Any suggestions for discomfort holding the throttle open?

I wonder if I'm holding on too tight - I'm still quite new to riding again and do find myself tensing my arms/shoulders and feet at times - or does this discomfort go away with more time in the saddle?

There are a number of crampbuster type items you can add, which can do anything from allow you to relax your grip, to a full on cruise control.

Search:
cramp
cruise
on this board.

As mentioned above, there are several different ways to deal with that. I personally prefer a $20ish throttle lock. Others prefer the cramp buster and the wrist wrest. The throttle lock installs in seconds and is very easy to manipulate but you should give yourself time to get used to it. It's a little strange to want to slow down and find that the throttle is already at rest and reactively, power up rather than down. The throttle lock is very easy to engage and disengage.

KB

Holding on too hard with hands----the sign is pain between shoulder blades. NEP throttle stop (Aerostich still has) @ $20 can provide on hand relief....on straight runs.


With today's idiots in cars out there you can get a little tense, regardless of experience level.

Pushing into back stop= good sign. Feet and legs important part of riding right. Push right bike goes right.

Probably best way to get/be in shape for riding is to ride a lot----use scooter for everything. Then confronted with 500 mile days, they become non-killers.

I think SilverWing is comfortable for sitting, biggest bother is the wind buffeting.

John Grinsel

I posted elsewhere about my Cramp Buster. Got mine on Amazon but local shops carry it as well for $1 more. I would suggest the wider but shorter one so you can use different parts of your hand. Someone also suggested the Wrist Rest which looks tempting for when I lose my cramp buster.

http://www.hognutz.com/grips-throttle/188/

I find my hand cramps when I tense up and grip the throttle too tight, often when in terror. I also noticed that when I do that the bike is much harder to turn in curves, increasing the terror. Don't you love that adrenaline rush? Well I started doing relaxation exercise when I become aware that I am tensing. It gives me better control of the bike, allows me to relax my grip, lets me shift my grip on the throttle to different positions and makes the ride much more enjoyable.

With the Cramp Buster you have to be sure not to position it too high or it can interfere with braking or make you arch your hand. Your hand should start flat on the handle when not applying throttle. Also, for long runs on the highway my hand is bent back quite a bit which can also get tiring on the wrist. I end up shifting my hand and using a combination of grip and light pressure on the cramp buster on the highway. On slow roads I might open my hand and just use the palm heel pressing forward to accelerate (like your foot on a car gas pedal).

Oh, Much of the time once I reach cruising speed I find the Cramp Buster is comfortably level - you don't need as much throttle to just cruise once you reach speed (30-45 mph). Going over road bumps I "float" my hand on the handlebars while aware of the Cramp Buster position which prevents surging due to throttle twist over bumps.

Phew!

So... shift your hand around a little and try to relax.

Anxious to try this. Thanks for sharing these cool tools.

I think I had the same issue as you when I first got my scoot. It felt like I was getting arthritis in my right hand.

First I tried a "cramp buster" type solution and I hated it. It either interfered with my hand when the throttle was all the way off or it wasn't in the right position when I was at speed. I could never get it adjusted to where it wouldn't get in the way. So I trashed it.

Then I got a throttle lock. It definitely sacrifices safety for comfort, so I'll probably catch some hell for it, but it works. The throttle basically works like a boat throttle now. You twist to increase throttle, you twist back to decrease throttle. The throttle stays where you put it.

I don't like to call it "cruise control" because it doesn't adjust your speed at all, and if there are even slight hills you'll find your speed changing all over the place. You just don't have to hold the pressure against the spring every moment you are moving forward.

With that and grip puppies, the pain is gone. I've ridden 2000 miles in the last couple of weeks and I have no pain at all.

I had a NEP throttle lock on my SWing for those long rides. Sure helped to just let my hand and right arm rest once in a while.

I have used cramp buster like devices in the past and always felt they compromised my control of the bike. I took Bill's suggestion and bought the Wrist Rests (also one for each grip) and find them an elegant solution. I have full control and relief from "throttle hand" as well.