well im handicap from a car accident about 8 years ago. and i was wondering is there any way i can ride a motorcycle w/ a fused ankle? plus my left leg is shorter by 2 inches. i really wanna ride but this handicap is stopping me. please help

the fused ankle is on the left leg. which is the clutch pedal leg

update: i got my bike today 2000 r1



me fillin her up for the first time (my homie rode it home for me)








Modified by luvs2spooge at 9:43 AM 7/8/2008

 

is it possible? yes. with a stock bike, i doubt it. the clutch is on the left hand lever, and the left foot shifts so you need movement of your ankle to shift. but you can easily customize the bike to work however you need. i think the easiest thing to do is convert the rear brake to be engaged by the front brake lever along with the front brake. next make what was the rear brake lever which is on your right foot into the shifting mechanism by possibly putting a connecting rod under the bike that connects to the shift shaft on the other side. pick out 4 or 5 bikes that you would consider buying and look up every technical aspect of how the shifting is performed so you can get a good idea of exactly how much work would need to be done to make it fit you. im sure some bikes would be easier to convert than others, depending on position of the shifting mechanism.

 

I wonder how difficult it would be to shift a bike by moving your entire leg rather than your ankle. Upshifts would be a bit cumbersome. Why don't you go to a dealership and sit on some bikes and practice going up and down the gears. BTW the left leg actuates the shifter (down for downshift, up for upshift) while the left hand actuates the clutch as mentioned above.

 

lots of my friends have bikes i try to shift it up but its hard.

 

I'm with that one guy... convert it to an integrated rear brake, and try to figure out how much work it'd be to switch the shifter over to the right side.

 

You can try to modify a old Vespa gear change assembly. The old Vespa's had the clutch and gear change on the left handle bar. To shift, you pull the clutch in, twist the grip up or down (like a mountain bike grip shift), and release the clutch. I've seen someone on another forum do this for a race sidecar.

Also, I wouldn't integrate the rear with the front. Too much can go wrong. If you're going to get rid of the foot brake, I'd go with installing a thumb brake

 

http://www.mpsracing.com/products/MPS/as01.asp

You could use an air shifter like the one in the link above.

 

wow. is that the price for the whole kit? i thought it was like $1000

 

Some old choppers have something called a suicide shifter (aka a jockey shifter, I guess). Maybe there's a way you can adapt it to whatever kind of bike you want to get.






http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_shifter

 

how scary is it to ride for the first time?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by luvs2spooge &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">how scary is it to ride for the first time?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't remember, I was 5.

 

Possible? Yes, but you'd have to modify the bike IMO.

I saw an episode of Superbikes where a guy had no legs and he was still out there stunting. The clutch and rear brakes were modifed onto the handle bars so he could do everything with his hands.

 

i really want to ride.. i know its not safe but i wanna give it a try you only live once.

 

stay away from a suicide shifter if your doing anything other than cruising on a straight line. besides, the clutch is on the left foot anyway so your not really improving the situation. the vespa idea sounds way too complicated to modify one to work with a bike not designed for it. as for the front rear brake offering too many difficulties, i dont see anything being difficult other than getting the right amount of pressure to apply to the rear so it doesnt lock up under the harder braking required for the front. even that shouldnt be too hard. if anything, you can get a bmw, most models come stock with integrated front and rear brakes. i would say your simplest and best bet would be on what i mentioned above or the automatic air shifter mentioned above.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tegman2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">http://www.mpsracing.com/products/MPS/as01.asp

You could use an air shifter like the one in the link above.
</TD></TR></TABLE>


x2 they have where they go shift up and down,, also their are electric shifter kits out there but you have to search...

 

How about a modified Ruckus

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by luvs2spooge &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">lots of my friends have bikes i try to shift it up but its hard.</TD></TR></TABLE>

There is a guy that rides around town and I ran into him once. He has a prostetic(sp?) leg. He installed a device that moves the shifter rod up on his motorcycle. When riding, he reaches down to shift with his left hand. There are some alternative devices also such as an electronically controlled shifter. There are ways to do it. Good Luck

 

should i wait till the season of bike riding is over? will bikes be cheaper at the time? and when will that time be? lol..

 

Since you're in CA, prices will not fluctuate much. We have a year round riding season.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpO1wrEN4A0


there are some other brands out there. dont know if they make them for sport bikes

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by luvs2spooge &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">should i wait till the season of bike riding is over? will bikes be cheaper at the time? and when will that time be? lol..</TD></TR></TABLE>

Don't let that be the deciding factor. You should buy a bike when you can afford one. And affording one isn't getting into debt. Hard lesson I learned.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by len &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Don't let that be the deciding factor. You should buy a bike when you can afford one. And affording one isn't getting into debt. Hard lesson I learned. </TD></TR></TABLE>


yea of course.. imma wait till i have enough money for the bike and insurance of course but my budget is $3000 is that enough for a decent one? cuz i gotta think about the air shifter i have to install and pay for

man this seems hard.. nutrel is half step. how will an air shifter shift to nutrel?


Modified by luvs2spooge at 2:07 PM 6/4/2008

 

You can find a great bike for $3k. Just shop around and don't buy the first thing you find just because.

And this guy (racer and some stunts) can't use his left ankle, and does just fine with an air shifter:


Good luck, and start slow

 

wow. thats a beautiful bike.. thanks for the luck.. imma need it. im pretty clumsy so i hope a bike will make me umm more responsible.. im promising myself to not do crazy things. just watch out for other drivers cuz i had a friend that got into an accident.. cuz of another driver.. ill just make my bike i get loud so the drivers notice that im around them lol.. is that logic?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by luvs2spooge &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ill just make my bike i get loud so the drivers notice that im around them lol.. is that logic?</TD></TR></TABLE>

While that is logical, just remember, you have no clue how loud they have their stereo, or have an cell phone headset jammed into their ear, are deaf, or simple zoned out.

Always, always, assume that every single car driver has absolutely no clue you are there at all, and ride accordingly.