i thought all the AMF era workers would be retired by now ...

 

I was having some problems with hands, and like you I liked the position of the bars more or less. I put Avon velvet air grips on my bars with the idea that I could loosen up my handhold and thus avoid cramps and numbness. It helped a lot. I also put Arlen Ness poly bushings in the riser to top tree attachment. So much less vibration coming through at the grip. My hands are happier. My bike is a 2018 Low Rider.

 

It sounds like you may be holding on to your grips too tightly.

In my case I was returning to riding after almost 40 years and on a bigger bike than I was use to, so I was holding on as tight as I could and my hands would go numb. I had to make a determined effort to loosen my grip while I was riding. Now, with a lot of practice and a consious effort, I can ride without a death grip and the hands don't go numb any more.

I also like riding in a n upright position with my arms in a comfortable position with a slight bend at the elbows. Took me a while to get there by using a Reach Seat that pushes me forward and the installation of short HB risers taht helped move the bars up and back. However, befor that, the very first thing I did was to get rid of the OEM grips and I installed a set of ISO grips with the throttle boss. Even though I have rather small hands the OEM grips felt small in diameter and I felt like needed to hold on with a tight grip because they felt "flimsy".. The ISO Grips made my grip much more comfortable and helped eliminate my hands from becoming numb. The throttle boss also helps a lot to allow you to loosen your grip while still able to work the throttle.

.

 

Had the heated grips installed on my Heritage. After so many years on so many BMW's, got used to Heated Grips-----Don't go Home with out them.

They work great.

 

I wish it was as easy as easing my grip. Even when steering with my fingertips in cruise control, the problem does not go away completely. It's almost like I'm pinching a nerve in my shoulder, because it's not just my hands. It's just hard to determine what bar might work better without going through 3 or 4 configurations. I try moving my hands and arms all around the bar and even dangling off the ends to see if there is a position that works. No luck so far.

I had heated grips installed when I first got the bike. They are larger than the stock grips.

 

Had the dealer install the HD heated grips, they work great. After years on BMW's got spoiled with Heated Grips.

 

+1 for heated grips, I also installed them on my Heritage -

 

 

That sounds like a good idea. My hands even go numb when driving my car if my arms are in the wrong position. It's not a vibration issue.