Right hand cramps after bout half hour?

[Steve]

From personal experience with most of the units listed above:

The "throttle rocker", "cramp buster", whatever you want to call it is, in my opinion, JUNK. Yeah, it allows you to just rest your palm on the grip and relieve the grip a bit, but you have to have it positioned JUST right. If you happen to hit a bump (large rock, pothole, expansion joint), the extra leverage on the throttle will suddenly add throttle. If you have a more powerful large-bore bike, it can get interesting. It took so long to find the exact spot where it would work, and it was SO EASY to knock it out of that spot, I pulled it off and put it in my pocket at the next stop. The only thing that kept me from throwing it into the weeds while riding was the fact that it was not my bike. Another problem with this device is that you STILL have to have your hand on the throttle. If you need to scratch your right leg, you will either do it while slowing down, or you will have to move your left hand over to maintain throttle. Interesting, but doable.

The Sound Off Vista Cruise thing that wymple showed is also virtually worthless. I have not found one yet that fits properly on a GS. Some of them are supposed to clip around the throttle cable, others just have a tab that will fit between the two cables on the VM carbs. With either one, there is so much play, it is hard to set. You never know where the play is when you lock it down, so there is a good chance that it will slow down a bit. Yeah, you can turn it to add some throttle, but the first thing you are going to do is take up the play, then you need to add what you really wanted to add. When you release your grip, it's going to back off the play, hope you got it right, because you are going to be doing it again. And again. And again.

I have not seen the Cruise Mate that posplayr showed. Took a quick look at their webpage, not sure how well that would work on a GS.

The other one that posplayr showed, the Aerostitch Universal (also available with many other brand names) is what I have on all of our bikes. With minimal effort, the installation is relatively nice. Won't win any show competitions, but it is certainly more functional. While it does hold the throttle setting, it does not LOCK it into place. When you get to an overpass on the highway, it is easy to crank it up a bit and have it hold the new setting. Going down the other side, just back it off. You are free to move your right arm around, rotate your shoulder to de-stress some muscles, whatever you need to do. When you need to have finer control over the throttle or are coming to a stop, a simple flick of the thumb releases it and the throttle snaps to idle.

Dogma mentioned a "proper cruise control". I have installed two of them. I have one left, just in case I feel the need to add yet another farkle to "Junior".

My Wing came with a "proper cruise control", I love it. Since the Wing excels at eating miles on the highway, it's nice to push a button and have the bike take one duty off your mind, keeping your speed in check.

That's my opinion, but you asked for it.

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[81gs7501166]

Thanks all, but I don't need or want cruise control, mostly ride back roads,45-60mph, lots of on and off throttle Driving!
I need to reduce the grip squeeze and twist resistance. I think the larger Dia grips or the grip socks will give me a more relaxed hand. I can't close my hand completely. I also need less effort to twist the grip, then it would be nice to do the pic mod so it would take less motion to open it up.
I am going to try to reduce the pull off spring Tension?
My cb750f,with pull-push cables is much easier to twist, it also uses a hardware store pull spring that is easy to change.
As many times as I've had my carbs off, I can't remember what type, or where the return spring is located?
When my 120 mains come in I'm going to pull them anyway, and play with spring?
Thanks for all the Ideas!
Looks like I ant the only one area war with aurther?

[Steve]

The return springs on your carbs are wrapped around the throttle shaft on each carb. Good luck trying to reduce their effort.

Many years ago, I used a product called "Twist Assist". Basically, it was a tube that went inside the end of the handlebar and expanded into place. Inside the tube was a shaft that was connected to a spring. The end of the shaft was threaded, used washers and nuts to anchor itself to the end of the hand grip. You could adjust the tension of that spring in either direction. You could make it almost impossible to open or you could set it so that it would roll the throttle ON when you let go. It was a very nice way to counterbalance the throttle spring tension, but I have not seen one of them around for years.

Larger grips will help. Since your hands don't like to close down, it helps them fit, but it also increases the mechanical advantage, which lessens the effort.

Back in post #11, Gorminrider showed a mod that increases the radius for the cable. That will make for a quick-turn throttle setup, but also increases the effort to move the throttle, which is not what you are tyring to do.

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[mmattockx]

The other one that posplayr showed, the Aerostitch Universal (also available with many other brand names) is what I have on all of our bikes. With minimal effort, the installation is relatively nice. Won't win any show competitions, but it is certainly more functional.

Steve,

Got any pictures showing the installation? I wouldn't mind a throttle lock of some sort to give my right hand a break on those long straight roads but I can't see how it would fit on my bars, it looks like it mounts right where my master cylinder reservoir is.


Mark

[Gorminrider]

A different tack : and I've not had Arthritis, but does heat help in flexibility? Would heated gloves help? Or even heated grips some rate high. You could "sample" the idea before spending with those "HotHands" disposable handwarmers slipped in the back of the glove....They take a while to warm up so start them 1/2 an hour ahead of the ride...

Add: just an odd idea but POSSIBLY you could experiment with a counter-spring right on the handlebar throttle itself. IE; a string wrapped round the grip, connected to a spring....thatI would Make it easy to tear off while riding, or adjust.

[Wingsconsin]

Steve,

Got any pictures showing the installation? I wouldn't mind a throttle lock of some sort to give my right hand a break on those long straight roads but I can't see how it would fit on my bars, it looks like it mounts right where my master cylinder reservoir is.


Mark

Yep -- that's the one I am considering for next season - a picture would be very useful --

[Steve]

Let's see if Photobucket still works for me.

This is on my wife's bike. The tape with markings was done so I could check throttle positions for plug chops.



The throttle lock is available in black or chrome. This one is obviously black. Mine is a mixture of both, will have to get a picture of it this evening when I get home.

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[posplayr]

Let's see if Photobucket still works for me.

This is on my wife's bike. The tape with markings was done so I could check throttle positions for plug chops.



The throttle lock is available in black or chrome. This one is obviously black. Mine is a mixture of both, will have to get a picture of it this evening when I get home.

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You are obviously not using the $1 quick throttle mod

[2BRacing]

I use a NEP cruise control (model CC-4 for single cable Suzuki) and have never had problems. A simple "U" shaped clip fits over the throttle cable where it exits the housing, to keep the unit from rotating around with the throttle.

The friction adjustment is set so that you can still twist the throttle open or closed even with the cruise control engaged, but the friction is enough to keep the throttle at a steady opening.

The only negative point is that the lever is right at the top, making it difficult to engage/release with right thumb. I just bring left hand over to engage/release, because you do not need to do it often on the open road, anyway.


NEP Cruise Control.jpg

[Steve]

You are obviously not using the $1 quick throttle mod

Very observant.

In my mind, that would be counter-productive for the OP (81gs7501166) and not what he would be looking for. It also goes against what I need, too. The "quick throttle mod" increases the mechanical advantage for the carb, not for the user. When a given amount of rotation produces more pull on the cable, there HAS to be more effort involved. Absolutely great and wonderful if you are racing and have to have the throttles opened that many milliseconds sooner, but I have a mile-eating luxo-barge. although it occasionally sees redline, it's usually with less than full throttle. I just hold it a few seconds longer, I'm not in a hurry.

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[OldVet66]

I have rheumatoid arthritis and will be 70 near the end of next month. I have found that grip shape and size, bar position and a well synced set of carburetors along with getting into shape to ride are more important than any throttle aids. The grip I use is larger in the middle than the ends and I use a grip saver over it. Straight grips will numb my hands in a heartbeat. I ride with three fingers resting on my brake lever with thumb and forefinger around the throttle and hold it in place on long rides with the outside heal of my hand resting on the top of the grip. My last ride was 4.5 hours up and back with an all day ride in between. I had no hand problems what so ever but it was quite hard on the rest of my body because I have had little chance to ride this year.

[posplayr]

Very observant.

In my mind, that would be counter-productive for the OP (81gs7501166) and not what he would be looking for. It also goes against what I need, too. The "quick throttle mod" increases the mechanical advantage for the carb, not for the user. When a given amount of rotation produces more pull on the cable, there HAS to be more effort involved. Absolutely great and wonderful if you are racing and have to have the throttles opened that many milliseconds sooner, but I have a mile-eating luxo-barge. although it occasionally sees redline, it's usually with less than full throttle. I just hold it a few seconds longer, I'm not in a hurry.

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Despite the 20% increase in torque required with the $1 throttle mod, my own subjective ergonomic appraisal if that it eases stress on the wrist because the range of motion required of the wrist in substantially reduced. I'm sure there is a kinesiological basis for this but I have not tried to quantify it analytically.

I found the $1 mod to make riding my old GS750EX much more pleasurable simply because you don't have to contort your wrist as much when opening and closing the throttle (or worse regrip to get full twist). I was initially hesitant about putting the device on my 1166 GS1100ED. After a while, I tried it, and found it equally comfortable for the same simple reason that much less wrist movement was required. When I got a Kymoko 250 moped, I even fitted it with one to avoid annoying wrist flextures.

On the GS1100ED I also had the cruse control lock which would have relived any additional stress of throttle torque.

The smaller the engine, the more likely you will need the mod, but it worked fine for me on a big bike as well.

I would say give it a try; worst thing that happens is you have to pull it off again.

[Cipher]

Of course you could see a physiotherapist and they would give you a set of exercises to strengthen you and assist in any postural errors contributing to the pain.
My k1300 almost killed my wrists and in the end a pair of precurved gloves and exercise to strengthen the lower back as wella s shoulders and neck fixed things.
No bike mods at all crazy Huh!

[Dogma]

From personal experience with most of the units listed above:

The "throttle rocker", "cramp buster", whatever you want to call it is, in my opinion, JUNK. Yeah, it allows you to just rest your palm on the grip and relieve the grip a bit, but you have to have it positioned JUST right. If you happen to hit a bump (large rock, pothole, expansion joint), the extra leverage on the throttle will suddenly add throttle. If you have a more powerful large-bore bike, it can get interesting.
...
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Steve, you were doing it wrong. I've never had bump induced acceleration. When you use one of these, you only relax your grip a bit. You don't relax your wrist. Well, you do, apparently. I don't. Not for everybody. Locks aren't for me.

What's a good proper cruise control, other than Honda OEM? I didn't know you had so much experience with them.

[Steve]

The throttle lock is available in black or chrome. This one is obviously black. Mine is a mixture of both, will have to get a picture of it this evening when I get home.

OK, I have been home for a while and gotten a bunch of 'stuff' done, it's about time to get the picture posted.





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