OK, I give up, I have to let go of my ego and ask the question...
How do you ride for miles and miles without taking a break to get feeling back in the right throttle hand?
I have tried to consciously relax every muscle in my right hand except those necessary to hold the throttle and minimally grip the handlebar. I have tried one of thoe throttle extensions (but took it off due to negligible improvement and fear of increased risk of accidently bumping throttle). Nothing seems to make a significant difference.
My son's KQ450 causes me (and Him) even more pain.
What's the trick to riding a significant period of time without giving in to the pain/cramps caused by continuous pressure on the throttle?
I have never seen this issue mentioned here or on other sites (or I missed it?)
I'm probably just a wussy....but surely there are others out there with the same threat to their manhood?
I've always considered myself as having strong (albeit a bit stubby) hands.
Do I need to resort to one of those throttle-assist spring-loaded gloves?
thx
wussy-Tiger

What you are talking about used to be refered to as "POLARIS THUMB" I havn't had it for many years guess just got used to it.

I hear you. There's nothing worse than a heavy thumb throttle. I'd try a little cable lubricant and see if that helps any. More leverage is about the only way to tame a thumb throttle.

Cob, you're saying I ain't getting enough ride time in to build up my Polaris muscle tone? You'd be right....I don't get to go riding nearly as much as I would like....and when I do, I have to suffer with the painful thumb muscles.
Any advice on how to get over the cramps?

What I done several years ago If I can explain so that you can understand. I bought a "L" shaped bracket I can't recall say 2 inch you know they have the holes predrilled. I bent one side out straight it looked like a dogs hind leg at that point.( ---\__ )It has a little jog in it, I then drilled a couple holes in the thumb throttle and added that bracket. I added it so that the bracket leg was seting back in line with the throttle not out in front of it. It gave the throttle just enough length to make the presure required alot less and worked wonders. I never had any problems with hang up on it either.

Get this from Cabelas.. I have had them before and they work OK

Guess I must be stupid as I've never realized any pain or discomfort from my thumb after riding for a day or even multiple days as we did in Moab. I would say that maybe as Cajun said just be sure your throttle cable and everything involved in that process is in top notch condition with no kinks or anything making it harder than it needs to be. Other than that maybe get one of those squeeze balls and work on strengthening your grip some.

I never noticed this either and my machine is not exactly new. I would have expected to have problems since the cables might have been a bit corroded and dirty. I would deffinatly check how free your cables move in the covers and shoot some lithium grease down the tubes to lube them and keep them clean. You could always use the excuse that you need to get your thumb in shape by riding more though.

The only time I had problems was when i hit a rock with my front tire and it jerked so bad I thought my thumb got broke down where it connects to the hand. I rode very slow using my left hand to throttle when I could and palming with my right other times.

Must just be a personal problem...and I always considered my self as having strong hands.
Tried the Mad-Dog thumb extension before. Took it off after several months. Didn't seem to help much and after reading several safety concerns about accidently hitting the extension, I took it off.
Both ATV's are in like-new condition. The pressure required now is the same as when bought new. And, similar to other ATV's.
I guess I'll just have to practice some new techniques next time we go for an extended ride.

Don't feel bad. I have the same problem and haven't found a solution yet.

I wonder if it has something to do with the way you grasp the handlebars or how hard you do it? You also may want to try moving your bars slightly to see if the angle change makes a difference.

Although it's been many years since I had a numb Thumb. Or maybe the return springs on Yamaha and Honda aren't wound as tight as those on poorares. Try chucking up on the lever, use more then the tip of you thumb. I've also read of people slipping a piece of heater hose over the lever. They said it worked just as good as those extenders as Cob and others described.

I get the same pain in my thumb, my wrists, my arms, my shoulders, my back, my legs, my ankles, my feet, my head....Ahhh what was that question again?

Good one Camper.
Actually, Gordon has a really good idea. Try tweeking the handle bar angle, or maybe even better rotate the throttle assy. to a more erogonomic angle (whatever that means).

I know all too well what you are talking about. I have many times pulled over and shook my right hand for minutes trying to "uncramp" it and my thumb.
I did get a Mad Dog thumb extention and it doesn't help all that much. It says that it relieves sore thumb because you can use your palm. Yeah right. Have you ever tried to use your palm when bouncing over rough terrain at high speed with auto engine braking? I just end up with the wifes head getting snapped back and forth into my back and neck.
Also, it is VERY easy to bump when getting on/off the ATV, and when plowing. It did come with a HUGE warning sticker though.
I find my fatique works its way out with the more riding I do. Maybe we should use these during our down time.

quote:

Originally posted by geauxtiger:
How do you ride for miles and miles without taking a break to get feeling back in the right throttle hand?

Go to your local gym and sign up for thumb wrestling. I believe that should give your thumb the extra stamina it needs.

Most of the time I go out it's usually
over 60 miles

I have found that when your not riding
make an effort to move your thumb and
wrist and this issue will be a thing of the past

When I walk past my riding buddies at the staging area we all give each other a thumb
wiggle
Also it's not a bad idea to do some stretching
before a ride

OK, I git it....I'm a wuss...but was glad to hear there are at least a few more like me out there. I think a big part of the problem is that my hands are short...strong, but short. Makes me have to stretch the ole thumb out just a bit more than others. I'm going to try more ergo solutions....choking up on the grips a bit, maybe rotating the throttle assembly a touch, possible handlebar adjustment, relaxation exercises, etc.
The one suggestion least likely to be acted on is going to the gym. I heard that our local YMCA frowns on bringing beer and chips to the gym with you.
Thanks for all the advice....I'll start working on it soon!

That's a bummer about the YMCA, people like that are so narrow minded. How do they expect a feller to keep hydrated?

Your no wuss. That steady position puts cramps in the hand. I try to go WOT every chance I get. Seems to help circulation to my thumb.

You might try letting the quad sit with the throttle tied fully open. Now it's important not to start it up in like that, so make sure yourself it's like that. I may help relieve some of the tension in the throttle return spring over time. All spring will fatigue over time, so by putting the spring under tension it may help to fatigue it faster. Some of these guys making you feel like a wuss have older quads, so their springs may already be fatigued. The old slide type carbs on the 2 cycles don't have near the tension a carb with a throttle plate will have.

I don't know if it would help, but workout gloves with end of the fingers missing might help too. It may give your thumb additional support. You don't want a loose fitting glove.