Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hi all, I am new to this forum, and to a few others dealing with bikes. Lots of good reading from seasoned and new riders. I am an old new biker; 56 yrs old man, who woke up after his second heart attack with his left lower leg sliced up like a joint of raw beef. I am still recovering, and having physio done to get strength and feeling back. It's coming but eveeeer soooo sloowwwwllllyyyy. Thing is, I decided that I want to get on a bike now rather than wait for retirement because who knows.....I passed my written test, vision test and went to bike school, but they let me go because I could not shift up, due to a weak leg. I know that there are bikes adapted for people like me, but the school will not modify one of theirs due to liability. So, how do I proceed from here? I am 5'3" tall, 27" inseam, which limit my choices even more. All the advice about cheap first bikes make a lot of sense, but I know my first ride is going to cost me. Has anyone ever dealt with a similar issue?, if so, what was the outcome? My dream is to ride a klr 650 into the sunset, with modified seat, etc, right now I need a ladder. Thank you.

Send a pm to a user here by the name of "shorts". She has a issue and may be able to guidel you to people that can help. Go to profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=7434

To send her a personal message.

Good luck Dan O.

"Shorts" may not respond, she seems to have left the forum last December. Unfortunately she deleted her whole blog which had the story of her modifications to her motorcycle. Quick version- she has almost no use of her left arm, and had moved the clutch control to the right side. She learned to operate the clutch, front brake, and throttle all with her right hand.

dhot- first thing I think of for you is an automatic motorcycle: various Ridley models, Honda DN01, or Aprilia Mana. (There are also inexpensive Chinese automatic motorcycles, but I wouldn't recommend those.) Also, almost all scooters are now automatic, and there are large, powerful and comfortable models like the Majesty, Burgman, Silverwing, or larger bikes from Piaggio or Kymco.

There are also aftermarket electric shifters available. Unless you have serious mechanical skills, these are probably something you'd pay a professional shop to install. See http://www.amadirectlink.com/roadride/D ... stings.asp for some links.

I wonder in they make heel-and-toe shifters that can fit on the KLR? With the right technique/boots/shifter I think you should be able to do fine.

Great suggestions. Thank you all. As you can see I have been away for a bit. Postponed the bike lessons due to some medications I am weaning off now. Shifted my target to end of summer.
From what I am hearing locally, noone passes first try at their test. Oh well, such is life. However, I have waited 56 years , another summer won't matter too much. All that counts is that I get to suit up and ride before my number comes up.
I am reading as much as I can lay my eyes on, and following the blogs of RTW bikers. Sometimes you just have to live it vicariously, until you get your own leg up.
Enjoy your summer, safe rides to all.

There is a great forum for disabled riders, they often modify their bikes in order to compensate for a limited or non function limb...check out their forum at www.disabledriders.com - good luck

Hello! I saw that someone on here suggested a scooter to you. I just wanted to tell you that I believe for your height and leg problem, the bike I would recommend would be the Grand Vista 250 by Kymco. It's a scooter. I'm taller than you are but I can put my feet on the ground easily with knees bent on my Kymco. It's a pretty powerful 250 too.
Happy Riding!

There is something called a suicide shifter that you change gears with your left hand rather than your left foot. You bike would need to be modified (transmission) so depending on cost you may need a different bike or it may be just fine.

Except for some older bikes (1950's ish), all suicide shifters are custom transmission jobs.

Just google "motorcycle suicide shifter" and start reading.

flw wrote:There is something called a suicide shifter that you change gears with your left hand rather than your left foot. You bike would need to be modified (transmission) so depending on cost you may need a different bike or it may be just fine.

Except for some older bikes (1950's ish), all suicide shifters are custom transmission jobs.

Just google "motorcycle suicide shifter" and start reading.

Not necessarily. There was a guy in Phoenix who had a suicide shifter on his VTX1300. It was basically a machete (yeah I know) that had been fitted to the tranny shift shaft. Worked pretty well for him and only cost him the machete and the time to make it fit.

If I understand correctly, downshifting was not a problem for you. If so, I'd recommend a heal-toe shifter. It's got a two way shifter so instead of pulling up to upshift, you push down on the backside of the shifter. It comes standard on a fair number of bikes these days. I know you can get them on VTX's and bikes made by Star. I'm not sure if you'd be able to get one on a standard though. Good luck bud.