Handicapped Spyder Ryders.....Roll call!

[AbNormy]

LEFT AK Amputee

reporting for duty: left above knee amp, have 2 BMW sidecar rigs a 92 R100 R with velorex and mechanical shifter, and a 2000 R1200c with Champion Escort currently for sale at Perrys' Motorcycles and Sidecars. it had a kliktronic shifter set up on it but Perry seemed to think it would sell quicker with that off so he removed it. thanks for the thread!!:thumbup:

 

[Big Bird]

us NAVY guys ...

I am in the same boat as you are Chief. Adds up to 140% and classified unemployable. We got the Spyder for the exact same reasons. The Spyder extends our time that we can ryde together a number of years since my wife is way younger than me. Plus, I have a place to put my folding cane on the days I need it.

Same here for me. Wrecked my ST1100 and found the Spyder and I'm back riding again... fortunately, for now, I don't need canes or chairs...

When anyone askes me what I like about the Big Bird, I tell them it don't fall over... pot holes and slopes were my nemesis when at a stop... no problem now...

 

[arm and a leg]

checking in...

Hi Folks,

Strke survivor here; right side is severely affected. I am very interested in an RT but I need to know if there is anyone who can move the throttle and brake to the left side. I am ready to buy a Spyder if this can be done. Thanks for your time.

Ray

 

[AZBoomer]

T5 Para here. Injured in a motocross crash almost 10 years ago. Got my Spyder back in December, 2011. In the past few months I have finally got everything all setup to where I really enjoy riding! It has been a ton of fun so far!!!

Hope to see everyone around!

 

[coz]

welcome a z

good to have you here:thumbup: hottttttttt rss

 

[mick ruhdorf]

WELCOME

T5 Para here. Injured in a motocross crash almost 10 years ago. Got my Spyder back in December, 2011. In the past few months I have finally got everything all setup to where I really enjoy riding! It has been a ton of fun so far!!!

Hope to see everyone around!

Hi AZ :welcome: theyre a good mob on here plenty of helpful tips and hints to use or ignore,as a new wheely spyder owner myself i know its a great smile maker. Heres to miles of smiles.
cheers mick

 

[JJW SpyderRider]

Left side brake and throttle

Hi Folks,

Strke survivor here; right side is severely affected. I am very interested in an RT but I need to know if there is anyone who can move the throttle and brake to the left side. I am ready to buy a Spyder if this can be done. Thanks for your time.

Ray

Hi Ray! I've heard of people adding hand brakes to the right side but not sure how it would work on the left side with the shifter. I know a lady has moved the throttle to be foot operated but that was on an RS. I'm not sure if it can be done with the throttle by wire on an RT.

If you find someone that was willing to look into making this change and they want to take a closer look at an RT send me a PM. I will try to help you out if I can.

 

[Spyder_Cowgirl]

Amazing Capabilities of the Human Hand

Hi Ray! I've heard of people adding hand brakes to the right side but not sure how it would work on the left side with the shifter. I know a lady has moved the throttle to be foot operated but that was on an RS. I'm not sure if it can be done with the throttle by wire on an RT.

If you find someone that was willing to look into making this change and they want to take a closer look at an RT send me a PM. I will try to help you out if I can.

Years and years ago, as I was just beginning to ride motorcycles ... had a close friend with a severely injured left hand. He was very mechanically inclined and moved the clutch lever to the right hand. Thus, BOTH clutch and brake on the same hand (this was on an old Suzuki and back in the mid 1970's). It was an interesting set-up -- the levers were specially offset from each other so that two fingers could work the brake and the other two the clutch ... and at the same time with relative safety after alot of practice. This was the machine on which I took my first tentative passes around a parking lot.

So, if you find someone willing to make the modifications and get the levers adjusted properly (if you have manual shift), it is possible to operate both with the same hand -- no reason it could not be the left (just as it was the only good right hand for my friend).

Be safe .... AM (Spyder_Cowgirl)

 

[HedonismBot]

Hi all from St. Louis, Missouri

Had a spinal cord tumor at C-1, 2 and 3 when I was 15. After 2 years of chemo and partial paralysis from the original biopsy, I had those three vertebrate fused. Even with a pretty bad gait and messed up right shoulder from the fusion process, my wife and I (in mid-30s) are happy '12 RT-S owners. This has been such a wonderful experience for us both. The first time we test drove one, I broke down and started tearing up on the way home. My wife saw this and she was 100% supportive of us finding a way to afford the bike.

The feeling the Spyder provides me is just amazing and I cannot get enough. I feel far more at home and alive on the Spyder than I do sitting behind the wheel of a car. I hate to say I feel "normal" on the Spyder, because who is really normal, but it certainly makes me feel as if I have no limitations. Thank god for the Spyder. ray:

 

[asp125]

Years and years ago, as I was just beginning to ride motorcycles ... had a close friend with a severely injured left hand. He was very mechanically inclined and moved the clutch lever to the right hand. Thus, BOTH clutch and brake on the same hand (this was on an old Suzuki and back in the mid 1970's). It was an interesting set-up -- the levers were specially offset from each other so that two fingers could work the brake and the other two the clutch ... and at the same time with relative safety after alot of practice. This was the machine on which I took my first tentative passes around a parking lot.

So, if you find someone willing to make the modifications and get the levers adjusted properly (if you have manual shift), it is possible to operate both with the same hand -- no reason it could not be the left (just as it was the only good right hand for my friend).

Be safe .... AM (Spyder_Cowgirl)

I don't know if it applies here, but stunt riders commonly add a brake lever to the left hand side with kits like this.
http://www.cyclebuy.com/shopping/rekluse/info_pages/info_brakes.htm

On a bike doing wheelies this operates the rear brake. I'm sure with the right kind of engineering you could tap a line into the master cylinder to operate the Can Am brakes.

As for throttle.. how about a snowmobile or atv style thumb throttle?

 

[wizwht]

Disabled Rider

Got mine from Uncle Sam while in the service - They had to run me over twice to get the job done.:yikes: Now I have braces on both legs, and use a walker or my scooter to get around. I was thinking of using a bike rack for when I take my walker or a small flatbed trail for my scooter. Right now I'm good as long as I can hang on to something. I've had my Rt for just over a year and have 15,000 miles on it. Floor boards were a must. I ride from Jacksonville Fl to St. Petersburg all the time and love it. The bike is my main transportation. :yes:

 

[Desert Spyder]

Got mine from Uncle Sam while in the service - They had to run me over twice to get the job done.:yikes: Now I have braces on both legs, and use a walker or my scooter to get around. I was thinking of using a bike rack for when I take my walker or a small flatbed trail for my scooter. Right now I'm good as long as I can hang on to something. I've had my Rt for just over a year and have 15,000 miles on it. Floor boards were a must. I ride from Jacksonville Fl to St. Petersburg all the time and love it. The bike is my main transportation. :yes:

Ouch! Thanks for your input and your service sir.

 

[Bcal]

HI

Do you know of anywhere in Ontario where a handbrake can be purchased??

Ok, I hate to use the term handicapped but my intent is to have anybody with a mobility impairment read this thread. This bike has been an absolute dream come true for me, and many of the mods I used to make my bike "accessible" came from this site. My hope is that this thread will be an easy way for people with disabilities to link-up with disabled Spyder riders and know that there are many of us who have found a way to ride again.

Handbrakes, footboards, wheelchair racks and rerouted filler caps....it has all been done and many kind individuals on this site are more than happy to help out a potential Spyder rider. So, if you are a disabled rider and would like to weigh-in on the topic I know it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[eddieshep999]

I posted this ans on another thread - Reading this I thought this may help several others

In the UK We have the National Association for Bikers with a Disability - NABD

You could try a post on the Forum although not many Spyders have been sold in the UK yet
There are experts in adaptions which may point you in the right direction

See this Link
http://www.nabd.org.uk/

There are some solutions on the Adaption page

http://www.nabd.org.uk/adaptions/javaindex.htm

Hope those that need them can find a solution

They may be able to let you know of companies that do the same work in the USA/Canada etc

Good luck and best wishes from a disabled Spyder rider in the UK

 

[ABQAndy]

Do you know of anywhere in Ontario where a handbrake can be purchased??

You can order it from ISCI who is a sponsor on this site. http://www.isciride.com/iscirtautoparts.htm

I have the hand brake on my RT and couldn't ride without it.

 

[kawakii]

Our dealership moved controls to the left side for a rider who only had one arm, he drove an RT. I would approach a dealer about chaining the side the controls are on. Most are helpful. ISCI is the place for a handbreak even though we've heard there is now a brembro solution being offered - a kit sold by someone. I have the ISCI and it works great, easy install.

 

[master1309]

New Handicapped rider

Hi, I crashed my Harley into a guardrail at 60mph, Lost bottom half of left leg (now wear a prosthetic limb)and partial use of left forearm and hand. My RSS SE5 is a GODsend. I've been back on the road for about 8 months after not riding for three years. My spyder and I go everywhere my wife's ElectraGlide Ultra goes. And I am happy to be in the wind. Will post pics soon. Thanks for the support.:yes:

 

[Bob Ledford]

Parkinson's an Cubital tunnel

Hi to everyone. The name here is Bob Ledford and I live in Ormond Beach FL. To look at me you would all say "What's his problem? I am a retired Army NCO I picked up the Cubital Tunnel Syndrome before retirement. Had left arm surgery twice thanks to the Naval Hospital Jacksonviile, FL. The first time they relocated the Ulnar Nerve. Five years later they had to go back in, find the nerve and trace it out while getting rid of a large amount of adhesion growth. Which has almost rendered the left hand half useable. It killed my ability to use a manual clutch so in 1996 we sold our 1988 GW.

Parkinson's was discovered just after retirement in 2001. Again I feel quite lucky as it is under control with medications.

I love the SE-5 option on my RTL which put me back on the road again. I think riding and having to be aware has helped keep the PD at bay. For about 10 years I did a Loy of web design work. But the LH started curling again so I lost half of my coding fingers

 

[lookerjdc]

add to the roll

some really interesting comments in this thread, and some great ideas

just call me gimpy.... lol

 

[IntoTheWind]

Limited ryders

I had to go to three wheels after two shoulder reconstructions and two knee replacements. I hated giving up my cruiser after riding over forty years so the next best thing was a Spyder RT Limited. It allows me to have three quarters of the experience and that's fine with me. Thanks for the section regarding Handicap ryders this will allow us to learn from others the do's and don'ts together.