KX Riders
General => In General... => Topic started by: Jes_KX5 on March 25, 2004, 05:33:49 AM
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I have a problem with my hands going numb when I ride at one track in particular. It's my friend's track and it runs up and down both sides of a steep hill. On my brother's kx100, I can do as many laps as I want. But on the 500 I can't feel my hands after 4 laps tops. I once rode 7 laps straight and could barely feel the levers. Needless to say that is bad when you're barreling down a steep hill into a tight hairpin turn that has almost no berm and is off camber. Nothing else on me gets tired(it's not 'forearm pump' - my arms feel fine) as I try to workout during the week.
Could gloves or grips solve this problem? I ride no gloves because I like to feel the feedback I get from the levers. Or is it just a lack of riding experience since I only get to ride one day a week if I'm lucky.
What brand/style of gloves and grips do you recommend?
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Pro Tapers and SOLID aluminum mounts from Fastco solved this problem for me.
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Paul, please enlighten me to these mounts? Where can I find them? How well did it work? Was it worth the $?
Thanks, I'm intrested, I like Pro Taper. Kinda wantering about the Fastco mounts though.
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I got them from Jeff @ Monkeybutt and I think they were $20. They take the place of the stock rubber ones and really do wonders for the front of the bike. They also raise the bars about 3/8" or close to 10mm for the members across the pond ;)
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I'm assuming you have oversized bars? I think I'd like to get me some of these. I have regular Renthal Bars. But, it is worth changing to oversized bars if this is the case. Maybe add in some anti-vibe inserts while at it? I'm tired of all the vibes..
Thanks
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The Pro Tapers that I have have been on a couple different bikes ;) There tough - broke a top triple clamp and the bars are still straight :lol: They kill off alot of the vibration by themselves. I'll never run smallbars again.
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In that case, I'll try to find a set. Thanks!
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:D Well, just got off the phone with Monkeybutt and got me Pro Tapers and the solid aluminum mounts. Now, just need some oversized tab hookup dealies. Thanks Paul!!
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Very cool, you're gonna love them fatbars :lol:
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Hey, what grips do you use?
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All,
I agree that the aluminum cones are great but I've found that a new set of rubbers does wonders at a cheaper cost.
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The rubber ones feel mushy, I'll never go back to those.
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Scott's sells a harder rubber cone that's a little cheaper. www.scottsonline.com
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:-) I already got the aluminum ones from Monkeybutt, but, I was wondering about the Grips? Pro Grip or Scott? Just curious.
Thanks
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I like the smaller feel of the plain ol' Scotts myself.
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I also run Scott grips.
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Oh, I just ordered Pro Grip, RVSG or something like that. I was hoping for better results. I have Renthal diamond (all around) and they hurt like heck after a ride.
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I have run the big fat Pro Grips for almost four years, and don't get blisters, sore hands, numbness or anything. I also run ProTaper bars, and have for years. A week ago, I ran the 108 mile National Hare & Hound and never got arm pump or fatigue (although I did manage to sink the 500 in the big hole on the first water crossing. Turning a 500 upside down...twice is a lot of work). Also burned a lot of gas in the desert last Saturday and Sunday with no problem.
It might be that you are hanging on too tight or have the wrong riding position, as both of these will impact arm fatigue. The first six months on a 500 was tough for me, as I was nervous about the power, so would not ride over the front fender. Work your way up to riding over the bars, and your arms will be at almost a right angle to the ground, so very little arm effort is required.
As a note, Ben, my 14 year old son, has had problems with blisters riding/racing his KX125, and always wanted to run the thin Scott or Renthal grips. For the 108 mile National a week ago, I talked him into running a set of the fat Pro Grips. Not only did he not get blisters, he finished 20th overall! Not bad for a 14 year old on a three year old 125. (Before the race, he was concerned about the "fast guys", so I remined him at the end of the race that the only guys who beat him had names like Brown, Pearson, and Abbott, so he's probably one of the fast guys the rest of us all worry about.) I think he is now sold on the fat grips.
Good Luck in your quest for comfort...
Rick
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If it actually is your riding position and not the gear who numbs your hands you can try the following ? it won't cost you anything.
If you do a couple of push-ups before you start riding it will increase the blood flow in your arms and you are less likely to be tired quickly...
There is also another trick which could help. I picked this up during my military service. It might sound - and yes, it does look weird - but it works:
1. Stand up and relax your arms alongside your body (you can probably pull this of sitting on your bike).
2. Raise your hands towards the sky (using your wrists) as much as you can. Palms should be facing vertical / up-ish relative to the ground. Your fingers pointing outwards (left vs. right) from your body.
3. Lift up your shoulders high. Keep your arms straight and let your shoulders drop hard. Keeping your hands fixed in the same position as in point 2.
This exercise will increase / force the blood flow through your fingers. It?s useful when your hands are cold, as in when you are standing guard in minus 35 degrees Celsius and need to be able to use your fingers. How else can you pick your nose?
Maybe you want to practice in front of a mirror so you realize just how stupid you will look before you do this in public though...
Jokes apart, if you do this right you should be able to feel a sort of tingling feeling in your fingers. I would like to add a disclaimer; my English vocabulary does not yet contain medical terms such as body parts. I hope you understand what I wrote anyway.
//John