Sore forearms

[Griffin]

An interesting point you raise about what speed you were actually travelling and Im developing a theory. I purchased a NavMan GPS unit about a year ago, I use this primarily for work and it has a speed guage on it. Now these things are accurate to within meters when it comes to locating addresses and is spot on when telling you how far to go to the next waypoint etc - but the speed registers that I am doing 95kph when according to my new ish vehicle, I am actually doing 100kph. I have tried this in several late model vehicles... same thing.

However - when in my mates Valiant and we are doing 100... the NavMan registers that we are doing 100... its as precise as a precise thing. My theory is this... that modern vehicles (after a certain year that I have not yet worked out) have there speedos purposely manufactured to register a slower speed than actually been travelled in order to keep people from speeding... a lot of people will happily travel at around 5 kph over the posted speed limit - by having this adjustment they are actually doing the correct speed.

Is there a conspiracy going on in lil ol' NZ??????

[Irontusk]

Griffin, you got your words back to front but I know what you mean, and I'm sure I've seen it in magazine articles and stuff. It's done, as you said, to reduce peoples speed a little bit, and as a backup incase the speedo reads slower than intended. I think my main cars speedo must be out, cause it reads the slightest bit over 2000rpm at 100k in 5th and everyone else's car of the same model reads a fair bit closer to 2500.

As for the sore arm, I havn't gotten out for a ride that long yet, but I seem to frequently rest my left arm once im in gear doing a steady speed, not exactly the safest thing to do but I always make sure there's no side roads coming up or any cars sitting in driveways waiting to pounce on me.

No other problems comfort wise on the VL250? The motor any problem at open road speeds?

[Blossom]

No other problems comfort wise on the VL250? The motor any problem at open road speeds?

Hell no. Shes sweet. Can happily cruise anywhere from 80k to 120k, just still scare the stuffing out of me when I get too fast...lol yeah yeah I'm a noob. But really comfy but for the wind issue over 90k so I am considering getting a screen... but thats always gonna happen on a cruiser.
No rattles or wobbles or anything untoward. The clutch is a little furthere out than I like but thats cause I got super small hands and its already set as close in as possible. I will get used to it I am sure.

[Grub]

I voted for the death grip but there are other forces at work here.

The VL250 is a cruiser, your body gets no support as you are forced to put your feet forward. All the weight goes a) On your tailbone and b) your arms. Your arms are fighting to hold you from falling backwards due to the wind pressure. Nasty had a virago and it was horrible for just these reasons.

On a sprotsbike or sports tourer, your body is supported by your thighs and you mostly (= should) have no pressure or weight on your hands and arms.

So the death grip + the wind + the design of the bike is more likely to be the answer.

[Irontusk]

I've heard alot of people say they feel like they're doing push ups on sports bikes. And I'd rather put weight on my ass than my balls I should get out for a longer ride and see how I do though.

[<Rhino>]

I voted for the death grip but there are other forces at work here.

The VL250 is a cruiser, your body gets no support as you are forced to put your feet forward. All the weight goes a) On your tailbone and b) your arms. Your arms are fighting to hold you from falling backwards due to the wind pressure. Nasty had a virago and it was horrible for just these reasons.

On a sprotsbike or sports tourer, your body is supported by your thighs and you mostly (= should) have no pressure or weight on your hands and arms.

So the death grip + the wind + the design of the bike is more likely to be the answer.

Sounds like pretty good cause and effect right there. Hit the nail on the head Grubb! Possibly even add to that a small female frame? I'm of larger stature and just sit in the seat with more weight to hold me down.However after a while your muscle memory will kick in and will get used to the stress and compenstate.

I think a screen will help alot Blossom, less wind and all that. I dont have a screen on my cruiser but would look at having one on a bigger bike. My mate has just stepped up and now has a screen, he thinks its bloody great.

[Grub]

I've heard alot of people say they feel like they're doing push ups on sports bikes.

And they're right on the money. The modern sportsbike has clipons below the triple clamp and you have to be doing 140 for the wind pressure to take the pressure off your arms - it's a bloody horrid feeling.

That's why i bought the last Honda sportsbike with a sensible riding position. The bars are flat on top of the triple clamp and i can ride at 100k with no weight at all on my hands. "Sports-Tourers" tend to have bars that rise up from the triple clamp. So there's a range of options and I took getting the right fit for me pretty seriously.

[Maha]

And they're right on the money. The modern sportsbike has clipons below the triple clamp and you have to be doing 140 for the wind pressure to take the pressure off your arms - it's a bloody horrid feeling.

That's why i bought the last Honda sportsbike with a sensible riding position. The bars are flat on top of the triple clamp and i can ride at 100k with no weight at all on my hands. "Sports-Tourers" tend to have bars that rise up from the triple clamp. So there's a range of options and I took getting the right fit for me pretty seriously.

Yip, I always got the 'tingles' on the Triumph after a short while, a quick shake of the hands and it was back to normal. Forearms? not so bad but none of that shit on the CB.....has ben said that on nakeds, at 180 plus, it gets hard to hold on too, but one is not allowed to ride at that speed is one? thats naughty....

[Imbray]

I found it was more my shoulders that were effected on the VL250 before puting on a screen, like u was OK @ 90km/hr but 110-120km hard to keep hold without a deathgrip due to the wind force. With screen no problems

Finding on my M50z that my left thumb is a prob at the base, not sure if I need to fiddle with clutch ( can only just reach) or toughen up, only had the bike comimg up on 2 weeks & done 500km, so could be either/neither

[CookMySock]

The modern sportsbike has clipons below the triple clamp and you have to be doing 140 for the wind pressure to take the pressure off your arms - it's a bloody horrid feeling.

You will get used to this. If thats the bike you want, then thats the price you pay. It took me about four months and 8,000km to get used to it, and even after nearly 15,000km and six months I have to rest with my thumb over the bar instead of around it. I do it because thats the bike I want to ride. Much of the time I ride with at least my left thumb above the grip and I have to remember to revert to a full grip on the bars if there is a truck coming the other way, or any hint of an obstacle that might require an immediate swerve, or there is any cornering to be done.

So I don't grip the bike with any part of my body. I sit on it and tuck my knees and toes in and relax. I'll slide my butt forward to take the weight off the bars, or slide it back for easier cornering. I move my torso to the left, sitting on my left butt cheek for a left corner, opposite for right corner.

As has been stated, if you keep your speed up 110-130k you will be a lot better off. Also, learn how to move around on the bike conserving your angle of lean in the corners - this helped me a lot. If you are unable to do this then you can just continue to ride it and wait until it gets better, or flick it and get something with taller bars.

HTH,
Steve

[Subike]

Go push some weights and get yourself fit man.
Sore arms from hanging on too tight, or from lack of experiance or simply because you are not fit.
If you are an office worker, then this will always be a problem, your arms are just not strong enuff.
A construction workers, or such like job, could not have the problem as much as theyuse their arm muscles all the time and are physically use to loading up the forearms.
I myself, work in Vineyards, physical work that tones up my body. I have yet to have problems bike riding as I am fit! Im 51.
Being fit is an important part of riding, more important than most would agree too.Your reaction times are faster, your thinking clearer, your endurance longer which allows you to have more fun on rides.
Do you think the best race riders sit around between races, pet pretty girls and drink fancy drinks?
No they are at the gym making sure they are fit, fast, and healty.
This is for the male weaklings out there, not the ladies
my waffel, take as you may

Unless you ride a harley, then you only need to be able to bend you elbow for the next beer and tie you belt under you belly

[pritch]

What does that make Pukekohe?

South Auckland!! Gasp Horror

[slofox]

Re speed and speedo readings, I had the LEO's check my SV with a radar gun recently and the speedo was over-reading by around 5%. This seems to be pretty standard on vehicles I have bothered to check.

I am told that any vehicles exported to the EU MUST NOT have speedos that UNDER-read...so a little over-read is built in........just to be sure, to be sure.......

I also think it is there to keep hoons happy thinking they are going faster than they really are......not that I would ever do such a thing.....

[Blossom]

So the death grip + the wind + the design of the bike is more likely to be the answer.

Grub you are so wise. and thanks for not calling me a girly sook.

I found it was more my shoulders that were effected on the VL250 before puting on a screen, like u was OK @ 90km/hr but 110-120km hard to keep hold without a deathgrip due to the wind force. With screen no problems

Good to know. I think getting a screen may be the answer here.

South Auckland!! Gasp Horror

no...we are port waikato district...honest

[Grub]

I move my torso to the left, sitting on my left butt cheek for a left corner, opposite for right corner.

Great steve, that's the Bum Steer I tried to tell people about ... instead it became a religiuos debate and I got rubbished by the coutersteering-is-the-ONLY-way-to-corner brigade. Closed minds can do dangerous things.