Newbie with torn ACL lookin into motorcycling

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shoakman · #1 Unread post by **shoakman** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 9:39 am

Hello, all. I am a 19 year old male college student, and I just wanted to start out and say this is a great site. I kinda got the biker bug a few weeks ago, and been reading up on sites like this one non-stop. I remember lookin at sport bikes like the R6, CBR 600F4i, etc. and thinkin of potentially gettin those if I get a bike (after training and MSF of course), but have now come to my senses.
My first question is safety, specifically, I have a torn ACL in my left knee, and am undergoing operation on March 23rd of this month. Right now, I can walk and run without problem, but I am very careful not to put too much impact on my left knee or do pivoting motions (as in basketball). I do know that my knee is not 100percent; just last week I was doing pullups and when I let go of the bar and landed on my feet, my left knee buckled (it was a 3 1/2 foot drop) and pain shot up through my leg. My doctor told me that I'll be on crutches for 2-3 weeks and have to wear a brace for about a month longer after that. From there, he said I can walk around without a brace, but for impact sports, I would have to wear a sport brace for at least a year.
I just wanted to know if any of you have had experience with a torn ACL and its impact on riding a motorcycle. I was wondering if it is not recommended to pick up motorcycling until my ACL is completely healed or not. Thanks for the replies!

#2 Unread post by **Jamers!** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 10:28 am

if you can run and walk you can ride. depending on the type of bike it may hurt a tad if your knee is bent a lot and if you ride for long peroids of time. But it shouldnt be that much of a problem.

JWF

TorontoBoy · Sat Mar 11, 2006 11:58 am

Most of the time motorcycling (barring crashes) is a low impact sport and your ACL shouldn't be affected. I've even heard of people riding scooters while in a leg cast. As a new rider there will be opportunity when coming to a stop that you might lean the bike over to one side a little too much and weightbear on a single leg, which might cause you pain. Once you get going you'll be fine.

I'd recommend not riding until after your operation and recovery time. Remember if you injure yourself in your recovery period you'll set yourself back, so take it easy. Ligaments take time to heal. MCing requires no medial/lateral movement of the ankle or knee.

#4 Unread post by **9000white** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 1:33 pm

both my knees are bad.
forget them sport bikes that you have to lay down on and get a standard or a cruiser where you can mount highway pegs and straighten your legs out when you ride.

Mintbread · #5 Unread post by **Mintbread** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 2:29 pm

I have had two operations on my left knee due to medial and lateral meniscal tears and three operations on my lower right leg (one took part of my hip) due to a bad fracture.
I have had to use crutches to get to my bike but once on I am fine. I still can't walk properly on my right leg and will require at least one more operation on my leg to sort it out.
I ride every day and it would take a lot more than a sore leg to stop me doing so.

Just listen to your body. If it hurts, take it easy.

1will · #6 Unread post by **1will** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 6:04 pm

me too! not about the ACL but the bug thing. i was spacing out at work one day a few weeks back and thought "hmm i think i will learn to ride motorcycles. yes it is a plan" it was a little late but i was lucky enough to get an msf opening that day. now i am counting minutes. and living vicariously through the doods on this board.

five bikes were parked on the street outside my office building in dc today. yep, i had to work.

it's been about 75 degrees the last two days and i have longer than that to wait until brc. 82 days i'm showin now! ah well half a season is better than none.

flynrider · #7 Unread post by **flynrider** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 7:00 pm

I know a couple of riders that had surgery for a torn ACL. They were fine to ride about 4-6 weeks after surgery.

Normal riding doesn't put much of a side load on your knee, so it's not really much of a problem once the ligament has been repaired.

#8 Unread post by **Sev** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 7:15 pm

Well there you go. Flyin to the rescue!

shoakman · #9 Unread post by **shoakman** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 4:18 pm

Thanks for the replies everyone. The main reason I asked was because I just had a fear that if I were to ride, being a newbie, I might drop/or be close to dropping the bike, and if i were to try to stabilize it with my left leg, that my knee wouldn't be able support the weight of the bike and cause myself greater injury. Does anyone know if this might be an unfounded fear?

#10 Unread post by **Sev** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 4:29 pm

The key is to just let go of the bike if you think you cannot hold it up. If you can lift a big ox you can balance a bike, buy a used one and let it drop if you need too.... that sounds bad, but basically you have the option of dropping it if you need too.