Sleepy hands
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Fairbanks
Sleepy hands
I don't know if it's because of my age, my (over) weight, the vibration of the solid mount Evo, or the height of the stock mini apes on the Heritage, but my hands go numb after only about 5 minutes. I thought I would get used to it, but it doesn't seem to be getting any better. I don't want to have to retire already, but I can't keep shaking my hands to wake them up all the time. Cant operate the clutch when the digits are nodding off. Does anybody think the "iso-grips" type grips will help, or is that just snake oil?
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 361
Likes: 1
From: North Central Indiana
I have the ISO grips but I don't have apes but I love the grips. They do dampen a lot of vibration. It sounds like the position of your bars is pinching the nerve in your wrists. The quick fix would be to just try moving the bars a bit forward or back. The next fix, the grips run about $80 but they are nice. The worst fix...you gotta do away with your apes.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,830
Likes: 302
From: Lorain Ohio
I have that problem too. the iso grips helped some, even the foam grips helped. I just put something like mini buck horns on my v rod an love these bars! I can turn them so it takes pressure off my elbows.
I think there's weights that you can put inside the ends of the bars to absorb some of the vibs too.
If I still have numbness with these bars an grips I may try the gloves with gel pad in the palm.
I think there's weights that you can put inside the ends of the bars to absorb some of the vibs too.
If I still have numbness with these bars an grips I may try the gloves with gel pad in the palm.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 18
From: Beautiful SW Missouri Ozark Mountain Country
I've tried the gloves. I thought it was worse with the gloves. I think my problem may be carpal tunnel syndrome , but maybe not.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 14
From: navarre ohio
i have that problem. my hands go numb 10 minutes into riding my EG.. i just shake my hands every once and a while.. it does get annoying.. BTW, im 380 lbs, might be something to that? pinched nerve when holding arms up to bars.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,967
Likes: 18
From: Florida
Sounds like the start of carpal tunnel....How about when you are not riding? Need to try and keep your wrists straight as possible. I tried acupuncture and it has worked for about 4 years but coming back slowly....Trying to avoid the knife.
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: In the now...
I noticed (for me anyways) that with a wider grip my hands would go numb. Also, after changing grips, thicker gloves produced the same results of numbness. Thinner grips, gloves and a throttle rocker has kept the dead hands away. ---I'm over weight too. 5'9" / 208lbs.
Good luck with that!
Good luck with that!
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,830
Likes: 302
From: Lorain Ohio
I think the mini buck horns help with the carpal T issues. I turned them so the grips kinda face down slightly which puts my hands at a natural angle. I had 27" drag bars an they were the worst. Here's a pic to try an show the angle that works for me:
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Plenty of helpful suggestions above. I don't have carpal tunnel problems, but have had various discomforts while riding over the years. What I have found is that sometimes quite minor changes can make a lot of difference.
One suggestion is that with your high bars you may be sitting very upright and gripping tight once moving, simply to hold yourself in position. As Da-mack suggests, slight movement of your bars may help you to relax your grip.
Another possibility is noise! If you have loud pipes, you may simply be gripping tight due to tension caused by the noise. The simplest way to investigate that is to wear a pair of ear plugs for a ride and see if your numbness is reduced. I discovered earplugs back in the 1970s - they are the best tuning and comfort aid out there!
One suggestion is that with your high bars you may be sitting very upright and gripping tight once moving, simply to hold yourself in position. As Da-mack suggests, slight movement of your bars may help you to relax your grip.
Another possibility is noise! If you have loud pipes, you may simply be gripping tight due to tension caused by the noise. The simplest way to investigate that is to wear a pair of ear plugs for a ride and see if your numbness is reduced. I discovered earplugs back in the 1970s - they are the best tuning and comfort aid out there!