking the weight off my wrists did it for me... | ||
| Jackbequick |
Rich, The surgery made it all fine, the surgeon at the VA Hospital at Togus, ME is my hero! And the audiologist there who put me in hearing aids is another one of my heros. My problems are a result of years of copying Morse Code in the Navy. That involved wearing headphones and beating on a procession of manual typewriters, teletype keyboards, and electric typewriters and PC keyboards. My hand is slightly tender to impact in the area of the surgery but works perfect again and never takes a nap. The tenderness is fading with time. But keeping your weight off your hands will help too. The M2 was great for me as at 65-70 MPH if I kept my back straight the slight forward lean and wind pressure kept my hand weight pretty neutral. Jack | ||
| Ozymandismotard |
Carpel tunnel syndrom Doctor Surgeon, 15 Mins, 3 weeks recovery No more numb hands But what would I know?, I had the op 3 years ago. Even with no insurance, it's like, 600 bucks Ozy from France | ||
| Eboos |
The lower I get on my bike, the better my hands feel. It is mostly my right hand that gets numb. | ||
| Captpete |
Jackbequick, Retired @ 42? Man! I'm interested in your VA surgeon. After many years as a commercial fisherman my hands are just about worn out, and I've got pretty severe cts in both thumbs. But at 65 I'm still fishing and it looks like if they get fixed, it'll be the VA. I'm interested to hear of your experience. Recoup period, how do they work now, is it done with a local, etc.? I've been a little concerned about turning them over to the VA, but I could find my way to Maine easy enough. Does he do torn rotator cuffs as well? (I'm a little beat up, but I'm still tickin'.) Pete | ||
| Captpete |
Or maybe Ozy just answered my questions? But numbness ain't my problem. I could use a little of that by the middle of the day. | ||
| Chasespeed |
BASED on what I know, from my physical therapist, and Docs, CTS isnt at all uncommon, and its becoming more common in people my age(26), and a little older, that ride crotch rockets(aggressive styled bikes SHE said, though she rolls a CBR).. Anyway, there is a nerve, that tunnels through the ligmanets in your hand/wrist.. the constant leaning on the hands, causes swelling, etc, also increased by vibrations, and whatnot.. repetative motion(typing on a keyboard all day)..etc, help to aggrevate this... try the things mentioned above, to reduce vibes, and get you posture perfected(as mentioned above, you should have no/almost NO wieght on your hands)... Another little tid-bit... Get a bar, pole whatever... find something to support it, and gasp it, with the amount of force and wieght you use on your bike...if your hands go numb, see your Doc... If you have been riding cratch rockets for a while, you might wanna check anyway(if you have health insurance)...it cant hurt... And the surgery, my mother had that surgery about 10=12 years ago, and even then, it was done with a Local, outpatient, and something liek a 1 month recovery, and follow up with Physcial Therapy... Chase | ||
| Pwnzor |
I got rid of the numbness in my hands from riding this vibrating beast, here's how: Curling 30-50 lb dumbells. Then do pushups on the dumbells with the handles in the "handlbar" position on the ground. In this way, you can work your wrists in the position that is affecting you.  It worked for me, I'm not a doctor but what the heck. Sometimes I figger stuff out.  | ||
| U4euh |
Throttle rocker-$9.50-best $10 I spent! I am able to put my thumb on it and relax my hand and work out the fingers till feeling returns. | ||
| Seamaster |
For me it's a same thing, my xb12s is my 13th bike and first time in my life my right hand is numb after few kilometers. I have changed Momo desing handels but it doesn't help. Your not alone!!  | ||
| Voltage_vector |
the 'Cramp Buster' is on the way...I ordered both the long and short (they were so cheep, I'll see which one is best suited to the Lightning) Filled the bars with two tubes of Silicon Sunday. It rained today...maybe tomorrow for a trial.  | ||
| Pwnzor |
You're not resting all your weight on your hands are you?  |
