Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Hoping someone out there can help me. I have a 2004 ZX10R. Great bike. Been riding it since about Dec 2009. But I am having some problems with my right hand which tends to get quite sore around the joints in the thumb from having to hold the throttle open. I have little hands (being a girlie) and this can spoil the day when I end up in quite a bit of discomfort after a few hours fun fanging in the Adelaide hills. I plan to go over to Phillip Island, Vic in October for Moto GP. This will be my first trip using the ZX10R .... so what are my solutions? Can I get a smaller throttle tube to make gripping easier? I've got Harris grips on the bike at the moment, and maybe these grips are fatter than the OEM ones? Should I go the easy route and purchase something like a throttle rocker (not a cruise control one but one that will enable me to vary speeds)? If someone has modified their throttle tube, I'd also be interested to know if it was a difficult task. I've read on other forums some people use R1 or GSXR throttle tubes to modify their bikes because they are smaller in diameter. This is what I am wondering about and whether it is possible to do this for the ZX10R without any negative impact or a lot of messing around.

I don't believe you can get a smaller tube as these are based on the handlebar size, which on almost every bike is about the 22mm diameter.
Your best bet would be to look around for thinner grips or or go the throttle rocker option..

throttle rockers are ok,

just remeber to flick it around out of the way when the corners are to be had.

Sorry to hijack, but how about larger grips? With winter gloves the size is good, but with summer gloves my fingers are wrapped around too far I feel..... I'll look into it coming into next summer.........

I believe racing grips are thinner but harder - so maybe for everyday riding I would not like them. But if there are thinner grips someone can recommend... I'm listening. For me using winter gloves and the fatter grips means I can barely grasp the levers! There is too much padding inbetween! Maybe I should hope I just don't have to brake...

Most thin ProGrips are the best seems they have a nice soft gel texture & you wouldn't think they was thin grips from the soft feel of them

ZX-10R_04 wrote:Most thin ProGrips are the best seems they have a nice soft gel texture & you wouldn't think they was thin grips from the soft feel of them

Thanks. I'll try to source these.

Have you looked at your wrist positioning.
This may sound silly but it is often the cause of sore wrists.
Even though it may not feel comfortable at first, grip your bars further around so your wrist is as straight as possible, not arched back to hold the throttle open.
It would be easier to describe with a diagram.

Another way would be to exersise your wrist. Place your arm on your knee in a sitting position with your palm of your hand up and your hand extending beyond the knee, get a light weight, (maybe 5lbs) and curl your wrist up and down, fully extending your fingers as you lower and lift the weight with your wrist. Do this twice a day doing about 8 wrist curls each time. I don't explain things worth a shit so I hope you can figure out what I have written. This exercise worked for my wife who was having the same problem. It took about 2 weeks of exercising before it made a difference. Good luck. Also having a Jim beam and a beer after helps as well.

Appreciate the suggestions about the wrists, but it is actually the thumb joint that is sore. I lay on the tank when I ride the ZX10R. I'm a shortie and can hug it like a koala. And I'm even sillier than I thought - I have a spacer in the spring which makes it even taller, but hey! It's only a problem when I have to put the foot down! But the exercises mentioned - yep I do them or similar. I think it is a chafing, rubbing problem where the first joint on the thumb (that is the once closest to the end of the thumb) gets tender because it is constantly pressured against the throttle. After a while, it gets really sore and I have to rub it at every top to relieve the tenderness and inflammation. Hence the idea of a smaller grip might allow me to nestle the throttle closer to my palm. Anyway, if all else fails... scotch and coke does help (but not by rubbing it on the hand!). Will be fun riding the ZX10R down to Phillip Island! Woo hoo!

Thinking left field here ......... have you tried different gloves ? I once had a pair that created a pressure point in the same area. HTH.

knightsrider wrote:Appreciate the suggestions...I lay on the tank when I ride the ZX10R...I think it is a chafing, rubbing problem...After a while, it gets really sore and I have to rub it...Anyway, if all else fails... scotch and coke does help (but not by rubbing it on the hand!). Will be fun riding the ZX10R down to Phillip Island! Woo hoo!

Wow.
If my scooter rubbed me I would not need a girlfriend.
Please tell me how you ride.
I think I must be doing it wrong.