Okay, I just got my 05 R6 not too long ago and it's my first bike ever. I was driving down a highway for 15 miles and my throttle hand went numb. Both of my hands actually hurt. Is there a certain posture I am supposed to have with my hands? Also, it was pretty windy outside and I was almost pushed off the road. I leaned my chest on the tank and kept my head up, so the wind couldn't push me around as much. My neck was starting to hurt from that though. Was it correct of me to lean that far and am I supposed to be feeling pain for a couple weeks until my muscles get used to it? Maybe I just put a death grip on so I wouldn't fall off. I just need to know the proper way to position myself on this machine.

Okay the primary cause of your hands going numb is gripping the bars too tight. Ease up a bit. You can usually tell when you are loose enough by flapping your arms. (I'll explain) If you're in a corner you should be able to flap your elbows without it effecting your turn. If you are too tense to accomplish that you need to loosen up.

Don't worry, it's very hard to fall off these things.

Also your neck muscle will hurt for a while. They have to get used to spending most of the time having your head tilted up. You can reduce to discomfort when you're done riding by leaning your head forward till your chin hits your chest. This will stretch the muscles in your neck.

Thanks for the advice. I'm gonna keep practicing. :)

I have only been riding for a few months. When I first started riding, I would have the same problem (numbness). My hands would be numb for hours after riding. It felt as if my hands had lost circulation and had that "burning/tingling" feeling.

Fierohink has the right idea...I would also suggest using your legs to help support some of your weight by pushing them against your tank.

Here's an article I found on the subject http://www.trailrider.com/article_42.shtml

Hope it helps! Be safe!

Ya the hands can hurt, but it will pass I found gel grips make a big differece on long rides

Just relax :!:

The easiest way to ride is to ride smooth no abrubt actions or movements

Ride with the bike not against it. They dont like to fall over once they are moving so don't fight the bike: learn to play by it rules and you will be suprised how fast your confidence builds :wink:

--JD

Loosen the death grip. The more you ride the more you will find out that strength has little to do with riding rather than endurance. Loosen the grip, you can turn that bike with your pinky if you wanted. If you find yourself getting tense start opening your fingers one at a time while griping the bar. this will increase blood flow and help relax you.

Also your tendons might be weak.

the neck thing you just gotta get used to. as for the hands, sounds like a case of death-grip to me. try riding open handed, cover your brake and clutch with your finger tips. Juyst relax and go limp over the tank. if you have a tank-bag, rest your chin on that, it helps on really long rides, laying on the tank really takes alot of the stress off your wrists. it takes some getting used to, i went through the same thing moving iover from cruisers to rockets

The best way that I have found to avoid the death grip is to leave your fingers open except the last two (ring and pinky). It's basically the same if you ride with a finger or two on the break and clutch, doing that doesn't allow you to completely grip the handlebar, thus allowing you hand to relax. I remember when I was a kid and rode motocross, I would come in from hours of riding and could barely get my hands to come off the handlebar because of the "death grib" that I would put on, but with dirt you have to hand on a little tighter than you do with street. Another thing I like to do when I lean down and put my chest on the tank is to swing my knees out a bit and rest my elbows on them. This enables you to totally relax your forearms and hands, and in turn it keeps you from getting a bruise on your chest from leaning on the tank.

Agree with all of the above re. grip. Make sure you ride with your elbows slightly bent as it will allow you move the bars easier at higher speeds - even when braking avoid locking at the elbows as this gives you further 'suspension' if you will.
A double bubble screen may help to take some of the wind off your head but often standard screens help on long distances as they can support your upper body weight due to the wind blast on your chest.

You'll soon get used to it.