Tendinitis from clutch overuse....

[Donor]

...so did you get the week off??

Dammit man, omit not the important details!

[Krayy]

...so did you get the week off??

Dammit man, omit not the important details!

Nope...I should have sold it better

[ambler]

It sounds like the clutch is not so much the problem. I have a bike which gives me this kind of pain in the left hand after an hour or so, and believe me if it was the clutch doing it you wouldn't have any doubt about it. Clutchless shifts and rotating the lever position so that your arm-hand is straight as you have done should help, the only other thing I can suggest if you are actually feeling pain while using the clutch is to pull it in with your whole arm, instead of squeezing with your hand. I find myself doing this naturally after a while... unfortunately can't do the same thing when you let it out because you need more control, but pulling it in like that is no problem.

[surfchick]

I went off to the doctors offi...Bottom line, I need to get a bigger bike so I don't have to change gears so often...

...or do clutchless shifts on the way up the 'box.

uh oh...don't get a ducati...hmm heavy clutch awaits if you do worth it tho

[skidMark]

ummmmm....clutch.....whats a clutch LOL

[beyond]

I see another person in sore need of a GSX1400

[erik]

... and you shouldn't be pulling in the clutch lever too near the pivot point.

I want to emphasise this.

I was having problems with my clutch hand getting sore. Riding down SH22 to ngaruawahia, it'd start feeling sore around ngaruawahia and then by the time I got back to auckland, it'd be so sore I couldn't pull the lever in.

I think the main things that I did that helped were switching from my padded winter gloves (dririder nordic) which made it a little more difficult to bend my fingers to non-padded gloves, and also moving the clutch lever so that the perch was as far from the rubber grip as possible.

Sounds like your pain is slightly different to mine, but I suggest trying moving the lever mounting so that you're grabbing the lever as far away from the pivot as practical, it'll give you better leverage and reduce the force required. Maybe it'll help.

[dwnundabkr]

bugga try the clutch on a buell no assisted here straight cable you certainly no it after a few hours hard ridin

[Strider]

Can anyone else see a tui add...

Yeah Right

[steveb64]

I went off to the doctors office as I have these shooting pains across the top of my left index and middle fingers, hoping to get a doctors note for a weeks R&R for a work related injury.

I work on Unix based computer systems so theres a lot of typing weird characters (|/~&$% etc), plus I tend to do an odd maneuver when using copy/paste where I use my thumb to hold down the left Ctrl key then reach across it with my index finger to hit C,X & Z.

So we're chatting away about things I do during the day, and I mention that I ride the might VTR every day and he figures that the tendinitis is from using the clutch rather than typing. Hands me a pack of Voltaren, an ACC form for some Physio and sends me on my merry, albeit painful, way.

Bottom line, I need to get a bigger bike so I don't have to change gears so often...

...or do clutchless shifts on the way up the 'box.

Try a 'powerball'! - http://www.powerballs.co.nz - I got one a while back - helps with rsi type problems, and stops forearm 'pump up' when you've got the death grip on the bars! I even tested it by just using it with my right hand for a couple of weeks - then rode the Ducati into the Cold Kiwi rally site (it HATES gravel) - death grip on the bars - left arm pumped up - right arm was fine! Got put on to them by my nieces hubbie - he swore by it to stop arm pump when he was MX'ing.

[stevewederell]

Snap, have just got the same problem...well similar. I'm having debilitating pains in my middle three tendons from my first joint to just past my wrist.

Started to happen after about 1 hour riding my mates VTR250 (was getting used to it before sitting full licence that day). About 3/4 through the test I was cringing and just praying it would end...then I had to ride it back home!

Took new bike, CB600 next day (today) and was still sore after a night being rested but was a lot better after work. I'm not wondering whether it was just the angles and setup.

Maybe I just need a large bottle of those HTFU pills I hear so much about??

[Sketchy_Racer]

yeap HTFU pills required.

Oh nice choice of bike btw. They do great wheelies. Change the handle bars though!

[breakaway]

I thought repetitive strain injuries get WAY worse if you just ignore them. Treat that shit as soon as teh symptoms show, don't put it off.

[Zoolander]

Funny thing, I got diagnosed with tendonitis in my left wrist, due in no small part to the physical nature of my job. I wasn't riding my Yamaha much because the low bars caused quite a bit of pain over a relatively short ride. So I sold it and bought the S4R which has higher bars, but a heavier clutch. So been riding quite a bit recently, and I'm sure using the clutch has helped the wrist recover, to the point where the tendonitis has all but gone. Considering a few months ago I couldn't even stretch my hand up above my head without shooting pains and then hours of pins and needles, I would say I am pretty pleased with the result. Hmmmmm physio or riding a Ducati, some choice huh?

[pritch]

I went off to the doctors office as I have these shooting pains across the top of my left index and middle fingers,

Was this your doctor or the company doctor?

Failing a miracle cure you could consider the new offerings from Honda and Aprilia who now offer autos. Or even the version of the FJR1300 that has some sort of auto clutch.