Numb right hand while driving

[William S.]

Hello everybody, I've got a silly question....when either my wife or I are driving our RT se our throttle hand goes to sleep ( tingles or is numb) what causes this and how do we prevent it?

[PixieRage]

On my RS it was vibration in the handlebar. Some new grips and the Throttlemeister with heavy weights made a big difference. No more tingles!

[Bootie]

Hello everybody, I've got a silly question....when either my wife or I are driving our RT se our throttle hand goes to sleep ( tingles or is numb) what causes this and how do we prevent it?

I think you have some Ulnar Nerve irritation especially if your index and 2nd finger are primarily involved. You can check this out by tapping on your Ulnar Nerve where it goes thru the Carpal Tunnel, close to the middle of the under side of your wrist. If you get an "electric shock feeling" up into your fingers the nerve irritation is probably the cause (BTW I'm not a medical doctor so this could be totally inaccurate BS).

What to do about it....
1) Wear padded gloves.
2) Don't grip the throttle so hard, use a light touch.
3) Use cruise control to give your hands a break.
4) Get a Cortisone injection in your wrist (Yuk)

[NancysToy]

Doing carpel tunnel exercises can help, too. Also change your wrist position when you can, and try to keep the wrist straight as much as possible. Problem could also originate in the neck, which would benefit from a change in posture.

[Texmac1011]

The best $12 I ever spent!

http://www.crampbuster.com/

[SpyderWolf]

The best $12 I ever spent!

http://www.crampbuster.com/

If your RT has cruise control, this and loosening your grip on the bars should help for the times you are not using the cruise. Move your fingers often while ryding as well.

[dryheat]

The best $12 I ever spent!

http://www.crampbuster.com/

1+1+1

[bone crusher]

I think you have some Ulnar Nerve irritation especially if your index and 2nd finger are primarily involved. You can check this out by tapping on your Ulnar Nerve where it goes thru the Carpal Tunnel, close to the middle of the under side of your wrist. If you get an "electric shock feeling" up into your fingers the nerve irritation is probably the cause (BTW I'm not a medical doctor so this could be totally inaccurate BS).

What to do about it....
1) Wear padded gloves.
2) Don't grip the throttle so hard, use a light touch.
3) Use cruise control to give your hands a break.
4) Get a Cortisone injection in your wrist (Yuk)

Wrong...the ulnar nerve is entrapped in the pisiform/hamate region...known as pisiform hamate syndrome...this involves your fourth and fifth digits, not the first and second.

The carpal tunnel is a completely different area...

As far as the tingling goes, this is common with gripping as we tend to lean the outside of the hand on the grip, thus creating impingement...to reduce this, get gloves with a gel pad and loosen up your grip...do things to reduce vibration...

As far as cortisone goes, it is not indicated for an entrapment syndrome such as this...will do nothing...

[Firefly]

If you really have carpal tunnel problems - using a light grip and some kind of throttle lock or cruise control is going to be a MUST. When I first got my Spyder I couldn't ryde more than 30 minutes---adding a Barsnake, Grip Puppies and the Throttlemeister changed everything for me. Now I can ryde all day!

The cortisone injections can help - but to having the injections--- had it done a few years ago.

Another thing that helps me greatly is wearing those hand/wrist splint things at night when I sleep. If I skip a night or two I'll have numbness the next day. The idea is that we all by nature curl our wrists at night- thus irritating the nerves. They're cheap to buy and help a lot.

[Dyno824]

You might try Grip puppies, a nice 12.00 remedy Google them

[BajaRon]

Go fast enough to scare yourself!

- Increases Circulation
- Makes Life Seem More Important
- Releaves Aches and Pains (Well, not really but you won't notice them nearly as much and that's the same thing isn't it?)
- WARNING! Going Too Fast Can be Addicting! (Look what it has done to Doc!) On the other hand, you never hear him complaining about ailments either!

[Raptor]

I tend to agree with BAJA Ron!! However, I had the same issue at first. Then I figured out I was stangling the bars! I think it was classic new-rider syndrome in my case!

But I immediately softened my grip, got more practice and technique and changed my hand positions more often. And I do not have this problem any more. ButIi really think it's speed and getting closer to the edge man. You don't feel anything and everything when you get close to the edge!

[CSX4350]

I have the exact same problem on my other bikes, and found that I am (as others have said) holding the grips tight enough to cut off circulation. Ride a 200+ horsepower motorcycle that violently tries to rip you off the back (and scares you stupid) and you tend to hold the grips way too tightly. Also, with smooth rubber grips I tend to grip the throttle tightly to keep my speed up. I don't do it on my RT though, because it just doesn't have the power the others do, and I use the cruise constantly. On my others I have to conciously remind myself to loosen my death grip on the bars, and I've also installed the crampbuster CB2 others have recommended. The numbness is much better now, but sometimes I still have to remind myself to grip the bars easier.

[BumbleBee]

I have the same problem, only my pain starts from the neck

Learn to relax, change your hand position, wiggle your fingers, and adjust your sitting position.

While doing a 165 mile ryde yesterday, I practised these different positions with my hand it helped a lot.

[bone crusher]

If you really have carpal tunnel problems - using a light grip and some kind of throttle lock or cruise control is going to be a MUST. When I first got my Spyder I couldn't ryde more than 30 minutes---adding a Barsnake, Grip Puppies and the Throttlemeister changed everything for me. Now I can ryde all day!

The cortisone injections can help - but to having the injections--- had it done a few years ago.

Another thing that helps me greatly is wearing those hand/wrist splint things at night when I sleep. If I skip a night or two I'll have numbness the next day. The idea is that we all by nature curl our wrists at night- thus irritating the nerves. They're cheap to buy and help a lot.

Research doesn't support the use of hand splits, although most all orthos and PTs recommend them...and again, they are used for carpal tunnel issues, not pisiform-hamate syndrome...different entrapment issue...

[qasamm]

Add another uncramped thumbs up for the crampbuster!

[retired1]

I thought all RT's had cruise control. Whenever I ride, I set the cruise. On my RS I wrapped some wide rubber bands around the handlebars, between the grip and the black bracket. It took some of the pressure off of the throttle return spring, making it easier to loosen the grip on the throttle. Just my experience.

[krb1945]

I have the same problem with my right hand. I started using a throttle rocker and it helps some because I don't grip the throttle so tightly. I have a audio vox cruise control but haven't had a chance to install it.

When I ride the GL1800 any distance... 3 or more miles except in town I have to use cruise control. CC makes life much easier and I won't be without it on the spyder much longer... I hope... temp outside is 99 today and the garage feels like 109. Ken krb1945

[CyncySpyder]

I had the same problem with my right hand, couldn't even use my index or bird finger at all. After reading a few posts on here about not gripping so hard & to lighten up on the throttle, the problem has gone away for me. Granted, my first ryde was 160 miles , so that probably had alot to do with it Hope things get better for ya.

dav~

[pjp623]

Glad to hear that this is such a common problem and not unique to me. I did order one of those crampbusters, hopefully it will make a difference. Thanks!

[GaryTheBadger]

Can you confirm the Crampbuster will work on the tapered handgrip of a Spyder? Which size...CB2 or CB4?

[Neez]

Can you confirm the Crampbuster will work on the tapered handgrip of a Spyder? Which size...CB2 or CB4?

Yes, I use CB1s on BOTH original grips. Nestle the butt of your hand in the "hollow" of the crampbuster and leave your fingers loosely curled. Works great!

[tjfischer]

I don't have numbness in my hands, but I do have arthritis. The fix I found is ergonomic bicycle grips. The best way to explain them is they have built in cramp busters. They work great, I have not had any issues with my hands since installing them. You may want to try something simular.

Here is the link to my original post: Grips

[ynot]

The best $12 I ever spent!

http://www.crampbuster.com/

dan (aka wacky dan) had one of these on his spyder, i picked one up,,, "oh what a relief it is"

[krb1945]

Cramp busters and throttle rockers are available at most kuckle draggers motorcycle shops. Ken krb1945