jimsgirl wrote on 12/03/10 at 09:58:12:Some folks at the bike shop said it's cause the bike is "small" and so it just has more vibration issues than a heavier bike.
Which is baloney.
Here's what I learned with my other bikes.
-- The rubber cones in the bar mount don't really damp vibration. They can even make it worse. Have someone machine new cones out of aluminum so the bar is solidly mounted.
-- Longer bars vibrate more. It's like a tuning fork.
-- Thumb cramp has little to do with the bars or grips or gloves or vibration. I get thumb cramp even on very smooth four and six cylinder touring bikes. It's the the continuous muscle contraction. So every now and then I move my thumb to the top of the grip, next to the fingers. The muscles can relax and the pressure is removed from the nerves and blood vessels. If you're cruising along straight open road, put the bike in neutral once in a while and coast with your hand off the throttle. Hold it high, hold it low, wiggle it around.
-- Try not to ride with your wrists bent. Again, that tires the muscles quicker and puts pressure on nerves and blood vessels.
-- Barrel shaped grips fit the shape of your hand much better than cylindrical grips. Pressure is transfered to your palms. With a cylindrical grip, there's pressure on the area between your thumb and forefinger.
-- Try gloves with gel in the palm. Foam just smashes. Gel damps vibrations better.
I wish you success in solving your problem.