Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Okay so here's the storyline:
Last summer I fell off a roof and severly injured my wrist (to the point that it won't ever function properly again ever). Now I have dirtbikes, atv's, and my new love....my streetbike.

Now atv's can be riden no problem whatsoever but I'm more worried about the bikes. Obviously I don't have as much movement out of my wrist as I once had so controlling the bike might be dicey.

I rode my street bike up the block a few weeks ago and noticed some differences already (I have about 20lbs of fist strength so I can still pull in the clutch). However I'm afraid when it comes to turning the bike or something else that involves a lot of hand strength it will be difficult.

So to the medical experts of TMF:
If any of you have had an experience like this did you just become used to the altered way of riding?

Also do you think that the heightened safety factor will be too much?

Also I ride an 05 SV650 so it's not like I'm hopping back on a Busa.

Much thanks!

I tripped and fell walking down a sidewalk some years ago and broke the radius bone at the wrist joint on my left side. Bone was compressed and it took surgery and a steel plate to hold the break together again. After surgery I could work the clutch on a GS500 in a few days but not too many times. I had an old Honda 400cc Hondamatic in the garage and was riding again within 2 weeks after surgery on the Hondamatic just holding on with my fingertips that stuck out of the splint and riding mostly one handed. It was about six weeks till I had enough strength in my left hand to work the clutch consistantly and start riding the GS again. The wrist will never be good as new but it works, a bit limited in movement.

In July 03 I was clipped in the rear by a kid in a S-10 and high sided off and landed on my left shoulder and broke my collar bone and partaily tore the rotator cuff. I rode the trusty old Hondamatic again about 2 weeks later and was back on my GS500 a couple weeks after that. First thing I did on the GS was to hit some of my favorite local twisties at my pace to make sure it hadn't bothered my head as much as it did my shoulder.

I never considered the safety factor either time, I've ridden enough miles that it's just as easy to ride a bike as drive a car and much easier to ride than walk. I used to joke that I had to ride because walking was too dangerous. You should do whatever is comfortable for you. Different strokes for different folks.

Don't forget that you can do all of your steering one handed. If you want to go right push out your right hand. If you want to go left pull in your right hand.

I had surgery done on my right hand several months ago. (Removal of a piece of bone and reconstructing a new ligament)I could not ride for the first few months, but after that, I could ride for short rides and gradually built up the strength and endurance again. My hand still hurts but if I don't overdo things I can ride safely.
Just don't try to overdo it..gain the stength and endurance a bit at a time.

Barring that, an automatic transmission would keep you riding.

Sevulturus wrote:Don't forget that you can do all of your steering one handed. If you want to go right push out your right hand. If you want to go left pull in your right hand.

that doesnt seem right, you should push out to go left and pull in to go right...hmmmm whos right i wonder



JWF

JWF505 wrote:

Sevulturus wrote:Don't forget that you can do all of your steering one handed. If you want to go right push out your right hand. If you want to go left pull in your right hand.

that doesnt seem right, you should push out to go left and pull in to go right...hmmmm whos right i wonder



JWF

I think it depends on the speed. works your way from a stand still

JWF505 wrote:

Sevulturus wrote:Don't forget that you can do all of your steering one handed. If you want to go right push out your right hand. If you want to go left pull in your right hand.

that doesnt seem right, you should push out to go left and pull in to go right...hmmmm whos right i wonder



JWF

Sev is right ............and that's a fact .
Regards, Wizzard

Sevulturus wrote:

JWF505 wrote:

Sevulturus wrote:Don't forget that you can do all of your steering one handed. If you want to go right push out your right hand. If you want to go left pull in your right hand.

that doesnt seem right, you should push out to go left and pull in to go right...hmmmm whos right i wonder



JWF

you qutoed me without saying anything. . . .



JWF

The quote speeks for itself.

It's called countersteering.