October 30th, 2011, 06:12 AM | #1 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Gaurav
Location: Bombay(Mumbai),India
Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): (2011)Ninja 250r,(2008)Yamaha yzf-R15 Posts: 70
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newbie body positioning issues/wrist pain
Hey,
I have been riding my new ninjette for about 120 miles now. I have gone though the forum, and few more places regarding body positioning. And I have been trying to practice what I have learnt. I am having some trouble with grabbing the tank with my thighs. I mean I have to put conscious effort into grabbing the tank with my thighs (does it come naturally to you guys?). After a few miles go by, it seems like I let go of the tank and my upper body weight gets transfered to my wrists and they start paining. This is when I realize that I am not grabbing the tank tightly enough. I would like to know how do you guys take care of this problem. (If you guys face it at all.) [P.S. kinda offtopic :- I seem to be having problems with the clutch. I have to push the toe shifter twice or thrice some times to get the bike from 4th to 5th or 5th to 6th gear. Is this because the gearbox is also new? ] Last futzed with by tazz; October 30th, 2011 at 06:19 AM. Reason: offtopic question added. |
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October 30th, 2011, 07:40 AM | #2 |
RIP Alex
Name: Cuong
Location: Houston, TX
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): '10 250r, '09 265r Posts: A lot.
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The ergos of the ninjette has you sitting really upright. So you shouldn't really be all leanin forward. Ride with the balls of your feet on the footrests and it may help you with gripping the tank with your thighs.
As for shifting, could be that you may need to adjust the clutch cable.
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October 30th, 2011, 07:41 AM | #3 |
Kamikaze Squirrel
Name: Zach
Location: NJ
Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250r Posts: 300
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I had the same problem for my first ~200 miles. You just have to consciously do it and eventually it will become habit.
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October 30th, 2011, 08:15 AM | #4 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
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If your short or have short arms the ergo can have you lean forward alittle. My wife has that issue. She cannot grip the tank consistently as well. Time and attention to this will cure that issue over time. There is simply no magic cure to building the muscle memory, strength and endurance instantly.
As far as shifting... It's a common issue for riders to shift softly to the next gear, causing it to not shift or end up in a false neutral state. You can shift harder and completely or adjust the shift lever to fit your natural foot shift travel/boot thickness. Either way, you will still have to shift completely. Good luck and ride safe!
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October 30th, 2011, 08:31 AM | #5 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Gaurav
Location: Bombay(Mumbai),India
Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): (2011)Ninja 250r,(2008)Yamaha yzf-R15 Posts: 70
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Thanks for the tips guys, this really helps
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October 30th, 2011, 08:41 AM | #6 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Joon
Location: Orange County, CA
Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R Posts: 164
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Yes, you will have to make a conscious effort until your riding position becomes a second nature. Nearly nothing about motorcycling comes naturally. What really helped me with arm/wrist pain was using my torso and leg muscles to hold myself up. Depending on how fit you are, this may cause its own set of muscle ache at first, but it is important that you learn to never put any of your weight onto the handlebars. Especially as you tire out, you may put more and more weight onto the handlebars, and it can affect your accuracy in cornering. Another thing that MSF taught me was that the motorcyclist should keep loose. The leg grip on the tanks, your grip on the handlebars, and your body in all should be relaxed. Stiff arms will send every little shock from every little bump on the road straight to your shoulders. Loosened, your arms work like shock absorbers. You'll find that stiff grip, especially the legs, fights against the bike. The legs not only help you stabilize but it also helps with turning. You can turn, not sharply obviously, just with your legs. Go with the flow of the bike.
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October 30th, 2011, 09:24 AM | #7 |
Kamikaze Squirrel
Name: Zach
Location: NJ
Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250r Posts: 300
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Do some situps and planks, a strong core will make it easier
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October 30th, 2011, 10:05 AM | #8 |
Ambrosia.
Name: Jaymie
Location: Oahu, Hawaii
Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1974 Honda CB550K0 W.I.P. Posts: A lot.
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Definitely build up those biker abs. It helps you support yourself and keeps the weight off your wrists.
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October 30th, 2011, 02:58 PM | #9 |
There's a limit to s2pdty
Name: A.D.
Location: NoVa the burg
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250r ninja (sold) Posts: A lot.
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Biker abs for the win
Practice. practice. practice. you need to learn to use your abs and those legs cause if you don't your wrist is gonna hurt like hell. Anyway here's what I do, If I know I'm just gonna be cruising along a straight line w/o that much hazard. and I know that I don't need an aggressive tight body positioning. I put my left elbow(clutch hand) on the tank and transfer all my weight in there. I saw a veteran do this and I'm like "That's smart" and started doing it myself, it help me a lot on those long commutes. But i need to warn you don't do this if you're still learning to ride. try to get the legs abs thing 1st then do this. |
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October 30th, 2011, 03:11 PM | #10 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Gaurav
Location: Bombay(Mumbai),India
Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): (2011)Ninja 250r,(2008)Yamaha yzf-R15 Posts: 70
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Heh, I have always had strong legs, will start woking on abs too
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October 30th, 2011, 03:15 PM | #11 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
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+2 for biker abs. Relax the shoulders and keep the arms loose. There shouldn't be any weight on you wrists.
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October 30th, 2011, 03:41 PM | #12 | |
Ninja chick
Name: Allyson
Location: Athens, GA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
+1 on the elbow thing. When in my leather jacket (not mesh...it slips), I can put my elbow on the tank and rest my head (front chin of my helmet) in my hand. That's only on those REALLY LONG commute when on a clear, straight road free of immediate hazards. I always resume safe riding position when approaching an intersection.
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October 31st, 2011, 09:04 AM | #13 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Patrick
Location: Alabama
Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 09 black 250 Posts: 41
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well I feel a bit dumb. I have never even thought about gripping the tank with my thighs. Then again my arms don't get tired from the lean and my legs seem to naturally press in on the tank because I find myself having to pull them away at times because I get hot. My left hand does get fatigued after a longer ride but I thought it was from using the clutch. I'll have to pay more attention
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November 1st, 2011, 11:02 AM | #14 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Charlie
Location: Denver, CO
Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250 and 1982 Yamaha Maxim 750 Posts: 22
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Wrist pain from the angle, not weight
I have some wrist pain, too, so I thought I would share my experience with you, as it seems to differ from previous posters'. I don't really put weight on my arms when I ride.
Anyway, the angle of the bars is narrower than it is on my old bike (meaning they're angled toward the rider's body), which forces me to bend my wrist to the side to grip it. Combining that with the action of pulling the clutch is very painful after a few minutes, and isn't really helped by any of the changes in body position that I have tried. What has helped is keeping my wrists and arms straight and only gripping the bars and the levers with one or two fingers. This has the added benefit of keeping me even lighter on the bars, which as you probably know, helps stability and control. I hope this helps. |
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November 1st, 2011, 11:17 AM | #16 |
KThanksBye
Name: Kevin
Location: Orange County
Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2006 zx636r Posts: A lot.
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Dont plank when riding, its quite dangerous!! lol
Anyway, if your wrists hurt with the 250 dont get a SS. My 636 kills me after a long day
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November 1st, 2011, 02:59 PM | #17 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Brian
Location: Detroit, MI
Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R Green Posts: A lot.
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To help with gripping the tank, try getting some stomp grips or techspec tank grips. They make that area grippier so you can support yourself a little easier. In the end, it's about habit and getting used to it but these help a lot.
I made a custom version that doesnt look as stylish but do the job and is durable. Another thing that could help is switching to a custom/corbin seat but that is much more expensive than the tankgrips but still is not a substitute for good riding posture/position. |
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November 1st, 2011, 03:28 PM | #18 |
ninjette.org member
Name: KJ
Location: RIP Alex
Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250R (Sold - I'll miss you Ebony), 2009 Honda CBR 600RR ABS (Alexis), 2010 BMW S1000RR Posts: 93
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Like Golf
Not sure if you play golf but some techniques apply:
1) Practice your grip to be firm but gentle (like holding a little bird in your hand) 2) Try to keep your core firm and body more upright..grip the tank with your knees and rest the balls of your feet on the foot pegs as a support. 3) Slight bend in the elbows and ride loose..this actually helps with bumps and any traction issues resonating through your body (and takes the weight off of your hands) 4) Placement of your hands and how you use your finger pressure can also make a difference. If you ride a mountain bike, you can practice some of this as it is very similar. Highly recommended once the bikes go away for the winter |
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November 4th, 2011, 10:17 AM | #19 |
Racer Girl
Name: Sarah
Location: California
Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): ninja 250 racebike, yz250f supermoto, crf150r supermoto, ktm 200 xcw, daytona 675 Posts: 38
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Another person for planks and core strengthening.
I also get wrist pain, but mainly on my dirt bike because I grip too hard. I have to remind myself to just relax and enjoy the ride.
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November 5th, 2011, 01:04 PM | #20 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Tim
Location: Petaluma
Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): Triumph Street Tripple, Ninja 250r, and a bunch of dirt bikes Posts: 5
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There are two adjustments that can be done to your bike that mIght help you out.
The first is free. The angle of your bars. An be adjusted somewhat. Just loosen the bolts and find an angle that feels more comfortable on the wrists. Secondly, cOnsider getting some rear sets. I feel that they put you in a more natural body position for sport riding. The stock foot pegs on a Ninja place you in an upright position, not in a forward lean that is more comfortable to me. Of course this means that core strength is even more important to keep pressure off the bars. |
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November 5th, 2011, 05:48 PM | #21 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Brian
Location: Detroit, MI
Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R Green Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
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November 6th, 2011, 04:01 PM | #22 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Gaurav
Location: Bombay(Mumbai),India
Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): (2011)Ninja 250r,(2008)Yamaha yzf-R15 Posts: 70
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Agian, thanks guys...
Started with planks and situps I'll start running a couple of miles too. Last futzed with by tazz; November 6th, 2011 at 04:02 PM. Reason: minor edit |
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November 6th, 2011, 11:50 PM | #23 |
Ambrosia.
Name: Jaymie
Location: Oahu, Hawaii
Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1974 Honda CB550K0 W.I.P. Posts: A lot.
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What I did when I felt lazy, was hunch over a bit and rest my elbows on the front of my thighs. Obviously only do that when it's safe.
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November 7th, 2011, 12:17 AM | #24 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Gaurav
Location: Bombay(Mumbai),India
Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): (2011)Ninja 250r,(2008)Yamaha yzf-R15 Posts: 70
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Mountain Dew, nice trick for long rides.
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November 11th, 2011, 09:44 PM | #25 |
Fighterer in Training
Name: Joshua
Location: Schenectady, NY
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Ninja 250R Posts: 316
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I read this on here somewhere, but it made a big impression on me, so sorry for stealing the idea. But check to see the angle of your wrists when on the clutch and brake is straight. You don't want your hands bent up or down from the angle that your forearm reaches the handlebars. You may want to loosen and rotate the lever brackets to achieve this, based upon your height and riding posture.
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November 11th, 2011, 10:15 PM | #26 |
DUCEATR
Name: Dan
Location: El Paso, Texas
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): RVT1000R Posts: 628
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Like everyone has mentioned:
-Miles on the bike = endurance and less pain. Wait until you go for a long ride and your upper back kills you. Fear not, the best way to combat this is to ride more! -Adjust the ergos of the levers. Works wonders. -Shift a lil harder, this will lessen those missed/false shifts -Lastly, focus on all the fun you are having and it will all be a breeze!
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December 19th, 2011, 07:49 AM | #27 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Gaurav
Location: Bombay(Mumbai),India
Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): (2011)Ninja 250r,(2008)Yamaha yzf-R15 Posts: 70
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2000 miles check...
So I picked up the Keith Code Twist of the Wrist vol.2 vid, And bought "Total Control" by Lee Parks... Now things seem so much better, I understand my bike a bit better now. I still have not gotten rid of the chicken strips, but then I am doing stuff at my own pace. I still have to grip the tank consciously. But like I said things are a lot better right now. There is no replacement for time spent on the track though, but then the closest track is 1500 miles away I'll keep at it, and update you guys regularly.
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December 19th, 2011, 07:52 AM | #28 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Gaurav
Location: Bombay(Mumbai),India
Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): (2011)Ninja 250r,(2008)Yamaha yzf-R15 Posts: 70
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I am really contemplating this.
Thinking of buying these http://www.planetdsg.com/kawasaki-ni...ck-p-1426.html , are they adjustable ? Any reviews? Or should I go with the shorties ?
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