Handicapped Spyder Ryders.....Roll call!

[palehorsevt]

Back in the wind

Do to military service In iraq I have found myself wheelchair bound. No boo hoo's I rode my ass off this summer and am loving every aspect of the spyder. To all those out there back in the wind, welcome.

Thanks for having a section dedicated to us and calling it enabled. i see the abilities left in my not the disabilities.....Be safe all.

 

[srarndt]

Thanks...

You Enabled SpyderLovers rock! It is inspirational to follow all that you're doing to keep riding. :2thumbs:

My challenge is Parkinson's. Losing my balance to it led me to abandon my 2 wheel riding. (Started falling over too often, lol.) Fortunately within a year later CanAm rolled out an answer to that problem. Premier Edition #249 has since been "my faithful companion".

There's not much in the way of hardware for my Spyder that helps as my PD progresses (have a throttle lock and wrist rest) and as my meds are becoming less effective. So next up I investigate hardware for my head: DBS (electrodes deeply embedded in the brain with a control unit in my chest.) I have a passion for riding and intend to do what ever it takes to stay on 3 wheels as long as possible. hyea:

Keep on riding!

PS: LaMonster - thanks for this forum!

 

[Star Cruiser]

Do to military service In iraq I have found myself wheelchair bound. No boo hoo's I rode my ass off this summer and am loving every aspect of the spyder. To all those out there back in the wind, welcome.

Thanks for having a section dedicated to us and calling it enabled. I see the abilities left in my life - not the disabilities.....Be safe all.

Amen Brother!

 

[dewie]

this site rocks,
last year on my Hayabusa I had a garbage truck turn in front of me with no signal lights or turn signals. ended up breaking 5 vertibra and became a T3 para. To be honest as a two wheeled rider I hated the looks of the spyder but now its the only way and with all the accesories the possibilities are endless. I may not be dragging a knee but its wind thru my hair

I now have a 09 SE5 sitting in my garage. and I have to thank you enabled guys for forging the way and making all the accesories for these bikes. I just ordered the handbrake kit and floorboard kit from Industrial specialties. Can't wait to get rolling again.

Cool site you have here, you have a new lurker. :2thumbs:

 

[retired1]

New owner

welcome and :congrats: on the RS. You are right, there are quite a few enabled riders that will be more than willing to help you with suggestions and solutions to make your :spyder2: work for you.
Good luck!

 

[frozenracoon]

looking for answers

hi folks

i'm new to this stuff being still classified as a quasi able bodied rider. i need sticks to walk and have been just told yesterday i will need a walker as my illness progresses.
i use two canes to move about for very short distances like in the house. i switch to long distance "touring" crutches, which are collapsible like my canes. the walker also folds somewhat.

here's my question (finally)...how will i be able to carry my walker on my soon to be purchased 2011 RT?

i ride two up with my wife and do not want a triler. i will need to carry my canes (which when folded fit in the front trunk) and the walker. the unit is a larger pce to handle my svelte 250 lb frame:yikes:.
we looked at the RS with the givi bags and such but my wife found the riding position much more comfortable and so did i preferring a touring bar to a straight bar.

we thought we were going to have to give up riding but this machine has saved the day for us. i've been riding for over 50 yrs and am not ready to throw in the towel yet. hell i even rode an old indian scout around in vietnam until it was shot out from under me.

any and all advice is very much appreciated.

thanks...

rob (NEVER give up!!)

 

[Lindsey Angell]

Crippled Riders

Now that my parents ain't 'round to SPANK ME... I say taint nuthin wrong with bein called Crippled. Crippled is a great word, as it goes way back before we had "Politically Correct" words that we are suppose to have to use.
My disability was pushed to the front with the aid of a Neurosurgeon who insisted that I had to have back surgery (Lamenectomy) Fusion and cages immediately or suffer permanant paralysis below the waist. Now I hope to find the finances to get a Spider. After selling my Dirt bike, Ninja and Cruiser, not to mention my ATV, I NEED the SPYDER to get out adn get back on the road, to maintain the trike like I did my bikes. Polish the bottom end as I did the top end and have something I can do all the time when I have nothing but spare time on my hands (Nearly always.)
I can hardly wait to get the RT and fill not only the bags but the gas tank as I ride stop for the night and ride.....fropm coast to coast using various US Highways and State highways...avoiding the Interstates like the Plague! There are some great people in this country, and some great scenery from coast to coast that you completley bypass when you are cruising at 75MPH on any SuperSlab.

 

[RoadHammer]

you'll be able mount your walker somewhere in the rear if you get the trailer hitch installed.

hi folks

i'm new to this stuff being still classified as a quasi able bodied rider. i need sticks to walk and have been just told yesterday i will need a walker as my illness progresses.
i use two canes to move about for very short distances like in the house. i switch to long distance "touring" crutches, which are collapsible like my canes. the walker also folds somewhat.

here's my question (finally)...how will i be able to carry my walker on my soon to be purchased 2011 RT?

i ride two up with my wife and do not want a triler. i will need to carry my canes (which when folded fit in the front trunk) and the walker. the unit is a larger pce to handle my svelte 250 lb frame:yikes:.
we looked at the RS with the givi bags and such but my wife found the riding position much more comfortable and so did i preferring a touring bar to a straight bar.

we thought we were going to have to give up riding but this machine has saved the day for us. i've been riding for over 50 yrs and am not ready to throw in the towel yet. hell i even rode an old indian scout around in vietnam until it was shot out from under me.

any and all advice is very much appreciated.

thanks...

rob (NEVER give up!!)

 

[frozenracoon]

my wife and i went to the dealership again today to further check out the RT-S in more detail. after reading the posts on this site and checking many of the pics, i also felt the best place for the walker would be at the rear of the machine. there is a company out there that offers a platform frame for a cooler which attaches to a trailer hitch ala goldwings. i believe in the form of a "slide in hitch receptacle".
a few years ago a friend used this product to carry his golf clubs. with a little modification this would be the way to go for me.

the salesman also suggested i not use the trunk or front cargo area for the sticks, instead securing them like you would fishing rods along the sides near the rear hand grips with the handle held in place with rubber friction hooks. that way i won't need to shlep my awkward support crutches along. THERE IS ALSO THE POSSIBILITY OF ADDING AN AFTERMARKET (oops, sorry) or custom topcase rack. i carried my canes that way on my goldwings and ST1100'S in that manner.

i've noted many additions and mods may of you have made and hope to add some of them to our spyder as well. eg...handbrake, floor boards, hiway pegs (maybe) and a driver backrest to begin.:2excited:

for those spyder ryders in toronto and gta, there is apparently test ride day at ontario place in a couple of weeks. sue and i plan to attend. perhaps we'll get to meet some of you folks.

cheers all

rob....NEVER give up!!

 

[FSUGrad]

New rider with disability.

I sometimes use an electric wheelchair, often use a manual chair and for short distances use a cane. I tire easily as walking is more mental than physical due to a spinal injury and thought that I had to give up open air riding forever. After much research, trips to look at "accessible" motorcycles and cycles with wheelchair sidecars, I settled on my Spyder. It is only a month old and I have 1,000 miles on it already and can't wait for spring to plan a long ride. If anyone in central Ohio wants to join up, drop me a line.

 

[Pict]

You Enabled SpyderLovers rock! It is inspirational to follow all that you're doing to keep riding. :2thumbs:

My challenge is Parkinson's. Losing my balance to it led me to abandon my 2 wheel riding. I have a passion for riding and intend to do what ever it takes to stay on 3 wheels as long as possible. hyea:

Keep on riding!

PS: LaMonster - thanks for this forum!

Just to say hello, and concur with the above. I too have PD (diagnosed 5 years ago - affects balance, mental clarity and right side coordination/dexterity) and at the age of 63 intend to enjoy life as long as possible. Picked up a 2008 GS SE5 (phantom black) with about 5000 miles on the clock about a month ago, and am getting used to having only the one brake control - I've almost learned to relax and enjoy. LeoVince SBK adds to the rebel spirit!

Still a bit nervous of running costs on a pension, and of Spyder reliability, but let's see......

Located in the UK, some 30 miles north of London, I'm sadly a bit far from the crowd of you, but glad to have found a forum with the right atmosphere, and will try to be a useful member.

Ttyl.

Ian

 

[JJW SpyderRider]

Just to say hello, and concur with the above. I too have PD (diagnosed 5 years ago - affects balance, mental clarity and right side coordination/dexterity) and at the age of 63 intend to enjoy life as long as possible. Picked up a 2008 GS SE5 (phantom black) with about 5000 miles on the clock about a month ago, and am getting used to having only the one brake control - I've almost learned to relax and enjoy. LeoVince SBK adds to the rebel spirit!

Still a bit nervous of running costs on a pension, and of Spyder reliability, but let's see......

Located in the UK, some 30 miles north of London, I'm sadly a bit far from the crowd of you, but glad to have found a forum with the right atmosphere, and will try to be a useful member.

Ttyl.

Ian

welcome It's good to hear you don't give up to PD and keep on riding. I spent the first week of November in London on vacation, had a great time with the family. Best of luck in the new year.

 

[Big Bird]

On the Gimp scale

I haven't a clue if I 'qualify' for Handicapable... I have the blue tags for my two pickups... so here is My deal:
Both knees replaced
Degen Arthritis in back, 100% by virtue of unemployability
per the VA... actual is 80%
Lots of other stuff, but not physically limiting,
mostly dealing with pain issues...
Glenn of the Big Bird clan:spyder::2excited::shemademe_smilie:hyea:

 

[Arthur---Mexico]

I guess you could say I have walking problems because I'm pretty old and my knees are giving me a fit AND I don't want to be operated again. I've had my fill of needles and all. Consequently I developed a manually operated parking brake that got me out of trouble when applying the parking brake because I could do it without dismounting my Spyder. Maybe you can use one? [email protected] I also made floor boards for my feet and the RH one rocks and applies the foot brake. That I am not commercializing on becaue it is costly and difficult to install. So that's what I didto keep me going easily. Arthur---Mexico City

 

[Star Cruiser]

I guess you could say I have walking problems because I'm pretty old and my knees are giving me a fit AND I don't want to be operated again. I've had my fill of needles and all. Consequently I developed a manually operated parking brake that got me out of trouble when applying the parking brake because I could do it without dismounting my Spyder. Maybe you can use one? [email protected] I also made floor boards for my feet and the RH one rocks and applies the foot brake. That I am not commercializing on becaue it is costly and difficult to install. So that's what I didto keep me going easily. Arthur---Mexico City

Let me attest to how well the parking brake lever works. I LOVE it. With my Left AKA it was difficult to depress the parking brake. When I had to get off of the Spyder on a hill, I'd have to roll for a second or two (at the best of times) before stomping on the brake. The lever works like a charm!

 

[Pict]

Sounds good - must look into it. On the same track, has anyone fitted a line lock to their hydraulics as a backup parking brake? See http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Brake-Line-Lo...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item255a96fc79 for the sort of thing I mean.

 

[nanaskids]

Was diagnosed with Lumbar Polio at the very young age of 9 mos. From then to the age of 5 I used crutches and wore braces. After surgery at the age of 5, I was told that I could lead a normal life, be a normal kid, do the normal things like, run, jump, swim, i.e., be active. Upon entering my late 50's, I notice that I was falling more and stumbling . . now am diagnosed with Post Polio Syndrome, which is basically a new term that many drs. are notfamiliar with. In short, I've worn myself out and will progressively get weaker.

Tried to ride a 2-wheeler, but was unable to use my left foot to shift with and was afraid that when I came to a stop that my legs wouldn't hold up.

Needless to say, my dh saw the Spyder at a trade show, we went to investigate at a dealer close by and I was bitten by the Spyder and now have Spyder virus!!! My Spyder has allowed me to get out and ride with no fears and I am proud to say that, Yes, I'm limited as to what I can on the ground, but on my Spyder, I'm as able as anyone else":2thumbs:.

 

[09 SE5 Red]

Hello all :spyder2: Lovers:2excited:. I have just taken delivery of my brand new SE5 :spyder2:. Thought that I would bring this thread alive and let you all know that we have a new Spyder Lover with a disability riding around California. Is their anyone local that would like to ride or local Spyder Riding Club's? That includes all Spyder riders to.

Thanks :thumbup::yes:

 

[SteveMac]

Welcome to your Spyder love affair...it gets you and doesn't let go!
:congrats::welcome:

 

[Luziman]

I'm jumping the gun a bit here, but whatthehell, I'm just excited. I'm a left above knee amputee (LAKA), just healing enough to ride now. I'm 46yo and have been a lifelong daily rider. I currently own a couple rigid Harleys and a couple Nortons, and enough scraps to build another something. I build (or teardown/rebuild) everything I've ever ridden. I know I can, and eventually will, adapt my bikes to fit me. I have things from electric shifters to Ghost Wheels. But you know what? BRP put something out that I can ride today with NO adaptation necessary. I don't even need a working prosthesis to get the wind in my face. I'm purchasing a red 2011 RT-S SE5 from Cowtown @ middle of August 2011. This is safest option for the money. I've never purchased a new ride, ever, but this Spyder got the better of me. I read enough good things in general about the Spyders, so I'm confident I made the right decision. My wife is all the way supportive of it, also. Although I'm fortunate enough to have no need to modify the Spyder, I'm grateful for this forum. I'm so new at the one leg thing that I get all excited when I find another amp like me anywhere. I've noticed a few in here. Maybe someday I'll have something to contribute, but in the meantime I'll be here soaking up the info on these pages. Thank you for being here.