Hand Cramps , any Idea of grips or cruise ?

[mjp5318]

Getting older in my riding days I notice my hands are cramping really bad especially my throttle hand.. Any suggestions to good comfortable grips ? Any recommended cruise control as well .. ? thank you much .

Mike

 

[anrkizm95]

started having this problem a few years ago to many years turning wrenches.i started streching my hands a lot using arnica lotion and eating bananas before long rides.dont get cramps anymore but my left hand still gets numb

sorry no recommendations on grips or throttle locks

 

[mjp5318]

Thanks anrkizm , never thought of anything like that .. After I start riding about 20 -30 miles I start getting numb hands and fingers and constantly letting off the throttle and flexing etc etc .. I stop for a hour get back on , 5 miles later same issue .. so I am just looking for any other kind of support to help

 

[Ozzie]

Throttlemeister cruise control works for me.

 

[Alfatango1]

I use a $25 Vista Cruise. It works great.

 

[Bossanova]

I use a $25 Vista Cruise. It works great.

ditto

 

[Iamarchangel]

Go for thinnest firm grips. Thicker padded ones are for known problems.

Really concentrate on relaxing hands. Let your fingers just hang there. Every once in a while, wiggle them.

On longer rides, start with your hand further over the throttle so when it's in the normal position, it's the same angle as the other hand.

 

[peelandwin]

I use this:

http://throttlerocker.com/throttle-rocker/2000.html

and installing these on my Uly really reduced the bar vibrations:

http://www.hvmp.com/universal.htm

 

[mjp5318]

Thanks for all the help and suggestions e veryone I really appreciate it !

Has anyone heard anything about any kind of gel grips ?

Why thinner grips over thicker ? I think thats my problem the grips are so thin ( stock stuff)

 

[williegoat]

Has anyone heard anything about any kind of gel grips ?

I use these: ASB Thick Gel Grips

Why thinner grips over thicker ?

I like thick grips because I have big hands.

 

[Lesley]

To the OP: I feel your pain. I will be 45 this year and my body and hands ache quite regularly too. Some say thicker grips some say thinnner. I say thicker grips. I use the grab-n johar signature grips. They give you the feel of 1" bars instead of the traditional 7/8ths. My hands and fingers are long and skinny and the standard grips hurt my palms. And yes I wear padded gloves too. I agree eating bananas and drink plenty of water always help hydrate the body and stop muscle constrictions. I also found if while I am riding, without taking my hand off the throttle I move my thumb from under the bar to over the top. Basically using my pinky and palm to hold the throttle while I move my other fingers and palm placement helps the pain. Just resting my hands on top of the grips,only on the highway though. I feel this is safer than using a throttle lock. Something about wide open throttle scares me so I shy away from ever using a lock. I'm posting a link to the grab on website just in case you want to look around. Best of luck.

http://www.grabongrips.com/motorcycle.php

 

[Miami78]

I also found if while I am riding, without taking my hand off the throttle I move my thumb from under the bar to over the top. Basically using my pinky and palm to hold the throttle while I move my other fingers and palm placement helps the pain. Just resting my hands on top of the grips,only on the highway though.

+1, I do the same. 52 mile round trip commute to work every day, 95% interstate.

 

[Iamarchangel]

Thinner over thicker came from a study years ago. Basically, thinner is closer to your natural/relaxed grip so the angles are more correct.

The study was done about the time ergo grips appeared on everything. Study found that for larger grips, especially the soft/foam ones, the muscles were constantly making all sorts of micro adjustments which were contributing to fatigue.

Study had all sorts of negatives for larger grips unless there was a pre-existing condition.

Racers, who race for 45 plus minutes, and could have any grip a sponsor could supply tend to choose small diameter and hard. Whatever mechanical advantage might me there, they don't want it.

Work on a discipline of relaxing your fingers and your grip as other posters have noted.

 

[williegoat]

I may well be the exception then, because I find that a small, hard grip requires that I keep a tighter hold, causing fatigue.
The large grip fits my hand more naturally, and a gel grip is less slippery, so that I don't have to hold on as tightly.
I am 56 years old, so maybe that makes a difference.

 

[rusko466]

I use a Crampbuster and I love it..easily moved out of the way for city driving on the fly, heard some like it better than the velcro alternative..broke my right wrist snowboarding 5 years ago and had problems since, this helped a lot
Crampbuster
I use the thinner one

 

[vanson1200r]

I also use a Crampbuster which cost me $10 and just clips on your grip. I did a 700 day (San Diego to Fresno and back) with it and works great. I dont like it in the city but on long trips heck yes!

 

[snrusnak]

I also have trouble with then grips, it feels like an unnatural position to hold your hand so tight. I bought some of those cheapo foam grips (can get at almost any bike store, I got mine at bikebandit.com for like $8 a pair), and installed them OVER the stock grips. This gives me a larger diameter to hold on too, feels much better, plus they are foam so comfortable. I also have the crampbuster, that thing is great, I actually took it off last weekend when I rode because at full lock on right turn it hit the air box cover, after about 10 minutes I couldn't take it anymore, had to pull over and reinstall it. Some hate the crampbuster, I will say it took some getting used to it, but after a while I couldn't go without it. I really like the foam grips over the stock ones also, been doing that on every bike I've had since the first one.

 

[Alfatango1]

I have the Buell comfort grips on my firebolt and they made a big difference.

Regarding the crampbuster, I had one and hated it since your palm and wrist are still over the grip the whole time. With the Vista Cruise you flip it down and you can drive as long as you want with your right hand at your side, in your nose or pants or what not With a flick of the thumb it goes back to off. I will do 5 maybe 10 minutes on a long straight and rest my right hand. Flick it off, then rest my left. Makes for a very easy long distance ride.

 

[terrible]

This is what I use on my Shovel.
http://www.retrocycle.com/CustomChromeSku/666050/_eGrip__Ergonomic_Hand_Grip_Sets.html

 

[dallasb]

Personally I don't like the idea of a throttle lock. I use the a palm rest which is around $10 from just about any shop/online store.