Another Newbie, with what feels like terminal hand numbness!

[Carl_G]

After spending all summer finding a helmet big enough for my giant head and hair, thank you AFX-Magnus, I finally did my CBT on Saturday in the pouring rain...

I was frankly awful through the morning, I couldn't get to grips with the clutch and kept stalling the bike on the slow-speed manoeuvring. The more I made mistakes the more annoyed I got at myself and the more I tensed up making the situation worse, I ended up feeling like I was strangling the bloody bike and a couple of times had to go and calm down before trying again.

Needless to say, as the instructors had told me would happen, I was much better on the road although I still stalled it a few times. Most noticeably on a bloody roundabout where I just couldn't seem to get it out of neutral, and couldn't even work out how I'd managed to put it into neutral in the first place!

Anyway, I basically loved it and realise the clutch will come with practice, so I've got my theory test booked for a couple of weeks time and plan to book my DAS training and test as soon as I've passed that. Problem is that since the CBT I've barely been able to use my right hand... It's not painful, it's just very weak and even basics like eating or picking things up are difficult! I know it's just from being too tense on the throttle for the whole day but has anyone else had this? Anyone got any advice on how to avoid it next time, 'cos at the minute it's hard to see how I could manage to ride two days in a row never mind three or four.

[pinkyfloyd]

Only thing I can suggest is to relax. i know when your new to biking it is easier said than done. I used to clench my teeth together and I had to learn to stop doing that or I would have no teeth left!

Biking is supposed to be fun. Relax your grip on the bars and enjoy the day out. It is easier when it isnt raining.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[iooi]

Get out on the bike and practise.

You will have been using bits of you that never got any exercise before.

As above relax. Don't grip the throttle or the clutch side let you weight hold and move the throttle.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[locked]

sounds like your gripping the throttle too hard. As others have suggested just try and relax, it will come with experience
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on the look out for my next bike....
CBT Passed - 13/09/09 Theroy Passed - 19/12/09 Mod 1 Passed 04/05/10 Mod 2 Passed 14/05/10 - Free to ride ANYTHING!
Motorcycles are perfectly safe as long as you remember they're dangerous.

[Carl_G]

Cheers guys, I did a quick search around the internet too and it turns out to be not uncommon. Though how many people were still suffering three days later I have no idea!

I guess my wife is right when she says I need to chill out...

Hopefully will do better on the DAS training.

[Paxovasa]

The more you ride a bike the better it will get

Sound like you are/were using a death grip
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Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[Carl_G]

I think death grip is right, I just don't deal well with frustration...

On top of that I don't have a 125 to practice on, so I'm just having to wait for the DAS training before I can do anything about it. I'm now struggling not to get extra frustration from that as well!

Having said that, I suspect I'm safer dealing with the problem in training with an instructor on hand to point out where I'm going wrong and what to do about it.
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CBT 11/09/10! Theory Passed 12/10/10! Mod 1 Passed 08/03/11! Mod 2 passed 13/04/11!
1993 Yamaha XV 535 (SMIDSYed) 2008 Suzuki GSF 650 (Hire Bike) 1993 Yamaha XV 535 (Resurrected!) 2004 Triumph Speedmaster 790cc (Payout from SMIDSY!)

[Paxovasa]

Tense = bad control of the bike, which in turn will get you more frustrated.

Talk yourself through the maneuver. As in, pull in clutch, select first gear, check mirrors, lifesaver and so on, that will take your mind of the death grip
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Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[ajbsmirnoff]

It'll get better. Or it'll drop off.

I thought my wrist pain would never go away when i started commuting, but it was a combination of being too tense and leaning on my hands too much.

Relax, and perhaps sit a bit more upright - like its the 1950's.

[Bloke]

Grip the tank with your thighs, relax the upper body.
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2008 VFR800 VTEC

[Clanger]

The more experienced you become, the less you will grip the handlebars, will relax your elbows and this should disappear.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Scooty]

Sounds like wankers cramp to me....
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Current Bike: 2018 Honda CRF250L
Ex-Bikes: 2002 Honda CG125, 1998 Honda VFR800, 2011 Honda CBR600F, 2013 Triumph Sprint GT SE, 2015 Kawasaki ZX10R

[Nexus Icon]

It will soon be replaced by terminal arse numbness as your confidence grows and you begin to rack up the mileage.

[carlosthejack...]

Read through my experiences, you're not alone. And buy a powerball. They'll make a difference with your grip strength, forearm pump...
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Responsibility. It's a difficult reality for some. I'm running the 2014 Sheffield Half Marathon on behalf of Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice. Please sponsor me, even if it's just a quid.
DonnyBrago: "I think you may be confusing rain and napalm..." Paulington: "It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it."
Current rides: '05 VFR800 VTEC, '57 Mondeo 1.8 TDCi #58LEGEND

[psychofox]

[Carl_G]

Cheers for the advice everyone.

I just need to relax/let it drop off/grip with my thighs/stop wanking/practice/sit upright/wank more/have fun.

Some will be easier than others.

I'm looking forward to getting the chance to do better as soon as possible. Theory test willing!
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CBT 11/09/10! Theory Passed 12/10/10! Mod 1 Passed 08/03/11! Mod 2 passed 13/04/11!
1993 Yamaha XV 535 (SMIDSYed) 2008 Suzuki GSF 650 (Hire Bike) 1993 Yamaha XV 535 (Resurrected!) 2004 Triumph Speedmaster 790cc (Payout from SMIDSY!)

[stinkwheel]

I find periodically flapping your elbows in a "funky chicken" style helps make you relax your hands and arms. I do this if riding in windy conditions otherwise I tend to do the whole death-grip thing too.

As has been said, taking the acceleration force through your body/feet and braking force through your legs by gripping the tank is also a good plan. The handlebars are controls, you can work them all with very light light hand pressure and that's what you should be using. It doesn't take any more force to apply the brake or turn the throttle at 100 mph than it does while stationary.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Carl_G]

Frankly I'm not going to get a chance to try out everyone's advice until I stop failing the bloody hazard perception...

Ironically I'd never failed on the practice program and was more stressed about the multiple choice, so obviously flew that and because I was worried about clicking too early clicked too bloody late on every clip!

Bollocks to it, I should fly the re-test. It's just a shame I have to wait three weeks before I can get a slot in Manchester or Salford.
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CBT 11/09/10! Theory Passed 12/10/10! Mod 1 Passed 08/03/11! Mod 2 passed 13/04/11!
1993 Yamaha XV 535 (SMIDSYed) 2008 Suzuki GSF 650 (Hire Bike) 1993 Yamaha XV 535 (Resurrected!) 2004 Triumph Speedmaster 790cc (Payout from SMIDSY!)

[SirEdward]

It's just muscles strain, you haven't used your right hand a lot in your life, have you?

Do some push-ups, morning stretching and the numbness will go aweh.

P.S. On second though: it is a case of veins being 'blocked' at some point along your arm/shoulder, thus your hands are not getting the oxygen with the blood. Exercise more.
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"Beyond a critical point within a finite space, freedom diminishes as numbers increase. This is as true of humans as it is of gas molecules in a sealed flask. The human question is not how many can possibly survive within the system, but what kind of existence is possible for those who so survive.

Pardot Kynes in "Appendix I: The Ecology of Dune""

[Carl_G]

Thankfully it only took two attempts at the Theory Test!
And it was definitely the awful intro to the hazard perception that threw me!

Any advice from anyone on DAS training? Primarily, is it better to do an intensive course or look at shorter lessons over a longer period? I'm itching to get going because I don't have a 125 and haven't been on a bike since the CBT...
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CBT 11/09/10! Theory Passed 12/10/10! Mod 1 Passed 08/03/11! Mod 2 passed 13/04/11!
1993 Yamaha XV 535 (SMIDSYed) 2008 Suzuki GSF 650 (Hire Bike) 1993 Yamaha XV 535 (Resurrected!) 2004 Triumph Speedmaster 790cc (Payout from SMIDSY!)

[Paxovasa]

[WhitesnowR1]

Relax?.. Who told so using the things about BIKES? I'm sure bikers can't be relaxed on their bikes if they are not going to sleep there. There's too much danger on roads for us to relax... I agree that Your body will get used to the things you do and the more you ride, the better your riding will be. But it's not done in a day and in a week and even a month is not enough to say:''I can ride a motocycle'', as riding is your ability to control yourself, your bike, and everything that's around you.

[Carl_G]

I wouldn't have believed it would take so long to get to here from that bloody CBT back in September, but I passed my Mod 1 this morning!

I was convinced I was going to fail before I got there but as soon as I saw how much room there was at the test centre I just dropped into a calm zen-like state...

Just needed a second run at the swerve because I was a couple of km/h slow first time.

Ended up feeling bad for the people before and after me who both completely ballsed it up. I'm just waiting on a cancellation now to make an attempt on my Mod 2 as soon as possible.

And for the record, I only had a slight repeat of the numb hand/arm after my first session on the ER6, so definitely just tenseness.
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CBT 11/09/10! Theory Passed 12/10/10! Mod 1 Passed 08/03/11! Mod 2 passed 13/04/11!
1993 Yamaha XV 535 (SMIDSYed) 2008 Suzuki GSF 650 (Hire Bike) 1993 Yamaha XV 535 (Resurrected!) 2004 Triumph Speedmaster 790cc (Payout from SMIDSY!)

[Rogerborg]

Nice one, good luck with the mod 2.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Bendy]

Make sure your gloves aren't too tight or if you wear lots of layers cos it's cold you can sometimes cut off the circulation somewhere along your arm if your jacket's a bit tight.