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| | | Junior Member
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/17/2008 11:00:53 PM
Posts: 10, Visits: 23 |
| | I have been doing a lot of research on bikes over the last year and I have it narrowed down to one of 2 bikes. I either want the Ninja 250R or the Vulcan 500 LTD. My issue is this. I have problems with my wrists giving me pain sometimes (sometimes I need to wear wraps) carpel tunnel or something I guess. Anyway, I know the Ninja has more of a rider forward position and that on sport bikes in general you tend to put a lot of weight on your wrists where as with a cruiser its more of a relaxed position. So would the ninja necessarily be a bad choice just because of this? I will just be using it for in town riding, not extended periods of riding. I just hate to spend that much only to find out that the position and the vibrations cause me enough trouble to keep me from enjoying my new purchase. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. |
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| | | Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 10/8/2008 12:05:55 PM
Posts: 162, Visits: 231 |
| I have been doing a lot of research on bikes over the last year and I have it narrowed down to one of 2 bikes. I either want the Ninja 250R or the Vulcan 500 LTD. My issue is this. I have problems with my wrists giving me pain sometimes (sometimes I need to wear wraps) carpel tunnel or something I guess. Anyway, I know the Ninja has more of a rider forward position and that on sport bikes in general you tend to put a lot of weight on your wrists where as with a cruiser its more of a relaxed position. So would the ninja necessarily be a bad choice just because of this? I will just be using it for in town riding, not extended periods of riding. I just hate to spend that much only to find out that the position and the vibrations cause me enough trouble to keep me from enjoying my new purchase. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
You're asking a difficult question. First, there's a night & day difference in these two bikes as it relates to the way they sit, ride, handle, perform, etc. The Ninja obviously would place more weight on your arms and wrists, but it's possibly not as much as you may anticipate it to be. But, it still may be enough to make a difference and cause some discomfort. If you're speaking purely of commuting in town where you'll be at a slow to medium pace, the Vulcan 500 would prove to be much more comfortable. Because of this little Ninja's ability to cruise at faster speeds, anything more than a general city commute may require a slightly bigger "cruiser," even one that's a year or two old with low-low-low miles. Do yourself a big-time favor and ask the dealer to allow you to ride each of these bikes in the manner that you will be riding once you buy one, in oder to determine, based upon your size, how each of these bikes positions you. You may be surprised at your findings. Would you buy a new $100-150 pair of MC boots without trying them on? Probably not. Definitely don't buy a new bike without first trying it out as you have a valid reason for doing so. Spending the extra $1,500 for the Vulcan may, or may not be necessary, and it could prove to be a waste of money.
While I still didn't exactly answer your question, you'll do that for yourself once you take each of these bikes for a test ride.
Morg |
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/25/2008 2:59:06 PM
Posts: 322, Visits: 317 |
| yep, ride if you can. if not, sit on them as much as you can to see if there's a noticeable difference for the wrists. I agree that the ninja 250 is going to be less agressive ergonomically than most other sport bikes, but still more than the vulcan.
NOW...here's how you can make it so that the wrist position differences don't matter, and this goes for AAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL riders (and those with wrist or hand pain/carpal tunnel type stuff).
Stretch the forearm muscles on the palm side (basically stretching the muscles and tendons that run under the area where the watch band connects) of the arm. to do this, all you need to do is get your hands pushed backward (imagine trying to get your hand to fold backward over the watch face) to a point where you feel a good stretch, but not pain on the palm side of the forearm and wrist. stretch this steadily, with no bouncing or rocking for 1 minute straight on each side. You can do both at once to save a bit of time. DO THIS EVERY DAY, at least once, and if possible, also do it before you ride. the easiest way is to place your palms flat on a door at about belly button height while standing, and push forward with the chest muscles, forcing the hand to stretck backward. you can also use a coffee table, bending over it and positioning your hands the same way. 1 minute, EVERY DAY. the further back you can get the hand, and still not be painful for 1 minute, the better.
I'm a Chiropractor and a sportbike rider who doesn't have wrist pain anymore because of this stretch. 1 minute a day can prolong your riding by years. I cannot stress the need for riders to do this stretch enough. DR'S ORDERS!
K$ |
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