Severe wrist pain operating clutch.

[smegballs]

My sister suffers really bad wrist pain when using the clutch on her ZZR. Slowly has been getting worse, over last year or so. Now she's it hurts so much after a few miles she actually has to stop riding and go straight back home in agony.

She's heading down to doc's ASAP, what else can be done in this situation? Obviously I've made sure the clutch cable is lubed, the pull is actually pretty light. She says no other hand motion causes the pain apart from clutch operation, she never has any pain when not riding.

[hornetmike]

Wrist exercises ? I could be her trainer
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87 Honda CG 125 - 97 ER5 - SR 50 -81 Z250- 96 CBR 600 F- 94 GPX600R 88- GPX 400R- 87 GS 125 - 2006 Honda CB600F- 2003 ER5 - Honda CBF 1000 2009 - Honda CBR 600 RR 2011
Current BMW R1200GS 2010

[krarkol]

adjust the clutch lever position like angle etc and maybe invest in an adjustable lever
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Bandit 600 - deaded

[mysterious_rider]

Funny you mention this, I also own a zzr600 (1995) and noticed no matter what, even with new cables, the clutch is quite stiff. There is a few ways around it I guess.

One being hydraulic clutch conversion? And the other is extending the clutch arm under the clutch case to improve leverage on activating it.

Wouldn't of thought It'd be too hard to remove the cable (twist the shaft it drops right out) and take it to a welder with a bit of extra metal to extend it. Just make sure it won't hit the engine casings?

They are the only things I can think of.
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KAWASAKIIIII

[No 6]

Sounds like Carpal tunnel, a friend has this and it stops him riding now and then. You can get it checked at the docs. He has a wrist band with a metal splint in it which seems to help. Adjusting the clutch lever could help but his problem is linked to a neck issue!

A quick Google gives these home checks to try. Goodluck

Tinel's sign test

Your doctor taps on the inside of your wrist over the median nerve. If you feel tingling, numbness, "pins and needles," or a mild "electrical shock" sensation in your hand when tapped on the wrist, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome.

Phalen's sign test

You rest your elbows on a flat surface such as a desk, with your elbows bent and your forearms up. You then flex your wrists, letting your hands hang down for about 60 seconds. If you feel tingling, numbness, or pain in the fingers within 60 seconds, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome.

Two-point discrimination test

This test is used when severe carpal tunnel syndrome is suspected. It is not very accurate for mild carpal tunnel syndrome. To do the test, your doctor has you close your eyes and then uses small instruments, such as the tips of two opened paper clips, to touch two points (fairly close together) on your hand or finger. Typically, you would feel separate touches if the two points are at least 0.5 cm (0.2 in.) apart. In severe carpal tunnel syndrome, you may not be able to tell the difference between the two touches, so it may feel as though only one place is being touched
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Your ego is not your amigo

[Pete.]

Longer arm on the release lever will help, but it'll mean more travel at the lever on the bars.

Maybe experiment with different grips too - she might be tensing her forearm muscles when not using the clutch.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[andi]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clutch-Brake-Levers-Kawasaki-ZX-6-ZZR600-90-04-ZR750-ZEPHYR-91-93-K02-/230798851985?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item35bcaeff91

https://i.ebayimg.com/t/Clutch-Brake-Levers-Kawasaki-ZX-6-ZZR600-90-04-ZR750-ZEPHYR-91-93-K02-/00/s/NjAwWDYwMA==/$(KGrHqV,!rME-Y8lhQ+lBPwl(-BSNw~~60_12.JPG
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Before: Suzuki GT 185. Honda Superdream 250. Yamaha RD350LC. Suziki RG250. Yamaha FZS600. Honda CBR600F3
Now: Honda Fireblade 929

[DottyDuck]

could it not be a form of arthritis? <--- that is a complete guess by the way! let us know how she gets on and in the mean time do as others have said by adjusting the clutch lever etc..

[covent.gardens]

I suffer with this too much.

I fell over (pissed, so my fault, no workplace injury or slippery floor unfortunately) and for a full year, had pain when operating the gear stick or steering wheel in a car, or turning my wrist in certain directions, the doc said it was a trapped nerve and should heal itself (it did, eventually).

Then last year, jarred my hand using a pickaxe, and using the clutch was agony for months. I was sure the clutch use was preventing the injury from healing, maybe even making it worse. Did get to the stage where I really dreaded having to endure it.

Early last December, I was riding along and went to do a quick clutch in/out and felt something 'go', it's taken since last week for that to get better.

Can't help other than to say go to the doc's and rest it - but sympathy. She should also learn how to change gears without the clutch, it will drastically reduce the amount she uses the clutch, and it's easy when you get used to it.

[Islander]

Could be carpal tunnel, could be bursitis, could be tendonitis, could be a simple strain. A visit to the GP is the only way to know for sure.

[Pete.]

[jimmyd]

Easy Clutch to the rescue!

https://www.trialsbits.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=194

Had one of these on my sports clutch to get it from "needs two hands" to "one hand, but a bit of pain"

[covent.gardens]

I just googled that and the scaphoid bone is exactly where I landed and where the cut was, the symptoms match mine, I always doubted the doc, because I went home and googled "trapped nerve" at the time, as you do, and didn't identify with the symptoms (pins and needles etc which I do not get), I do strongly identify with the broken scaphoid symptoms though.

My hand's never been 100% since the fall, next time it gives me a problem I'll go back down there and see if there's anything they can do.

[Pete.]

If they x-ray it and see it's fractured you'll be in a cast for 6 weeks. Odds on it's just healed funny though after this long. Takes a couple of years for osteoclasts to scrape a bone back into shape after a repair as I understand.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[mospeed]

Could be a medical problem, I'm no doctor, but it may be worth adjusting the lever up or down, probably down slightly. I had similar, and lowered the lever slightly to take weight off my wrist and no more pain.
Hope its nothing serious.

[MarJay]

I had an issue similar to this with my Buell. Basically just resting it and buying a Muller power clutch helped a lot.

A Muller power clutch is only available for Buells and Harleys, but you can get a hydraulic clutch conversion for many bikes which really helps. Rizoma I think is one of the makes. It doesn't help the initial force at the lever, but it does lower the force needed to keep the lever pulled by about three quarters.

Is it worse when she has to hold the clutch in for long periods of time?
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[mysterious_rider]

[darthbuttchin]

As suggested, could be a case of adjusting clutch lever, or even the bars, to make it easier on the wrist.

Maybe try one of those splint things, bit like a glove for the wrist. I've known people with carpal tunnel use them and report good results.

Hope you're sister's okay and it turns out to be all good.
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CG125-K1 (1978) - 35 years old and (mostly) going strong! (Restored and rebuilt by my own fair hands).
Call me Tomsk - I am the Flying Womble after all.

[Timmeh]

*bumpity*

I too have a bit of CTS in my left wrist and my Gixxer has a heavy clutch so long journeys can become rather agonising.

Has anyone got any experience/ideas with these?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLUTCH-LIGHTENER-EASY-CLUTCH-PRE-65-TRIALS-OSSA-TIGER-CUB-ARIEL-HT-C15-/400394448376?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item5d395e6df8

apparently they'll work with just about any cabled bike, not just the old ones.

ta
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GSXR400 x2 | '94 RVF400 | '93 TZR125 4DL (again)
20:22:30 BLUEX5: i would love to be forced to undergo a**l plugging with different sizes
20:48:18 Temeluchus: comp you hunk of smouldering homos3x you

[MarJay]

[Shinigami]

i got bad pains in my palm/wrist on clutch hands on the hornet until i switched the bars for renthals (much less of a sharp angle) much more comfortable and no pains now
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Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[keggyhander]

Believe it or not but fitting Ape Hangers (bars level with shoulders) cured my wrist, elbow and shoulder problems.

[Andy_Pagin]

What does she do for a living? we once had a data entry lady who could type something like 100 words per minute, so fast I had to completely redesign a computer system so it could keep up with her! She ended up needing surgery on her tendons. Don't overlook the possibility that this may not actually be bike related.
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[Bomberman]

Bit surprised that nobody has mentioned this, but how is her riding position?
Seriously, going from my GPZ to my GSXR is destroying my clutch hand - or more realistically reminding me how lazy I could be on the GPZ. GPZ I could sit up and have straight arms all day, but on the GSXR it hurts after about ten minutes. Because all my weight is resting on my wrists in a way it didn't on the GPZ. Your sister needs to learn how to clamp on with her legs if she's anything like me
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'Allo! My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die!
'89 TZR 125 - '94 GPZ500s - ZK3 GSXR600 Alstare

[st3v3]

BCF.... disappoint?

OP says says teh female is back in the house and lubed up, and.. nothing?

https://images.ridemonkey.com/index.php?size=full&src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmtl.com%2Fpublic%2Fmisc%2Fthis_thread_is_useless_without_pics.gif
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Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done