Please help: numb right hand...

[JavitiFJR]

Hello all,

after introducing myself as a new FJR owner, I explain to you the only regret I have so far about this otherwise great bike.

I just came back from a weekend trip of 1000 miles, mostly done on freeways.

The bike performs really well in this environment, with 2 up and full lugagge, but after 15-20 minutes of cruising I get a numb right hand, to the point that it's hard for me even to break in case of an emergency... :blink:

I come from a BMW 1200 RT and while the twin has more vibrations in general and not such a smooth feeling, I never suffer a problem like this.

Is this a general problem or just my own?

Any solutions or fixes to this?

Thanks in advance for your help on this.

Best regards from sunny Spain,

 

[El Toro Joe]

Hi, I use the Cramp Buster. It works well for me, clips on to throttle. Costs about $10.00. This is a cheap and easy fix

 

[theraphosa]

Grip puppies took care of most of my problems. ..another cheap/easy fix.

Bob

 

[madmike2]

I use a Vista Cruise throttle lock so I can take my throttle hand off the bars and move it once in a while.

I also have a Gen I (the handlebars are not adjustable) so I've purchases riser/spacers that rotate my handle bars "out" to reduce the pressure on my...er...uhm..."elder" wrists.

 

[Capt. Bob]

Here's another option.

Very costly but works well when properly installed.Clicky

 

[MojaveFJR]

Ditto on the throttle lock. Google it with FJR and there is a good tutorial on how to install for the feej.

I have a R1200 gs and my hand goes numb.

 

[Checkswrecks]

The following is a cut & paste from the FAQ for the Gen2 bikes with bold-fonts added. There's a similar FAQ for Gen1. You'll have to go to the FAQ for the exact links and can also search on "wrist" for more. You may also want to search on the word "yoda" with respect a lot of people get from riding positions.

Welcome to the group.

Bob

Throttle Locks / Cruise Control:

Locks:

Brakeaway (although marketed as cruise control, is a throttle lock) Company Website: Clicky

NEP Throttle Lock: Clicky

NOTE: The AE model has a larger throttle sleeve diameter, and the NEP CC-3 requires substantial modification to install on an AE model.

ThrottleMeister: Verified to fit: FH & AH-R1 and FH & AH-R1 H (for heavy fits) '06 A and AE models (thanks SMC, nosecone, Rick M. OhioFJR1300) Company Website: Clicky

Application for 2001-2007 FJR1300 called out as: Standard: FT & AY-R1 , Heavy: FH & AY-R1-H

Thread on discussion of Throttlemeister, G2, Heated Grips, and GripPuppies: Clicky

Installation notes from ELP_JC: Clicky

Vista Cruise: Clicky

Homemade Throttle Lock/ (Home Depot Cruise Control from Checkswrecks: Clicky

Cheap Homemade Throttle Lock from jestal: Clicky

Cruise Control:

Some use Audiovox CCS100 for cruise control (not to be confused with a throttle lock)

Audiovox Cruise Control offer from Smitty: Clicky

Audiovox Cruise Install Pictoral from atl dave: Clicky

Specifically designed cruise control for the FJR 1300 (to include the AE model) is the Motor Cycle Cruise (MCC)

marketed here: Clicky and the specifics for the FJR are here: Clicky

Smitty's comments are here: Clicky

[SIZE=12pt]Throttle Spring:[/SIZE]

Many complain of the Throttle Return Spring causing the throttle to be too hard to twist or complain of pain to the right wrist.Throttle Center Spring Release Clicky

An idea as to how to rewinde the center spring Clicky

Throttle Pulley Pic's with Fred H's copper wire mod (to reduce the cam effect): Clicky

Alternative method to reduce the cam effect (G2 Ergo Cam) Part # "Tube/400Y cam for Yamaha FJR 1300 Sport Bike"

Thread discussion: Clicky

 

[03HiYoSilver]

Jav,

Here are the Links for this fix:

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?s...st&p=220804

UnderTank/Spring,etcGen2Rickster- https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=18322

VistaCruise- jpcycles - https://www.jpcycles.com/ProductDetail.aspx...0408&cs=All

Grip Puppies & Cal Sport FJR items-

https://www.casporttouring.com/store/mercha.../Yamaha_FJR1300

In Addition, your Throttle Bodies may be out of Sync:

TBS https://www.fjrtech.com/getdbitem.cfm?item=21

Hope this helps....it sure did for me.

 

[Harald]

In addition to all the great info already posted, my suggestion is to be aware of how tightly you're gripping the throttle. If only your right hand is going numb, then it must be your "iron grip" that's causing your problem. The vibration should be the same in both bars and because the throttle tube partially isolates your hand from any bar vibration, in theory you should have even less vibration on the right side. But if you put the death grip on the throttle, it'll cause numbness.

I have to consciously make myself loosen my grip to avoid the same numbness you experience. It's definitely worse in heavy traffic where I'm gripping harder in anticipation of some cager trying to kill me. Gotta remember to relax!

 

[Foxhuntr]

I did the throttle spring release, bar end weights, throttle rocker palm rest, and PCIII. Much improved.

 

[spalkin]

Your problem may or may not be from squeezing the throttle. The solutions above are all great. I have the BrakeAway and it's great.

I've posted before to get a couple of 25lb weights and do some shoulder shrugs, concentrating on dropping your shoulders as far as you can. You'll notice a difference immediately.

Like I said, the problem could just be the posture you're in on the FJR. Free up those nerves and blood vessels coming out of the neck.

Good Luck!

 

[bluejag]

aside from the gunny on above posts you should check the angle of your controls, depending on your size you may need to

turn them down/forward (the levers) so your hands/wrists are at a neutral grip when resting over the levers

 

[stealth1]

I agree it could be from gripping throttle to tightly in which case loosening your grip or using inexpensive crampbuster may solve your problem.

Another approach which worked for me on my old Concours was simply wiggling the fingers of your right hand every 10 or 15 minutes. It doesn't cost anything and what else are you doing anyway?

 

[JavitiFJR]

Hello all,

First of all thanks a lot for the responses and suggestions.

Before the FJR I had a BMW R1200RT, and 2 KTM's (Superduke and Adventure) with different riding positions and less refined engines than the FJR.

The Adventure was the nicest ride of them, and both the BMW and the Superduke had noticeable vibrations coming from the engine, but in neither of them I had the "numb hand problem".

For me something isn't right in this great bike. I just hope I'm able to solve it and enjoy the FJR many mails...

Regards from not-so-sunny-this days Spain...

 

[Ghost 26]

Right off the bat, let me say that I don't own an FJR, yet...

That being said, all of the points mentioned above are valid. Some things to look at...

Are you a tense rider, or do you ride relaxed? This goes for the hands (as mentioned earlier) as well as your shoulders, jaw, back... You may be tensing up without even knowing it. When I first started riding big bikes on the interstate, there was a bit of tension as I got used to the concept. I had a death grip on the bars and most of my upper body was tight. After four or five months a friend asked why I looked nervous. He could see the tension in my body while riding. I wasn't nervous any more, but never got used to a relaxed riding position. Much more comfortable now.

Is your riding jacket loose around your shoulders? If your jacket is too tight around your shoulders you could be putting pressure on the nerves leading to your right hand.

My other points have been covered. I have the Brakeaway Throttle Lock on my VTX1800. Love it. That, risers, and a driver's backrest have turned my VTX into a rolling lazyboy. That's one of the reasons I'm looking at adding the FJR to my garage.

G26

 

[Rolavine]

Both my hands are going stiff as I ride the FJR. they don't open and close as easily as they used to and there is a lot of tension when fisted like that is an unatural position. I am approaching 60 and have been a computer jockey and fingerstyle guitar player (all ten fingers used) forever. Maybe this lack of flexibilty is natural with aging? I drive a couple hours a day to and from work (100 mile round trip). There are few stops and starts and it's a rural route. I'm not overgripping and there is just about no vibration. I've put a riser, angle adjuster on my gen 1 (not to solve this problem but to lower pressure on my hands), and I've wraped bicycle handlebar tape around the grips to create a nice tapered round like a '***** grip'. Anyone ever have such a problem? I dont' think I'll stop riding until I can't type anymore, that FJR is like a siren and when I have to drive my cage it feels awful, like a switch from a Ferrari to a Pinto and that damn thing leans the wrong way in corners too, who came up with that dumb idea?

 

[Bustanut joker]

Ya get new gloves?? I read somewhere that if yer running to tight a glove especially in the wrist area it can cause problems.

I had similar issues, and after switching to a looser fit the problem went away.

just a thought.

:jester:

 

[DCH]

I like the throttlemiester. Have used it on several bikes, with no problems. Get the heavy ones.

DCH

 

[DaveFJR]

Lot's of good suggestions. For my '06, installing a G2 made the pull seem lighter. The shape of the BMW sport grips helped keep my hands from moving too far back on the bars & contacting the bar ends. Wearing gel gloves in the summer and medium/heavy gloves in fall/winter also help quite a bit.