Motorcycle technology for the physically handicapped


Have no idea what it costs but looks like a solid product.

With the neuropathy in my feet and lower legs, I cannot drive a car or truck anymore and a decent conversion is expensive.
I have not driven my van for more than 3 years.  My motorcycles serve me very well as a disabled persons ride.
My dead feet can still kick the gear lever altho missed shifts are an occasional problem.  Most of the time the front brake is all I use.  If in an emergency, I need more, a deadfoot stomp on the rear break works.
The sidecar makes it so that my weak legs do not have to hold the bike up at stops.  For 2 wheel rides, a TW200 is light enough that I still do not have a problem, and the huge fat tires give enough stability in harsh braking situations.
All three of my bikes have disabled labels on them.
This occasionally caused ill feelings from other disabled folk in parking lots who think that I should not be riding with a disabled plate.
Mostly these are people who are disabled because they are morbidly obese.  Their attitude mirrors their eating habits.

Phelonius

Phelonius, congratulations on at least not letting your situtation keep you off the bikes. You show us where their is a will their is a way.

If someone questions your handicapp status, tell them you will trade them feet. To walk a mile in your shoes, as you would love to be able to walk a mile period...

I was hoping there might be something there to help me ,but no luck.
I'm doomed to my cage from now on

For 2 wheel rides, a TW200 is light enough that I still do not have a problem, and the huge fat tires give enough stability in harsh braking situations.



I rode one a few days ago. Those knobby tires make turning an event. Id never felt the way they change things before.

Yea, not even close to MX dirt knobbies, but with the fat tires & the aggressive tread, that Im sure would just be great in sand, sure had me struggling to feel like I was really the one in control in a turn on asphalt. Not sayin it wasnt FUN,, it was just an eye opener when I started down the road. I could feel the resistance just rolling down the road. It let me know exactly how much I wiggle the bars.

I spent a fair amount of time trying to design a quad frame with a hinged roll cage that would open clam shell fashion. With an airbag suspension you could lower it to street level, wheel in, and pull the roll cage down over you locking the wheels in place.
With paddle shifters or an automatic gearbox and a suitable power supply (GSXR 1000?) it could be lots of fun. Instead of dial-a-ride or an expensive van conversion the wheelchair bound would gain personal freedom. Make it street legal and insure it like a motorcycle.  

JohnBoy wrote on 05/30/10 at 09:27:19:

Sounds like a really cool idea.

On that video, my first thought was "training wheels!"  but it actually looks like a very good idea.  Mom could use that shifter on her 4-wheeler.  Her ankle bothers her when she up-shifts, so she's just got a piece of baling wire on it and tied to the handlebars; she can give it a pull to upshift.  Not so good when chasing cows though, and you need to shift fast!