Maybe a strange question, but I was wondering if any one else has a problem holding onto their grips too tightly while riding. I ride an 06 Road King Classic, and have been using ISO grips (I don't like the throttle boss option) for for the 5 years, the grips are awesome and it's just this year that I've been noticing the problem. My bars are at shoulder level, both arms slightly bent, so I really don't want to roll the bars toward me any further. So now I find I have to consciously tell myself to relax the hold on the grips.

Could it be that the ISO grips are just too big for my hands? Would a smaller diameter grip allow my hands not to "cramp" up? Or is just me?

I'm fine when highway cruising but it's the around town riding with a lot of stop and go's, where I really notice it.

Any input/tips/tricks would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Shoulder level grips sounds like the problem. You are holding on instead of letting your body lean forward. Lower your bars a bit.

 

I had the HD get a grips on my last bike. They are offered in 2 different diameters. The first pair I bought I got the larger diameter thinking they would be better. After a few months I started having hand problems holding the grips.
Buying the smaller diameter solved the problem. Not knowing what diameter your grips are I can't tell you if that is the problem or not.

 

Do you have trouble reaching your control levers?

 

I find when I subconsciously have a death grip on the grips my fingertips tingle.

 

If I catch myself gripping instead of holding the grips, I loosen up. I have had the tip of my middle finger feel numb at times and that just lets me know to lighten my grip.

 

Only time for me is when I come out of a very twisty section of road. I then have to remind myself to loosen up.

 

Thanks Upflying. I will give lowering the bars a try to see if that helps. My arms are already bent, but maybe just a little more will do the trick.

Thanks NORTY FLATZ. I have no problem reaching the controls. From what I'm understanding now, is my bars probably need to be lowered a bit.

 

Keep your thumbs resting on the top side of the grips while riding instead of around them. That'll relieve a lot of the pressure on your hands.

 

Besides doing that I've also found that if I keep my thumbs just resting parallel to the bars, that also seems to help.

OP my bars are about shoulder high and my arms are also slightly bent and I've found the above two ways have also kept me from gripping too tightly. To save you some extra work moving the bars, maybe trying this simple method for a little while might do the trick for you. If not, you can always move the bars to see if that helps too. Just a thought.