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Hand hurts after riding

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8.1K views 13 replies 11 participants last post by  jwhert  
N
#1 ·
I was wondering if there is a proper way of holding the clutch lever and throttle/front brake lever. My hands seems to be strained after riding. My right hand had the worse since I couldn't squeeze simple things like ketchup bottles or using tongs to grab things. I haven't rode for a week because of it, but my hand is getting better now. Is my hand short or am I just not grasping it correctly?

My bike is the '08 250r.
 
#4 ·
On longer rides try resting your left hand (The flat part to the side and front of the gas tank makes a killer hand rest) and alternate how you hold the throttle. That and are you death-gripping the grips? Always keep moving on long stretches (keeps you alert and keeps blood flowing in your extremities).

Lastly like anything, if you're new to it you have to develop muscles where you didn't think you had muscles :p After a couple of months of riding things that used to bother you won't even phase you (You'll no longer have a sore neck, legs, or arms). Just my .02 ;)
 
J
#8 ·
VeX said:
Lastly like anything, if you're new to it you have to develop muscles where you didn't think you had muscles :p After a couple of months of riding things that used to bother you won't even phase you (You'll no longer have a sore neck, legs, or arms). Just my .02 ;)
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+ 1

When I first started riding my neck was killing me because of the added weight of the helmet. I don't even notice it anymore. On long trips I usually rest my entire left arm on the top of the tank and take in the scenery.
 
C
#6 ·
i'd say that the strain is caused not by the squeezing of the clutch - although you do need to build up some muscle strength there. but rather by the stress of your body weight on your wrists while riding in conjunction with using the clutch.

Solution. with the kick stand down, practice shifting your weight to your legs and lightly sit on the seat. if you have adj rearsets set them to a lower setting.

hope it helps.
 
J
#9 ·
use your legs and lower back to hold your weight, just like everyones saying, it makes a huge difference, you are able to use all the controls but w/ a very loose grip, you end up w/ some pain in your lower back at first, but that goes away after a few days of doing it

also, the closer you are to the tank the easier it is, if i try to slide back on the seat i notice the pain in the wrist, i guess since i am no longer holding my self up w/ my knees

not good at puttin it in words but i went through the same thing last year when i first started riding w/ a 600rr, this 636 is much more comfortable than the rr was
 
#11 ·
jwhert said:
....not good at puttin it in words but i went through the same thing last year when i first started riding w/ a 600rr, this 636 is much more comfortable than the rr was
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that's funny b/c my wrist pains went away when I switched to riding my rr! I always associated the pain to the stretched forward racing position of the ZX6R. I strengthened my wrists in the gym (wrist curls-ask a trainer) and bought a pr of gauntlet gloves. Both helped. I do rest my left hand now on my knee or on the tank also but the more upright weight back position of the rr has allowed me to switch to a pr of shorty gloves.
 
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#10 ·
I recently started riding again after a 10 year absence from sportbikes (and all motorcycles) and immediately noticed discomfort in my hands and everything noted here is true. I was definitely using a death grip and putting all of my weight over my hands. Being tall and fat to boot, it was particularly noticeable. Squeezing a little leg pressure does wonders and as does remembering to stay a bit looser on the grips. I hardly notice it even on longer rides now.
 
#12 ·
Slob said:
I recently started riding again after a 10 year absence from sportbikes (and all motorcycles) and immediately noticed discomfort in my hands and everything noted here is true. I was definitely using a death grip and putting all of my weight over my hands. Being tall and fat to boot, it was particularly noticeable. Squeezing a little leg pressure does wonders and as does remembering to stay a bit looser on the grips. I hardly notice it even on longer rides now.
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^^:plusone: remember tight on bottom loose on top
 
#13 ·
You can adjust the clutch cable (so the clutch engages/disengages at a different spot) and the throttle cable, but you should follow everyone else's advice first. If it's still bad after a month or two, then maybe...

I'm a pretty new rider, and my hand was a bit sore too (not enough to keep me from getting to the ketchup though!), and my neck was hella sore!
 
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