Right wrist hurts bad after 200 miles?

Anybody else have that problem
Yesterday the wife and I went for a ride on the RWB, 300 miles total with first and last 60miles on highway, and 180 miles in between on small back roads, many twisties :smile:

Lots of fun, wife enjoyed twisties for a changeope2: the problem is my right wrist was cramped bad, especially coming back on the highway!
I installed Gen-Mar risers earlier this spring which helped; before, BOTH my wrist were feeling numb after 60-80 miles

Is the grips the problem or the driving position? as i was going 75-80 mph on the highway the last leg, i supposed the wind was keeping me upright enough to avoid this:unsure:

 

My wrist has never hurt but my left thumb at the joint is killing me. It's now to the point where I don't grip the left handle bar but just rest my hand on it and two finger the clutch. I have ridden 1,000+ miles in the last three weeks.

 

I've made up a "wrist-rest" out of plexiglass to ease the required grip on the throttle. A take-off on the commercial "wrist rockers" etc. I like it, some don't though. It only took a few minutes with a heat gun and a scrap of 1/8th inch plexi bent around a piece of pipe.

The other aspect is a disciplined approach to relaxation. Get the stress and strain off your wrist and put it on those big thigh muscles that aren't doing much of anything anyway. Figure out what it takes, then do it! just do it. repeat EVERY time you find yourself back on your forearms. Repeat after me....I will carry my weight on my legs....."I WILL carry my weight on my legs".....! Make it a habit!... works for me.

 

My right thumb (at the base) and to some degree my wrist bothered me when I first started riding the VFR. Adding helibars, moving closer to the tank and consciously reminding myself to relax my grip more helped a lot. The bike is a big change from my shadow. The position is different, the throttle spring is a bit stronger, and the throttle response is more pronounced causing me to be a bit more tense. I think some of it is also just getting used to the new position. I was worried that I would have problems on my 3,500 mile trip this spring, and I bought a cramp buster just in case, but I actually had no troubles at all riding 10+ hour days, and I never used it. I am definitely more relaxed and my hand and wrist seem to have adjusted.

 

I always find my wrists cramp up when riding 2-up - something about riding with a passenger has me putting more weight on my arms...

 

Well, i have been riding regularly since 1983, i must say that my CX-Turbo has a more upright position:redface:

What surprise me is , with about 3000 miles in 2 seasons with an NS400R with a similar riding position than the VFR, i never experienced those pain :unsure: i guess i will have to live with it, kudos for those who ride like 1500 miles in 3 days.....:wink:

 

I think the cramp buster is a lot like the throttle rocker, but I think Mello Dude is right that a lot has to do with learning to relax. A hour or two of unconsciously clenching any muscle will leave you hurting. I think CalG is right too: learning to use your core to hold you up is important. I find that when I wear my leathers I have a much better grip on the tank (and I slide less on the seat), and that helps tremendously. Another possiblity, I imagine, would be to cultivate a huge gut and just rest it on the tank.

 

It could be the beginnings of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome to. At least that's what my doc tells me

I use a wrist splint on my left wrist that keeps my wrist and hand more aligned. That helps a great deal but it's virtually impossible to manipulate the throttle if I try it on the right side. An elastic band around the wrist helps a great deal on that side, as does a Throttlemeister and a bottle of Advil. Some of the creams that alleviate joint pain can help as well but get the non-smelly kind, that menthol smell stays in gloves forever! I did 600 miles on mine yesterday, a new record for me.

 

I wonder if some of it is the angle of the bars. I think that twisting your wrist at that angle is not very natural. The cruiser bar is more perpendicular and my wrist is lined up more naturally. I ride long distances on my bicycle and I always choose postions on the bars or the brake hoods that allow my wrist and arms to stay in alignment, otherwise I can get numbness and risk pain. That said, I still think relaxing my grip has made the biggest difference.

 

Yah my right hand goes numb sometimes and sometimes it hurts after a few hours ride. I read on here somewhere to keep arms loose and not grip the bars too tight. That has helped a lot, in last couple rides I have not had that issue at all. I was putting some of my weight on my hands which made them numb after awhile. Also it seemed to happen more in the 4-5k rpm range.

 

-Arms bent
-Hold yourself up with your legs
-Back straight
-No death grip
-Try different gloves
-Push-ups & sit-ups, a few will do wonders
-Gel grips
-Wrists straight
I'm sure there is more but that is all I could think of

 

I too have suffered...then I got over it.

All points from above:
relax-actively tell yourself to loosen up-often
throttle lock-NEP makes a 20 plastic clamp that locks the throttle in place-excelent for stretching the right wrist-for a few seconds at a time(don't go hands free for miles, you'll fall asleep)
mods-risers, seats, and such are all good things for extended rides, but they are expensive so save your pennies.

props to mello dude and the others who already answered this. just thought I would reinforce their input.

 

IMHO
you need to relax, get your weight off of your forearms. you may need to consciously think about this until it becomes a habit. Cal was/is right.

 

Three things that really helped me: Helibars-$220, Throttlemeister-$140,RELAX YOUR DEATHGRIP-$Priceless$.........

 

I am also going back to stock. I had a shoulder injury last yers (2 shoulder surgeries) and tought that Hali bars would help. After 2000 or so miles I am going back to stock and maybe Gen-Mar raiser but will gave a couple of hundred just with the stock. I had Gen-Mar before Heli upgrade an it was not bad just I got scared to ride "low" after 2 surgeries ...

 

I regularly ride 350-400 miles with freeway at the begining and end of the ride. My right wrist/hand used to ache but I adapted to it over time. What also helped was the installation of a Throttlemeister so I could give my right arm a break on the freeway. I also do a lot of cycling and my right hand was going numb. I was growing concerned that I was causing some nerve damage with these long rides. Good luck.

 

I wonder if adding some padding to the grip would help. Not only make it a bit softer, but also increase the diameter and reduce the amount of force needed to hold a throttle setting and allow you to open your hand a bit. I found the Grip Puppies too thick, but wrapping some tennis grip tape around the grips added just enough to make it comfortable for me.

I also agree with getting a throttle lock of some kind to give your right hand and arm a break once in a while.