[fallen celt]

At little bit of advice on the above subject would be appreciated. Since I started riding the scrambler I have been getting numb fingers on trips longer than about 30 minutes, at first I put it down to me wearing my summer gloves which have very little padding and the temperature in Ireland during May has been pretty cool. However I am still getting numb fingers despite it getting warmer. I never had this issue on my previous bike (BMW F800S) so whats going on and how can I stop it.
I have looked online at handlebar vibration etc two solutions seem to be the most popular.

1. Grip puppies.
2. Heavier bar ends

Any comments on the above, I know the grip puppies make the bar diameter wider which isn’t great considering I have small hands, but I did change the standard levers to the evotech adjustable ones so maybe this will help.

Any thoughts?

 

[RamblingPath]

I've noticed a little.

First thing to try, relax (even if you think you are. Numb hands are a feedback loop to me). Both the hands (think holding onto an egg), but also the shoulders (drop the elbows). The position of the handlebar makes me want to raise the elbows, tensing the shoulders.

If you then still getting numb hands, then it could be from vibrations. I would try bar ends first. Grips, clutch action, are such a personal choice - you will have to experiment.

 

[silverluxe]

My handlebars on the Scrambler shake less than most of the bikes I've owned, so I haven't noticed it. I don't feel any weird resonating that would put my hands to sleep on my particular bike. It's just completely OEM. I pulled my bars back a bit from what the dealer gave me to level out the bars with the ground. I hate riding Y shaped grips or having to lean too far forward, so maybe that helped?

And yeah, I have a pretty relaxed grip. I do a lot of one handed riding as well.

 

[littleowl]

I'm normally quite susceptible to numbness from vibration - but haven't had any with the Scrambler. The grips are a quite a bit narrower than other bikes I've had so maybe this is making you grip a little tighter than usual? I could do with slightly fatter grips - although I think Grip Puppies would be too big for my small hands.

 

[mitra]

Scrambler provides me with almost the least amount of long term annoying vibrations from the handlebars. My previous bike have all caused me so much annoyance, but not the scrambler.

I would try to diagnose the following:
* Check your grip, should be light (most of the time)
(* have you had issues with vibrations previously? Bikes, machinery, etc? Is it both hands or limited to one)
* The routes you take. Do you notice the vibrations all the time, or on particular routes
* Do you notice the vibrations more or less at particular speeds

If you have loosish grip and your can answer no to the next two points, but still get bad vibrations I would do as above person suggest. Heavy bar ends.... etc

 

[Nick the Greek]

You have the hands of a laydee Sir!

 

[Mark CR750]

Are the Ducati bars higher than your previous bike?, blood flow could be altered due to your hands being higher (in relation to your heart) but the only way to find out is new bars, try experimenting with different bar end weights (including no weights) first, you could be unlucky and find that the Ducati vibrates at just the frequency that your hands are sensitive to, I've heard good reports about the vibration eliminators in the attached link, never tried them myself though, keep experimenting and you should be able to counter it.


Handlebar Vibration Eliminators

 

[dukes]

Are the Ducati bars higher than your previous bike?, blood flow could be altered due to your hands being higher (in relation to your heart) but the only way to find out is new bars, try experimenting with different bar end weights (including no weights) first, you could be unlucky and find that the Ducati vibrates at just the frequency that your hands are sensitive to, I've heard good reports about the vibration eliminators in the attached link, never tried them myself though, keep experimenting and you should be able to counter it.


Handlebar Vibration Eliminators

Even going to a bike dealer and sitting on a range of different bikes might help to really see what levels work best from various makes.

 

[vibration]

I don't suffer so much from numbness as from cramping...particularly in the throttle hand. Because I'm still learning to modulate the throttle with small increments of movement (to avoid unexpected bursts and unintended wheelies), I find myself gripping the throttle too tightly...thereby causing the cramping. I think once I become accustomed to the throttle response, I'll be able to auto-relax the grip without my brain having to send the "relax" command every 5 minutes.

 

[RamblingPath]

Also, any bend of the wrist either through control placement or bar height can compress nerves. Since you have small hands, you can be resting the median nerve (no padding) on the grip and any vibration would have an effect.

Which part of your hand that goes to sleep will tell you which nerve is being compressed or stimulated. (Long distance bicycle rider)

You have the hands of a laydee Sir!

Aye and I do too. Silky smooth and been my best friend for a long time .

 

[fallen celt]

Thanks for the feedback (even Nick the Greek) I would think its a combination of all the above coming from a bike with clip on handlebars and fairing I know i am gripping too tight when going fast. I will try and relax my grip and I might try the evotech bar ends.

 

[greer]

Maybe go the cheap route first. Some years ago I had a Bonneville that numbed my hands terribly on longer rides, nearly drove me nuts on a 2 week trip to Nova Scotia. In desperation I bought a packet of rubber bands somewhere along the road and stretched them over the grips, lining them up in tight rows. The difference was amazing, pretty much saved the trip for me. I've read of folks doing the same thing with golf club or tennis racket grip tape. I googled and found a neat looking o-ring solution:

Looks like they can be bought here:
Excel O-Ring Grip Kit


Good luck, I despise numb hands.


Sarah

 

[fallen celt]

Maybe go the cheap route first. Some years ago I had a Bonneville that numbed my hands terribly on longer rides, nearly drove me nuts on a 2 week trip to Nova Scotia. In desperation I bought a packet of rubber bands somewhere along the road and stretched them over the grips, lining them up in tight rows. The difference was amazing, pretty much saved the trip for me. I've read of folks doing the same thing with golf club or tennis racket grip tape. I googled and found a neat looking o-ring solution:

Looks like they can be bought here:
Excel O-Ring Grip Kit


Good luck, I despise numb hands.


Sarah

Cheers Sarah you dont know whether lum bands would work I have two daughters and thousands of lum bands all over our house>

 

[greer]

Perfect, and just think of the color combinations!


Sarah


p.s. I do think you might benefit from a fatter, softer grip. Oury road grips are my favorites:


Road/Street Grips - Oury Grip USA


You'll find them much cheaper if you shop a little.

 

[jkblaq]

Reviving an old thread, cause I have developed this numbness in the right hand problem riding the scrambler. I have larger softer grips but still have issues. I bought bar ends but they dont fit, need to get a new set. I have been trying different bar positions but its not working. Im not tall but average height at 5'10' it feels like I am just tilted forward and my weight is on the bars. I have to sit just a few inches back on the seat so my legs are not cramped, this seems to put my weight on my bars. But just guess at this point. Might try bar risers to get the bars up and back so I don't have to lean forward as much.

Two other bikes, I get numbness but in the left hand and after very long rides. On the scrambler its happening in 5-10min on my commute to work. So aggravating.

 

[ichitz]

I've been getting numbness after riding long distances for 3 days. Did some stretches and kept remembering to grip with knees and use core muscles instead of putting weight on the hands. Got a little better.