Cant feel the vibes but the hands still dead!

[Mark W]

Ok I have a situation that i haven't had on any other bike after half an hour on the GTR my right hand goes numb (no remarks needed!) I cant feel any vibes through the bars and I only ride with a light grip, anyway during my ride to work this morning I dropped the screen to its lowest point and noticed that the numbness started to go, so from that I can only assume that this is being caused by air pressure on my back when the screen is extended, is this something that affects all tourers?

[Lonewolf]

I dont understand the GTR, sometimes when I ride it there is no vibration or numbness and on other times its very evident. Classic example last week I went to Lincolnshire and while travelling on the motorway my right hand was so numb I could not bend my fingers, nor did I have any feeling in them at all. However as soon as we came off the motorway the numbness went and never came back, not even on the return journey on the motorway. It baffles me. I've no doubt that it is something I am doing subconsciously, even if it is something as basic as over gripping the bar end. I just dont realise obviously that I am doing it.

Whats the cure? Not sure really, best thing I suppose is to analyse your riding style and see if you can identify whats going on.

[Cartman]

Odd, very odd, I used to have this problem on my GSA but that vibrated at certain revs like a commuter train. I did have this problem on the GTR initially but it was my glove wrist strap being too tight, the position of the bars put pressure where it hadn't been on my ZZR, leave the strap loose and I have no problem.

Also if you sit in a pocket of still air there is no air flow to hold you up, so more weight on your wrists, meaning you have to support your own weight.

Just my opinion, sure there'll be more  ;D

[Lonewolf]

I like the theory about the glove strap being tight. Strangely enough you may have hit the nail on the head as I had a pair of gloves on which I dont often use and they are a slightly smaller size than I normally use.

[mecki]

I have noticed that when I move the screen up that at a certain point it feels like being pushed (or sucked) forward.
This could result in more pressure on the wrists and cause the numbness. I haven't experienced something as extreme after 1/2 hour but after longer trips I seem to feel more tired than I used to be on the 1250 Bandit.
Maybe varying the screen position more often may help? I'll be doing a 600 mile run mainly on motorways through Holland, Belgium and France on Saturday, so I will have some time for experimentation.

[Boomer]

If it's not p**sing down I ride with the screen down below 50Mph and screen up above 50.
I have the big CalSci screen so you can imagine how much I get pushed into the bars with it up.

The trick is to move frequently.
That also means moving your hands and yes, even changing the position of your throttle hand.
We get in the habit of not moving and that is BAD!

l alternate between fingers around the grip, fingers resting on brake lever, fingertips holding throttle, and taking my hand completely off the grip for a few seconds when decelerating. It allows me to do the full 200 miles a full tank of petrol gives me.

It also helps to rotate the brake lever down as far as you can as this reduces the angle your hand is at when braking.
Since I filter for 20-60 miles per day I am covering the brake for a fair while so I have mine as low as it will go.

[Mark W]

Brake lever adjustment tonight, and a loose fitting wrist straps and the mankini :o whoops wrong forum

[thestig]

Well I too have the dreaded vibration and hand-numbing effect.

I came from  the 2008 GTR onto the 2011 bike and it's a killer. I hate my 2011 GTR for that single reason. It has taken every ounce of enjoyment out of riding the bike. 4,000rpm in every gear no matter what speed.

I've had a good bit of correspondence with Kawasaki UK ([email protected]) and they're denying it's a problem. In fact, they're suggesting that I'm the only one to complain about it! Erm, no. I know of others that have reported it.

Anyway, I've set up this page to see if we can record the individual owners that have the dreaded 4,000 vibe and to see if we can get Kawasaki to recognise that it IS a problem.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vibrating-Kawasaki-Gtr1400/178434848890050?sk=wall

To date, they reckon it is a 'characteristic of the bike'.......... Is it going to take a lad getting killed from not being able to feel his hands before Kwak recognise the prob?

[routemaster]

I have the 2010 model and I haven't had any problems with vibration or numb/dead feeling in my hands. I noticed at around 4000/45000 rev the vibration is ever so slightly more noticeable but I wouldn't say was significantly different to any other bike I have ridden over the years.

Steve

[Kwikasfuki]

I know of one person that sold their GTR simply due to the vibration problem and Kawasakis inability to resolve it. I wouldn't go far as saying its a common issue, but its certainly a known issue.

Its normally due to something now being torqued correctly. Identifying the 'something' is the hard issue

[100milesaway]

Thestig    Does your problem happen all the time ,or just if you are in" eco" mode? I have an 011 with 3500 miles on and It's fine, but does seem to run slightly rougher when in eco mode.

[fred24]

I've done 5K on my 11 now and can't say i've noticed any vibration either through the bars or pegs

[Bondu]

I'm on 4k now on my 2011, some days there's vibes through the RH bar around 4000 revs, some days nothing at all, it can change during a trip out too. I thought it may be the different road surfaces, but that seems irrelevant too. Since fitting grip puppies I don't notice it so much, I can't decide if I like the new size of the grips with them fitted though.

It's still the best bike I've ever ridden  ;D

[mecki]

Have just come back from my first longer trip on the GTR with daily milages between 200 to 600 miles on all kinds of roads.
Vibrations?
Not really. Every bike vibrates every now and then for one reason or another and the GTR probably less than most.
And @ 4000 rpm, you say?
That's about 90 mph in 6th gear, right?
Did a bit of that on continental motorways and haven't noticed anything untoward.

Though I have to agree with Boomer that frequently moving your hands (and feet and bum for that matter) really helps a lot.
I also experimented with the (standard) screen a bit on longer motorway sections.
When my hands started to go numb I lowered it for a while to reverse the sensation on the bars from pushing to pulling.
And at least for me it worked well. 600 miles in 12 hours on less than 60 litres of gas and still feeling great.

[100milesaway]

How did the holiday go Gerd?. Full report please ;D ;)    Cheers Geoff ;D