How can you enjoy yourself when your right hand goes numb ??

[Huzo]

I've wondered what is it that sometimes makes my right hand go numb starting from the outside of the palm and can progress to most of my hand when riding ? Removing it from the 'bar will restore the feeling almost immediately but it can be troublesome. If I grab my left hand with my right, it feels like it's not my hand I'm grabbing. I don't know if it's circulatory or not but maybe someone does. I asked about it once and all I got was some oblique response like, "you should be happy, every man's dream"  whatever that means ???  The Norge doesn't do it as much nor did my Triumph Sprint ST, but my GSXR 1100 Suzuki was a shocker.

[Chuck in Indiana]

What do you expect when you ask a question like that? "Uhh, maybe swap hands?" 
Seriously, it's pretty common for an inline 4 to be "buzzy." You might try gel grips and or gel palms in your gloves. It's one of the reasons I don't like 4s.

[ITSec]

I've wondered what is it that sometimes makes my right hand go numb starting from the outside of the palm and can progress to most of my hand when riding ? Removing it from the 'bar will restore the feeling almost immediately but it can be troublesome. If I grab my left hand with my right, it feels like it's not my hand I'm grabbing. I don't know if it's circulatory or not but maybe someone does. I asked about it once and all I got was some oblique response like, "you should be happy, every man's dream"  whatever that means ???  The Norge doesn't do it as much nor did my Triumph Sprint ST, but my GSXR 1100 Suzuki was a shocker.

Numbness like that is more likely nerve related than circulatory, but tele-medicine from amateurs is worth every penny you pay for it. Check with a physician that does industrial injury work, or a good physiotherapist. Chances are if you can describe it well, they can give you techniques to avoid or reduce the problem.

A lot of these problems have to do with things like weight on the wrist (based on your posture), a bad angle for the bar that positions your wrist oddly, or gripping the bar too tightly. As an experienced rider, I wouldn't think you would miss these signs, but I thought I'd mention them so everyone reading could add to them.

[stevet]

More buzz vibration can come through the "loose parts" of the throttle side of the bar vs. the "fixed parts" of the left side.  This has affected my right hand on every bike I've ridden.  Never a problem at my left hand.

Original Grip Buddies grip wraps help.  I also use a Kyriakyn Universal Throttle Boss, and a Go Cruise Throttle Control from Aerostich.  And along with these, I've installed Vibranator bar end weights on my FJR.  The combo of these work pretty well.  I've also noticed some insulated cold weather gloves transmit more vibes than my Aerostich Ropers.  I would think the glove insulation would snuff out vibes, but this is not the case with all gloves.

Good luck.
Steve.

[beetle]

Grip Puppies.

[wrbix]

Carpal tunnel syndrome.
http://www.healio.com/orthopedics/journals/ortho/2012-5-35-5/%7B629ba187-2e6d-4635-a737-09ed454174f3%7D/prevalence-of-carpal-tunnel-syndrome-in-motorcyclists

Science, it works.....

[oldbike54]

 Sounds like a form of vibration induced neuropathy . I have the same problem . The right gloves can help , although probably not with what Chuckie is suggesting 

 Dusty

[Cam3512]

I purposely sit on my left hand until it goes numb, but if I go any further Dusty will bitch slap me.  So I won't.

 

[Dofin]

that is my complaint with the V7 at 70 mph.  It is better during temps 60 or less.

[lost]

I'm with IT Sec- it is nerve related. You can try changing handlebar positions but mostly it's bad nerves due to having too much fun when you were a young whelp. Might try acupuncture, it has worked for me.

[jbell]

I tend to grasp the right grip tighter than the left even though I have throttle assist.  When my right hand starts to numb up I just relax my grip and all is well.  Maybe some form of throttle assist for you?

[bad Chad]

Corn oil, works wonders.

[Huzo]

You can try changing handlebar positions but mostly it's bad nerves due to having too much fun when you were a young whelp.

Yes that's always possible I guess but I've never really had any injuries as such even when younger.

[Huzo]

Corn oil, works wonders.

Does that give some relief to the joints or tendons ?

[TodkaVonic]

Median nerve (carpal tunnel) issues effect the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and thumb-side of the ring finger. It manifests as tingling and numbness at those digits and generally progresses to weakness and muscle wasting of the thenar (thumb-side) eminence (the big pad of palm at the base of the thumb.) I've operated on plenty of carpal tunnels and I don't recall a single person who said that his symptoms only occurred, or occurred chiefly, while riding...and I live in Wisconsin, so there are plenty of riders.

What you're describing doesn't sound carpal tunnel-like or at least not carpal tunnel alone.

Try this: go out to your garage and put on a radio program you like or maybe a CD or something. Now sit on your bike and grab the handlebars, and sit like that for a good 30 minutes. If you have tingling issues you've ruled-out the vibrations as a source and, indeed, since you're not cranking your wrist, you've ruled-out the carpal tunnel too. And now we're looking at positional neuropathies that can generally be cleared up by a good physical therapist and/or some positional modifications/stretching exercises, etc.

If it doesn't happen, then it's likely more of a vibrational issue and it's likely polyneural since your symptoms don't correspond to a particular nerve.  I assume you're right side dominant? In any case, a great place to start with nerve issues (the parasthesias are thought to be secondary to perineural inflammation) is with scheduled anti-inflammatories like 3 Advil every 6 hours for a week, ice, and inactivity/brace use.

If you do end up with a brace, come up with a good story, like you strained it pulling deaf kids out of a burning bus or something. My motorcycle makes my hand numb isn't going to impress the ladies :)

[Huzo]

I've had stuff before to give relief to a sore shoulder and stuff for hay fever relief and lots of other things, but what do you ask for when it's your hand that's problematic ?

[Huzo]

Median nerve (carpal tunnel) issues effect the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and thumb-side of the ring finger. It manifests as tingling and numbness at those digits and generally progresses to weakness and muscle wasting of the thenar (thumb-side) eminence (the big pad of palm at the base of the thumb.) I've operated on plenty of carpal tunnels and I don't recall a single person who said that his symptoms only occurred, or occurred chiefly, while riding...and I live in Wisconsin, so there are plenty of riders.

What you're describing doesn't sound carpal tunnel-like or at least not carpal tunnel alone.

Try this: go out to your garage and put on a radio program you like or maybe a CD or something. Now sit on your bike and grab the handlebars, and sit like that for a good 30 minutes. If you have tingling issues you've ruled-out the vibrations as a source and, indeed, since you're not cranking your wrist, you've ruled-out the carpal tunnel too. And now we're looking at positional neuropathies that can generally be cleared up by a good physical therapist and/or some positional modifications/stretching exercises, etc.

If it doesn't happen, then it's likely more of a vibrational issue and it's likely polyneural since your symptoms don't correspond to a particular nerve.  I assume you're right side dominant? In any case, a great place to start with nerve issues (the parasthesias are thought to be secondary to perineural inflammation) is with scheduled anti-inflammatories like 3 Advil every 6 hours for a week, ice, and inactivity/brace use.

If you do end up with a brace, come up with a good story, like you strained it pulling deaf kids out of a burning bus or something. My motorcycle makes my hand numb isn't going to impress the ladies :)

That sounds like a good analytical approach to zeroing in on some answers. I'll look down that track. BTW wouldn't the ladies just think you were a caring sort of guy if you gave them the "bus story", why would they not be impressed ? I would be.

[oldbike54]

I purposely sit on my left hand until it goes numb, but if I go any further Dusty will bitch slap me.  So I won't.

 Sorry Cam , I hit modify instead of quote  If I am reading this correctly , keeping your left hand out of service keeps down on ugly posts 

 Dusty

[pehayes]

From Simon and Garfunkle:

I been Norman Mailered, Maxwell Taylored
I been John O'Hara'd, McNamara'd
I been Rolling Stoned and Beatled 'til I'm blind
I been Ayn Randed, nearly branded
Communist, cause I'm left-handed
That's the hand I use...well, never mind

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[Matteo]

This has happened to me on my Norge and CX. Both remedied by different bars, more relaxed position.

[dl.allen]

I got that bad on a long cold ride on my
LeMans
After 3 days and still partial numbness I went to doctor
Diagnosis was pinching of ulnar nerve with no real treatment except surgery.  It slowly dissipated over about 3 weeks.
Now I use throttle lock and be mindful of it and have avoided a full on bout since

[Swedemoto]

Yeah, I get this too while riding the SP. I will probably try some gel grips and make sure everything is tight before spring. How much would a failed steering damper effect this?

[Sasquatch Jim]

 Move the throttle to the left side so that you can let go and flex the fingers while riding.
  Or spring for an expensive cruise control device.
 I'm lucky, it's my left hand that does that.  I just let go the bar and flex the fingers until it goes away.
 If the right hand does it I let go on the down hills when the throttle is not needed.

[twowings]

Start an exercise routine that strengthens your core muscles...you should be using those to support your seated position so the force is taken off your hands and wrists...

Also, on long rides, exercise your fingers, wrists, and thumbs periodically to restore circulation and relieve cramping...

[TodkaVonic]

I got that bad on a long cold ride on my
LeMans
After 3 days and still partial numbness I went to doctor
Diagnosis was pinching of ulnar nerve with no real treatment except surgery.  It slowly dissipated over about 3 weeks.
Now I use throttle lock and be mindful of it and have avoided a full on bout since

Yes, the numbness starting at the outside (pinky-side) of the palm is ulnar nerve territory. I'm not 100% sure but I think that an ulnar nerve stretching exercise is to make an "a-ok" sign (thumb to index finger and other three fingers straight up) and then to rotate your elbow up over your head and then to look through the a-ok. Remember as kids it was a funny face thing I'm sure you did in pictures. And yes, I'm doing it now and it's not as easy as it was when I was a kid and that's the stretch alright. 

Anyhow, google it for a picture and try some stretches for a couple of minutes a few times a day. That may do some good, can't hurt anyway.

[Fuzzy]

Anecdotally, the same thing happens with bicycling. Shaking my hand brings the feeling back again. I stopped wearing cycling gloves as an experiment and the problem essentially disappeared. I always felt it was a circulation issue, but I almost failed biology in high school. There isn't much buzzing on a bicycle, so I would eliminate that. On the other hand, my first symptom of spinal stenosis was tingling, then numbness, in my foot. The docs had to do actual diagnostic medical tests to rule out circulation stuff (without running it by the folks here on the forum), then they started looking at nerve stuff.

[charlie b]

Yep, mine is positional aggravated by the vibrations.  Not sure if it is shoulder or elbow since both were abused a lot playing baseball.  I always use a throttle lock on my bikes and that solves the issue since I can move my hand around.  The only problem times is continuous twisties where I can't use the lock.

FWIW, I get the same issue when my arm is in a particular position, whether on the bike, driving a car or sitting on the couch.

[fotoguzzi]

 
  Or spring for an expensive cruise control device.
 

not expensive and it WORKS!

[Penderic]

Try heat. Helps me.

[Bravo Sierra]

First let me say “look out here comes some free advice” 

My wife had the same sort of problem and we tried every add on solution imaginable, got to the point where she would not ride her bikes. Then she went to the doctor and was diagnosed with carpal tunnel , lots of stuff in between, had surgery. Her wrists have not bothered her since but I did have to buy her a third bike. So go see a doctor. 

Another thought is we use some sort of throttle lock, helper, either cramp busters or Throttlemeister on any bike we take on trips of any length.

Bob