Throttle hand pain

Arghlex

Arghlex

Arghlex

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Joined
24 Nov 2009
Posts
23
Location
Portsmouth, Hampshire
I got my first bike (gs500) a few weeks ago after passing my DAS, and have since been riding it pretty much everyday. Weekdays commuting 20 miles or so a day to work, and perhaps 50-60 miles at the weekend.

I've started to develop a pain in my right wrist. I'm guessing it's from using my right hand for twisting the throttle which is not a movement I've ever really done before.

The thing is, when I'm riding the bike I don't feel it. It's only after I'm off the bike doing other things with my hand that I notice the pain. It feels a lot like a sprained wrist. I'm going to stop riding ( yeah yeah I know :( ) to see if it goes away and then ride again to see how quickly it comes back. I've been trying to relax my grip but it hasn't made a great deal of difference.

Just wondering if any one else has experience of throttle hand pain, and what remedies you might have come across.
 
I had exactly this when I got back into biking a few years back, and it was caused (in my case) by subconsciously gripping the throttle too hard. As soon as I learnt to relax my grip a bit the pain stopped.
 
Make sure your elbows are not locked. Lean forward a bit, bend your arms, relax your shoulders and slightly arch your lower back like you are "trying to hold a puddle of water" in it. Relax your shoulders and only barely grip the throttle. Grip the bike with your legs. Take this position every time until it becomes second nature. You'll find you are less susceptible to side wind buffeting like this (as the wind hitting your upper body does not immediately transfer to the bars), you'll find taking corners easier, and you'll be able to react faster if and when you need to - oh and your hands wont feel like they have been snapped off at the wrist when you get off the thing ;)
 
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Death grip, solid elbow and stiff shoulders are the 3 main things that will kill your upper body.

The rule here is to simply relax, first with your death grip, ease up on the handlebars, this will allow blood to flow freely, thus giving your hands room to breath!

Secondly, your elbows, you should be able to lean right back until your elbow lock out, freeing these up will help your wrists and take away the brunt of the bikes movement away. Allowing nice fluid movements with the bike.

Finally, drop your shoulders! I bet you, that after 5 miles of riding, your shoulders are up and around your ears, drop them, do those 3 in order and you will be shocked at how much smoother the ride is!

Try it mate.

Also, it will take a while for your body to adjust, so you are not doing a single thing wrong, you just have to get used to it and relax :)
 
Another thing could be is the initial position you have your wrist, so when you twist the throttle, your hand isn't in a great position and is bent downwards.

If that's the cause, just rotate your wrist around the throttle to a less natural position to start with, so when you've got it open, it's sitting in a more natural position.

First and foremost, take note of what Agnes said, 3 very good points about being stiff on a bike, as they will cause you issues.
 
Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like some good advice.

I'll try all the things mentioned above this weekend and hopefully it will make a difference. :)
 
As said above, relax your grip. I had this to start with as well.

Now I just get occasional pins and needles on long journeys, but I think that's caused by armour.
 
I used to get this try having your wrist a bit flexed when the throttle is shut and its will be a bit straighter when you are opening the throttle. Also relaxing your grip a little will certainly help.
It will dissapear within a month or so as you get used to biking.
 
Definitely need to relax - I was exactly the same when I started riding. A couple of mates said it would go away as I got more used to riding and gripped more gently, and it did.

It'll go away on its own as you get more confident :)

I'm really bad for locking my elbows on any 'sports' bike. I think because my first couple of bikes were sit up, I just have more experience being upright and naturally try to be upright. I didn't have my Mille for that long but I got a bit better in that time. Still need to really pay attention though otherwise I end up almost upright with locked elbows and sore wrists.
 
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