does anyone else have a problem with their right hand going numb on longer trips?
I'v ridden my share of different bikes and this has never happened before but I have an idea
It seems that the throttle spring is also the most stiff thing I'v encountered on a bike and I think loosening the resistance of that spring will fix my problem
FIRST, hose down the return spring & all throttle linkage (there's more under the air box) with a GOOD spray lube (not WD40). If you still think it's too strong after that then we can talk other measures.
Are you sure it is not hypertension in the muscles of the forearm, this will reduce blood flow and induce numbness due to pressure on the nerve bundles?
When I bought the bike a few months ago I performed a bunch of maintenance which included lubing the control cables. The throttle has a nice crisp snap shut when released.
when I start to notice the numb feeling it seems like the throttle return spring is putting to much tension on the skin of my hand by the sheer twisting forward force, that's why I think lightening the return spring would help.
Numb hand syndrome is common, often caused by supporting too much of your upper body with your arms. Arms should be bent and relaxed, lift outer part of palm off the grips to open up blood flow to hands. Slight changes in posture are needed for riding this type of bike effectively. When you get it right they are very comfortable for long distance. Having less weight on the tailbone pays off if you are not supporting the upper body on your hands.
Cramp Buster added to the throttle grip could help. I don't know how the throttle spring could easily be adjusted.
Numb hand syndrome is common, often caused by supporting too much of your upper body with your arms. Arms should be bent and relaxed, lift outer part of palm off the grips to open up blood flow to hands. Slight changes in posture are needed for riding this type of bike effectively. When you get it right they are very comfortable for long distance. Having less weight on the tailbone pays off if you are not supporting the upper body on your hands.
Cramp Buster added to the throttle grip could help. I don't know how the throttle spring could easily be adjusted.
:1: I had a similar issue with long trips on my 2006. I made four changes that solved it for me--though I don't know whether it was one of the changes or all of them together. 1.) I worked on my stomach muscles to help take weight off the handlebars; 2.) I consciously loosened my grip on the throttle; 3.) I installed Heli-bars to change the angle to the bars; and 4.) I bought a Vista Cruise so that when I'm stuck droning along the slab I can take my right hand off the throttle and shake it out, flex it, or lay it across the tank bag.
When I bought the bike a few months ago I performed a bunch of maintenance which included lubing the control cables. The throttle has a nice crisp snap shut when released.
when I start to notice the numb feeling it seems like the throttle return spring is putting to much tension on the skin of my hand by the sheer twisting forward force, that's why I think lightening the return spring would help.
The vfr throttle pull is not hard unless something is wrong with yours, otherwise I wouldn't touch it for safety reasons. The vfr rear sweep of the clip-ons KOCKS your wrists inward and you knuckles outward. Try raising the clip-ons out of the detents, shift them forward a little bit and see how that does, cramp busters are pretty simple too. But for long runs a hard to beat a throttle meister.
A mc riding policeman who first responded to a crash I had on a freeway cloverleaf loop attribute my crash and the crash of a fellow mc riding officer to the throttle rocker I was using at the time. I had carpal tunnel syndrom at the time (since surgically fixed). He said that while I was counter steering I put a slight input to the throttle rocker that increased my speed just enough to miss missing the curb by one foot. Suggested I not use it in urban riding; just on long-distance freeway riding.
I've never used one since.
I believe the key to keeping your weight off your wrists is to use your legs to grip the tank, put a s-curve in your spine to sit up straight, and put your abs in play to hold your weight off your arms. It takes time to build up the necessary strength. By the end of my first month riding I'm back in shape and can do it all day.
As a side benefit, the strengthing of my core has reduced my back pain issues tremendously.
I'm 65 yrs old; if I can do it you can too. :)
added: It also helps to keep the balls of your feet on the rider's peg; makes for a good anchor point and helps leverage.
A mc riding policeman who first responded to a crash I had on a freeway cloverleaf loop attribute my crash and the crash of a fellow mc riding officer to the throttle rocker I was using at the time. I had carpal tunnel syndrom at the time (since surgically fixed). He said that while I was counter steering I put a slight input to the throttle rocker that increased my speed just enough to miss missing the curb by one foot. Suggested I not use it in urban riding; just on long-distance freeway riding.
I've never used one since.
I believe the key to keeping your weight off your wrists is to use your legs to grip the tank, put a s-curve in your spine to sit up straight, and put your abs in play to hold your weight off your arms. It takes time to build up the necessary strength. By the end of my first month riding I'm back in shape and can do it all day.
As a side benefit, the strengthing of my core has reduced my back pain issues tremendously.
A mc riding policeman who first responded to a crash I had on a freeway cloverleaf loop attribute my crash and the crash of a fellow mc riding officer to the throttle rocker I was using at the time. I had carpal tunnel syndrom at the time (since surgically fixed). He said that while I was counter steering I put a slight input to the throttle rocker that increased my speed just enough to miss missing the curb by one foot. Suggested I not use it in urban riding; just on long-distance freeway riding.
I've never used one since.
I believe the key to keeping your weight off your wrists is to use your legs to grip the tank, put a s-curve in your spine to sit up straight, and put your abs in play to hold your weight off your arms. It takes time to build up the necessary strength. By the end of my first month riding I'm back in shape and can do it all day.
As a side benefit, the strengthing of my core has reduced my back pain issues tremendously.
I bought a throttle rocker, installed it, and tried it out... once only. Not sure how people avoid adding throttle input on decel. I've since installed a vista-cruise intended for yamaha by honing out the inner diameter and cutting a slice out of my throttle grip. I also ground off some of the length of the thumb actuator to prevent it hitting my tank at full lock.
Not sure how people avoid adding throttle input on decel.
It's called paying attention. You cant blame a crash on the throttle rocker. - -Work on your skills.... if you dont weight your wrists in the first place you wont have a problem. -- You are in control of the motorcycle.
I have a similar issue from time to time. I got grip puppies (neoprene grips) which dampened some of the vibration and it's mostly gone away. Also I notice when I wear gloves with minimal padding it's worse.
The throttle return springs are located at the throttle bodies, and they wrap around each TB shaft. Maybe (and I'm just speculating here) you could loosen the spring off by one revolution so it is under less tension? Given the VFR has a return cable so you can positively close the throttles there's no risk having a lower tension return spring. Looks like there's a nut securing the throttle cable drum to each shaft.
A more radical approach might involve removing one of the return springs so the tension is cut in half. You'd need to check the angles of the connecting linkage to make sure this wouldn't cause any potential mayhem!!
Personally, my numb right hand issue was solely from carpal tunnel syndrome. I just had surgery on my right hand in March, no more numb hand for me (and I have both a 5th gen with Helibar equivalents and a stock VTR1000F which has a more committed bar position)! Turns out the bike wasn't my problem.
I get this occasionally, since changing my grips to progrips, installing grip puppies over them and then fitting a grampbuster i can ride all day now. I get the odd tingle in a couple of fingers but that is from breaking my hand and not being reset correctly. This three simple cheap changes have made a huge difference to my bike comport and don't get noticed by many people.
Grampbuster and Grip Puppies have been the best £15 i have spent on any upgrade, modification or bolt on ever. Plus it seemed logical to try cheaper solutions before dropping £250 on Heli Bars.
End of thread · 23 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 13 Nov 2015