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Wrist pain from handlebar angle

34K views 88 replies 20 participants last post by  depot picker 
#1 ·
Does anyone else have wrist pain from handlebar angle?

I have been riding Harleys for a long long time. Since I have started riding the XCT (about 2500 mile so far) my wrists have started to hurt after riding. I think the angle is ergonomically incorrect.

Is this happening to anyone else?
KEN
 
#3 ·
You can try adjusting the bars up or down. There are 4 allen bolts under the bars to give you several inches of adjustments. Just be cautious that your clutch lever (also adjustable just a little) doesn't hit the display button. Don't ask mde how I know that. :cool:
 
#31 ·
do you have apicture that you could post to assist me in locating said pin? Actually, I am leaning towards the HMD XC pullback bars.... your thoughts?
 
#5 ·
I have noticed it some. Had the same "problem" on the Goldwing, although you could adjust them some if you knew how. Trouble is, these are solid bar so short of taking a pipe bender to them and taking the chance of popping off chrome you are kinda stuck.
Some solutions:
Let go of the death grip. When in traffic and working the controls they are fine, but you payed for a cruise and it is a good enough one, use it. Let your hands rest lightly with thumbs on the bottom. Your hands are still in position for what ever jumps in front of you. Move around and change positions, it helps. The XCT is very true going down the road in every condition I have ridden in so far. Surprising for a bar mounted fairing.
Adjust the height of the bars. Two of the screws are enough to move the bars up and down. Make sure you have a heavy blanket all the way across your tank, they let go all at once. I learned that one on a Yamaha.
A throttle rocker helps but the XT has a very "long" throttle so some may not find it any help.

One person mentioned the handlebars are too short, IMHO they are fine but the factory seating is too far back. Move forward an inch or so and I find the handling and agility improves quite a bit. Just my observation, YMMV

Good luck on finding a solution and be sure to share it. I'm in if you find a better way.

Cheers
 
#6 ·
+1 on what Bbob said about those locator pins, ground those off right away so I could have the levers at a proper angle for me. BTW, just snug the clamping screws enough to hold the adjustment, but loose enough so in the event of a go down, the assembly will rotate, saving the levers so you can continue the ride.

Lostintexas suggested a throttle rocker - I won't leave home without one. They can be rotated to different positions for different conditions, providing you get the kind that grips by friction. A rocker allows you to loosen your grip and relax your hands, a key to all day riding. You can shorten the throttle rotation with a 1/4 turn adapter from Lloydz. Its not that dramatic, just speeds things up a bit and shortens the rotation a little. Easy install.

At 5'-10" and 29" inseam, I found the seating position a bit far back, so when I had the saddle customized (in person) I had him move me up about an inch. Viola! That did it, no custom bars needed and a more comfortable reach to the foot controls. I also had heat installed in the saddle - I love it!

Want to know exactly where your grips should be? Do this: Sit on your bike with it straight up and feet up and with a ruler or other straight stick in each hand, close your eyes and position your hands where you ideally want them to be when riding. Open your eyes, then do what it takes to match that location of those sticks.
 
#7 ·
I agree with all the comments.
I have cruise control to help with the straight roads, but the curves should not be carved in cruise. I also have a backrest, so I don't need to grip the grips very hard.
I think my arms are just about 2" too short. I am 5'10" and must have short arms. If I lean forward I can correct the forearm to wrist angle (it should be as straight as possible). Elbows should also be bent slightly and mine are not.
I will be putting the Ness Modular bars on and then get the seat customized to sit a little down and forward a bit.
I think all of the Victory Motorcycles were built for people 6'2" or taller.

My mobile easy chair will be ready to roll the backroads of the USA soon enough. KEN

 
#9 ·
Does anyone else have wrist pain from handlebar angle?

I have been riding Harleys for a long long time. Since I have started riding the XCT (about 2500 mile so far) my wrists have started to hurt after riding. I think the angle is ergonomically incorrect.

Is this happening to anyone else?
KEN
Yes. The angle sucks.
 
#10 ·
Bbob, I'm assuming in picture 3 that the lower one is the end product of the bending? More angle was added?
 
#17 ·
When HMD built their 2" pullback bars for the XC, they adjusted the angle to make them a more natural position for the wrists. This may be an alternative for you. http://www.hmd520.com/category/XC-Parts-32
My wrists don't get sore but I have a problem of the throttle hand falling asleep. I think it's because the bars could be further back yet for me. If I was doing it over again, I would try HMD rather than the Vic ones.
 
#19 ·
Thanks for the info Randy
I was thinking about the HMD bars and then I heard about the Ness Modular Bars. I have ordered them. They are taller. There have been some discussions and another thread. Check out that thread for more info. Bbob and I will be posting more info about the Ness bars soon.

On this thread I am trying to get more info to share with Victory about their poor choice of bars. It seems like the shorter riders are having the issues if I'm not mistaken. KEN
 
#20 ·
Here's the problem with the stock bars. It is a failure to understand the market for heavy crusers. Who buys an XCT? Old farts. How are old farts joints at being bent and stressed in unnatural directions? Not good. So why would they sell an old fart model with that kind of handle bars? I bet they had young guys test them, and us old farts know young guys don't know jack.:)
 
#21 ·
I'm an old fart and don't have an issue with my wrists. I do use the cruise control on trips and I do have a throttle rocker installed. OR... maybe I'm O. K. because of all the wrist exercises I did as a teenager? :crzy:
 
#23 ·
I looked in the dictionary for a definition, perhaps an age range for old fart. Can't find it, but I do acknowledge that my thumb knuckles are seizing up after riding the cross bikes for three years now. And yes, I've noticed some aggravation of the wrists. I am 6 ft tall. Maybe it's time to,explore,alternate handlebars. I am just not sure I want apes.......
 
#32 ·
I finished the handlebars and other little projects last night. I may need to reroute a few things though.
These feel much better even though I haven't refined the adjustments yet. I do wish they came back a little further.
 
#33 ·
Depot, do those Ness modular bars come farther back than the stock bars? I'm interested in pullbacks, to get some more bend in my elbows and/or sit up a bit straighter.

HMD says of its pullbacks, "The hand postion has been changed to give you a more comfortable feeling." (I also like that you can get them in black.)

The Ness modular apes let you do some grip-angle adjusting yourself, right? Kind of like the very expensive, super adjustable, bar systems that HeliBars makes for some other brands, I gather.

So, questions for you:

1) Can these Ness bars go as low as regular bars (i.e., I'm not interested in their "ape" capability), and thus function as pullbacks, with the added capability of some grip-angle adjustment?

2) What's this about "rerouting"? I'm definitely interested in any comments along those lines.

Thanks for your time.
 
#38 ·
D Picker
Do you think you could post a few pics of your new handlebars on your bike? (maybe from the riders view or a bit lower so we can see the pullback and grip angle)

I'll be putting on the Ness bars tomorrow and snap a few pics to share too. KEN
 
#34 ·
They can go low enough to hit the tank on tight turns.
I went from Vic 2" pullback bars. These seem to have slightly less pull back.
I need to reroute a few cables because I rushed getting it back together so I could ride it to my Thursday night out at the biker bar. It all works lock to lock. Next time I have it apart I will make it look a bit more tidy.
I've only done about 20 miles with them. I'll do a few hundred this weekend and can provide better comfort info.
 
#36 ·
Thanks much.
 
#39 ·
Ness Modular Cross Country Ape Handlebars

I put on my Ness Modular Cross Country Ape Handlebars. These are "not" Ape bars. They are modular (adjustable pullback angle).
Here is what is in the box. It is shipped in a box 3 times the size of what is needed.



Before shot



After shots







Hopefully I'll be riding tomorrow and let you know how they feel. They do look good, but they better for "what they cost". KEN
 
#41 ·
I put on my Ness Modular Cross Country Ape Handlebars. These are "not" Ape bars. They are modular (adjustable pullback angle).


Hopefully I'll be riding tomorrow and let you know how they feel. They do look good, but they better for "what they cost". KEN
Lookin' good Ken!

Yeah. They are expensive but what isn't these days. Looks like you got some decent pullback from them. I would still call these apes but I would revise it to medium apes. Not the taller 16" apes Ness also sells.

I got the chrome version through CC for the discount. Who did you buy these blacked-out style from. I would have still gone with the chrome ones because of the style I'm using on my bike but the black ones offer a nice contrast with the bolts on the L bracket.

Well, I guess I better finish my coffee, take the dogs for a walk, and get busy in the garage as well.
 
#42 ·
Got the bars on and buttoned up. As I sat there adjusting the bars and finding the sweet spot just for me I started wondering if I didn't make a mistake with these bars. The other bars came back a foot from the tip of the fairing; these came back 7-9" so I lost some pullback. The actual height from the floorboard to the end of the grip was relatively unchanged.

What made me decide to keep them was how the grip angle was just right for me because of all the adjustments possible and because the grip's were a little farther away; I had to lean forward which took some weight off my tail bone which is a good thing. If, on a long trip, I wanted more pullback I could always set it up similar to how orbiker did so I'm calling this one a win.

The clutch cable and the brake line are at the far end of their possible capability though. I will be looking into replacing both with plenty of extra length in case I want to go to taller bars at some point.

BTW; something I learned a long time ago on finding the right bars for you is to close your eyes and reach out like you are going to put your hands on bars then open your eyes and see what the angle is. You could do this with drum sticks, rulers, anything you have. In the case of these particular bars; it is possible to adjust them to that sweet spot so it negates any wrist pain which is how this thread got started. Unfortunately it isn't possible to try all the different bars like it was in the old days when brick and mortar shops stocked a bunch of them to try in your hands.

I found my Biketronics speakers were blown so it will be a little longer before I can take a road test. Gonna change out the adapters while waiting on the replacement speakers that are under warranty (fortunately).
 
#43 ·
I did a 200 mile ride today in 45* weather (with a little mist once in a while) to test out the bars and blow out a few cobwebs (in my head). I think I've got the angle right on the money. I sat on the bike in the shop yesterday after I got them bolted on the bike (and before I buttoned up the fairing) for 5 minutes or so to hopefully find the right spot. After I thought they were good, I took a break to relax away from the bike. Then I came back and sat on the bike. They still felt good, so, they must be in the right spot. They is not much adjusting after the fairing is back on.

I bought the bars from Ness through GCMC. I decided to get black because most of the time the old chrome bars would look black from the reflection anyway. Plus the wires blend it with the bars. It's not worth all the work to put the wires inside the bars because the radio and cruise wires will still be out. The wire on my old Road King were inside the bars and that cleaned up the front end real nice.

It's too bad Victory couldn't have put a decent set of bars on the bike to begin with.
 
#45 ·
GCMC is my brother's shop. Victory, Polaris snowmobiles and the best aftermarket HD shop in the Northwest. They love to build big motors for Harleys and Victory's and they are good at it. KEN
 
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