Right hand cramps after bout half hour?

[81gs7501166]

I'm almost 60 and Arthur is attacking my hands.
After half hour or so my right hand cramps, I stop and stretch and take 5, then ride more.
Benn looking at those palm throttle assist things, cheep on ebay 4-5$
Any Advise?
I'm ordering larger Dai foam grips so I don't have to squeeze so tight?
I don't think I can soften the return spring on the carbs, 34s, or can I?
The cold air hurts, the hands cramp, but I ant giving up riding yet?
Any ideas on lessening the stress on right hand,[I broke it a year ago in a car wreck]

 

[sam000lee]

How old are your throttle cables? Old ones often bind in the sleeve making the twisting a lot harder/tiresome on your hands. When I replaced my GS750 throttle cables it was a world of difference.

 

[Guest]

I'm 60 and my right hand goes numb sometimes too. I've thought about those palm rest things and might go ahead and get one.

 

[Guest]

I'm almost 60 and Arthur is attacking my hands.
After half hour or so my right hand cramps, I stop and stretch and take 5, then ride more.
Benn looking at those palm throttle assist things, cheep on ebay 4-5$

I have one acquaintance who uses the throttle lever thingy on long rides. He says it helps a lot on boring stretches because he can hold a very loose grip and just rest the heel of his palm on it to hold throttle. He also says it took some practice to get used to it and he recommends practicing some quick stops and so on with it on, as it can get in the way at first. I also second the new throttle cables or at least lubing the ones you have. They get old over time and can sneak up on you.

Grips can make a difference, but they seem to be a personal preference more than any right answer for everybody. I use Progrip #724's for most of my bikes and find they are gummy enough that I don't have to hold on very tight and they seem to suck up some of the vibration making for a more comfortable ride.

I feel your pain on getting old, I'm not at your age yet but I find my right shoulder gets tight and painful from riding some days. Getting old ain't for sissies...


Mark

 

[Gorminrider]

got low bars? Maybe take the weight off wrists with taller ones. This will change wrist angle (carpal tunnel Syndrome?) Or maybe just a periodic shift in adjustment to your present bars might help..


The palm throttle thingies...well they are worth trying ! but as your friend said, need getting used to. They are best on longer rides but won't seem as controlled as the grip you might be used to now....,if they are fine for idling, they are not good for higher speed- the subtle change of hand position you make in traffic mode versus long run isn't available..

ONE important thing is, they MIGHT hit the tank when steering is to stop/lock if your bars are low so remember to check this once you do get them set right to ride with... I only noticed when I went to lock the forks that I will need to lock them the other way or take the thingie off.

On the original suzuki grips that are quite thin,hard and have longitudinal ribs they are sort of limited as to where they will stay as to setting the paddle to your palm but they are infinitely adjustable on fatter gummier Progrips or the like.

 

[Boriqua]

Some good advice posted already but I too was having my wrist go numb on shortish rides when I first got my bike. The previous owner had put the fork tubes up into the trees about 20 mm and so I was leaning forward and the bike came with large diameter soft grips. I hated those grips. I have smallish hands so I found I was more leaning on the grips rather than holding them since I couldn't wrap my hands around them.

I put the fork tubes back to where the factory had them more or less, I swapped my throttle cable and I put on new rubber regular diameter grips. I can now ride for hours even on the highway with no numbness.

Perhaps you can pull your bars back some to get a more comfortable reach.

 

[Wingsconsin]

I found the foam grip puppies (go over the existing grip) seemed to help my grip considerably
The larger diameter was easier to grab and hold (for me) and made a world of difference.
I also have the throttle rocker wrist rest thing too..
I find it a PIA when riding the twistys, or in traffic because it always seems to be in the wrong place and causes me to over-rev a bit.
However - on a long highway run - it is very helpful - just set it and relax --
Pick your places with that device I think ...

 

[posplayr]

http://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...uick-Turn-Throttle-Mod&highlight=1/4+throttle

 

[Guest]

Get a Crampbuster. You can rotate it out of the way when you don't want it or easily remove it and put it in a bag. It has a small nub or hook underneath that grabs the grip. I've used one for years on many different bikes. They come in different shapes and sizes.

 

[81gs7501166]

I've got a newish cable, it's free of snags.
The spring on the 34s seem stiff,I know it's for safety but is their any way to lessen It?
When pulling the carbs,I un boot them first, then unhook the cable ,by holding the linkage wot, to get to the end of the cable, damned it's Strong? Stock as far as I know. If I could lessen it a little it would help?
Where my hand was broke, I can't grip completely around small Dia things. So lge foam grips are a must for me.
Thanks uall,least I'm not the only old cramping old biker?..
I have another set of carbs, ones off 81 gs750, I'm going to look at them and c if spring is different?

 

[Gorminrider]

yes, those Crampbusters^^^ are the ones I (and mmattockx I think) was describing...on the old ribbed grips seen here where posplayer shows in his WideOpenThrottle mod, they have limited location

or in traffic because it always seems to be in the wrong place and causes me to over-rev a bit.

exactly.

as noted you can rotate em around( in one direction) easily or just take em off.

 

[81gs7501166]

cramp buster ordered.
I like the quicker raito cable but until I get it easier to twist, I cant do anything to make it harder.
thanks

 

[posplayr]

There are various cruse controls that will lock throttle, but can be released at the flip of a switch. This takes all load off of your wrist.

http://mycruisemate.com/index.html

http://www.aerostich.com/universal-vista-cruise-control.html

 

[Dogma]

I had a Throttle Rocker brand things for a while. It was too long and interfered with the cuff on my jacket, so I trimmed it. I've made more radical alterations since. Bottom line, though. I don't ride without one anymore. It reduces how tightly I need to grip the grip, and it also provides a reference for throttle position if I take my hand off the grip for some reason.

Some riders prefer the throttle lock, but I don't care for it. I'd like to add a proper cruise control for those long highway trips, so I don't have to monitor my speed so closely. Uh oh. I wonder if anybody sells aftermarket adaptive cruise hardware. Radar modules are getting a lot cheaper.

 

[wymple]

Sound Off Recreational Vista Cruise Control/Throttle Lock For Honda Motorcycles


When you get tired of that POS cramp buster get one similar to this. On or off with the flick of the thumb, doesn't require you to constantly pressure it. Fully adjustable with a small allen wrench. Comes with it. I tried the cramp buster type and hated it. Me & Arthur old old enemies

 

[Steve]

From personal experience with most of the units listed above:

The "throttle rocker", "cramp buster", whatever you want to call it is, in my opinion, JUNK. Yeah, it allows you to just rest your palm on the grip and relieve the grip a bit, but you have to have it positioned JUST right. If you happen to hit a bump (large rock, pothole, expansion joint), the extra leverage on the throttle will suddenly add throttle. If you have a more powerful large-bore bike, it can get interesting. It took so long to find the exact spot where it would work, and it was SO EASY to knock it out of that spot, I pulled it off and put it in my pocket at the next stop. The only thing that kept me from throwing it into the weeds while riding was the fact that it was not my bike. Another problem with this device is that you STILL have to have your hand on the throttle. If you need to scratch your right leg, you will either do it while slowing down, or you will have to move your left hand over to maintain throttle. Interesting, but doable.

The Sound Off Vista Cruise thing that wymple showed is also virtually worthless. I have not found one yet that fits properly on a GS. Some of them are supposed to clip around the throttle cable, others just have a tab that will fit between the two cables on the VM carbs. With either one, there is so much play, it is hard to set. You never know where the play is when you lock it down, so there is a good chance that it will slow down a bit. Yeah, you can turn it to add some throttle, but the first thing you are going to do is take up the play, then you need to add what you really wanted to add. When you release your grip, it's going to back off the play, hope you got it right, because you are going to be doing it again. And again. And again.

I have not seen the Cruise Mate that posplayr showed. Took a quick look at their webpage, not sure how well that would work on a GS.

The other one that posplayr showed, the Aerostitch Universal (also available with many other brand names) is what I have on all of our bikes. With minimal effort, the installation is relatively nice. Won't win any show competitions, but it is certainly more functional. While it does hold the throttle setting, it does not LOCK it into place. When you get to an overpass on the highway, it is easy to crank it up a bit and have it hold the new setting. Going down the other side, just back it off. You are free to move your right arm around, rotate your shoulder to de-stress some muscles, whatever you need to do. When you need to have finer control over the throttle or are coming to a stop, a simple flick of the thumb releases it and the throttle snaps to idle.

Dogma mentioned a "proper cruise control". I have installed two of them. I have one left, just in case I feel the need to add yet another farkle to "Junior". :-\\\

My Wing came with a "proper cruise control", I love it. Since the Wing excels at eating miles on the highway, it's nice to push a button and have the bike take one duty off your mind, keeping your speed in check. :encouragement:

That's my opinion, but you asked for it. :-\\\

.

 

[81gs7501166]

Thanks all, but I don't need or want cruise control, mostly ride back roads,45-60mph, lots of on and off throttle Driving!
I need to reduce the grip squeeze and twist resistance. I think the larger Dia grips or the grip socks will give me a more relaxed hand. I can't close my hand completely. I also need less effort to twist the grip, then it would be nice to do the pic mod so it would take less motion to open it up.
I am going to try to reduce the pull off spring Tension?
My cb750f,with pull-push cables is much easier to twist, it also uses a hardware store pull spring that is easy to change.
As many times as I've had my carbs off, I can't remember what type, or where the return spring is located?
When my 120 mains come in I'm going to pull them anyway, and play with spring?
Thanks for all the Ideas!
Looks like I ant the only one area war with aurther?

 

[Steve]

The return springs on your carbs are wrapped around the throttle shaft on each carb. Good luck trying to reduce their effort.

Many years ago, I used a product called "Twist Assist". Basically, it was a tube that went inside the end of the handlebar and expanded into place. Inside the tube was a shaft that was connected to a spring. The end of the shaft was threaded, used washers and nuts to anchor itself to the end of the hand grip. You could adjust the tension of that spring in either direction. You could make it almost impossible to open or you could set it so that it would roll the throttle ON when you let go. It was a very nice way to counterbalance the throttle spring tension, but I have not seen one of them around for years.

Larger grips will help. Since your hands don't like to close down, it helps them fit, but it also increases the mechanical advantage, which lessens the effort.

Back in post #11, Gorminrider showed a mod that increases the radius for the cable. That will make for a quick-turn throttle setup, but also increases the effort to move the throttle, which is not what you are tyring to do.

.

 

[Guest]

The other one that posplayr showed, the Aerostitch Universal (also available with many other brand names) is what I have on all of our bikes. With minimal effort, the installation is relatively nice. Won't win any show competitions, but it is certainly more functional.

Steve,

Got any pictures showing the installation? I wouldn't mind a throttle lock of some sort to give my right hand a break on those long straight roads but I can't see how it would fit on my bars, it looks like it mounts right where my master cylinder reservoir is.


Mark

 

[Gorminrider]

A different tack : and I've not had Arthritis, but does heat help in flexibility? Would heated gloves help? Or even heated grips some rate high. You could "sample" the idea before spending with those "HotHands" disposable handwarmers slipped in the back of the glove....They take a while to warm up so start them 1/2 an hour ahead of the ride...

Add: just an odd idea but POSSIBLY you could experiment with a counter-spring right on the handlebar throttle itself. IE; a string wrapped round the grip, connected to a spring....thatI would Make it easy to tear off while riding, or adjust.