| Author | Message | ||
     Redbuell1203 |
OK guys I have been on here with other bikes and was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease that is progressive. I even have to resort to a wheelchair on days that are bad. My question is...I want to put some kind of wheels that can come down when I come to a stop. I want and need as many ideas as possible that will help me make my treck to sturgis. I plan on trying to ride the whole way there. My father will be following me with a trailer and tools and clothes. Please bring in the ideas. My thought was to use the passenger mounts somehow. | ||
| Etennuly |
You are violating one of the most important rules.....you cannot be getting that kind of sick this early in life. Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. What if you trike kit it? I know of a couple riders who have done that because they cannot depend on their legs. One of my father-in-laws riding buddies told me that it really sucks to finally retire and be able to afford to be riding that brand new Gold Wing he always wanted, when you pull up to a red light to stop, only to look down at your foot and realize it won't get off the foot peg. It happened to him a few times before he sent it in to become a trike. It allowed him to ride several more years. If you get aimed at East Tennessee PM me. | ||
| 86129squids |
Crap- man, sorry to hear about this. I sure hope you can find a proper mechanical solution- surely there are a good handful or more of creative peeps out there who've come up with a reliable, workable idea. There's a fully enclosed, recumbent 2-seater "motorcycle" (can't remember the name of it, but it's super kewl, even has A/C)- it has retractable wheels on each side that raise/lower depending on speed and a few other variables. The technology is out there- don't know how easily it would be to implement on your particular bike. And- the day WILL come when you have to give up the bike... see about making plans to pass it on to another person who could use it, once you've made the mods you're thinking about. One concern- what will you do if you get out on the road, and it "becomes" a bad day? Buddy, I sure hope you get it all figured out. SUPER glad to hear your dad's piloting the support rig- no matter what, you two will have the journey of a lifetime. I've decided long ago that if I ever have to give up motorcycles, I'd buy a nice convertible. I spent 5 and a half years selling HD/BUELL, and I never really understood, but kinda/sorta, why anyone would spend the BIG $$$ to get a trike- unless you just HAD to put on the gear and the helmet, and at least be able to look forward rolling and still be on a Hog. From a practical AND cost standpoint, a trike versus a convertible, it'd be the 'vert hands down. Whatever happens, keep us all posted on how things progress for you- good and bad. Prayers and good knees-in-da-breeze mojo heading your way. | ||
| Glitch |
This is simple and seems to be the ticket. I really hope you well. | ||
| Airbozo |
A couple of years ago I saw a guy at one of the Redwood Runs around here that had a Goldwing with wheels that dropped down out of his side bags when he approached a stop sign or light. I'll see if anyone can find out where he got them. | ||
| S2t_bama |
There was a thing called "Ghost Trike", link below. I'm not sure if they are still active or not. http://www.crossroadstrikes.com/Alternatives/Ghost Wheels.html It seems to be exactly what you are describing. | ||
| Robertl |
Sorry to hear that but glad to hear you are keeping some of your goals. Last 2 yrs at Bike Week I've seen some bikes that actually hold a wheelchair: http://www.mobilityconquest.com/ I did find this site online that has a few options: http://www.freebirdcustomtrikes.com/#!handicapped-motorcycles/c1igp Hope this helps and safe travels. Robert | ||
| Airbozo |
Here's another option: http://landingear.com/ | ||
| Redbuell1203 |
I did give up my bike until just last Friday. After I go and see this I will be selling it and donate all proceeds to the Michael J Fox foundation. Trying now to just go with wheels that come down. Keep up the ideas. There are some great ideas so far. | ||
| Redbuell1203 |
Anyone here you gdoing to sturgis? Would like to meet a few people on my journey. I also have to do this on a budget(sort of). | ||
| Stirz007 |
We have a local guy who lost use of his legs in an accident some years ago - he makes most track days, uses landing gear and is pretty quick, so I know that gizmo works fine for him. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
How about this? Looks like an ideal solution for you. http://thekneeslider.com/trt-the-tilting-reverse-t rike-harley-conversion-from-too-kool-cycles/ | ||
| Redbuell1203 |
I am thinking of using the landing gear mixed with the system from the video from Glitch. Going to try some mock up templets tonight. | ||
| Tootal |
My father and I designed exactly what your looking for but never built it. It's basically like the landing gear version. Ours would raise at 5 mph and drop at 3 mph. It was going to be pneumatic so it would have a little cushion. Man, that was 20 years ago! He's been gone for 15, time truly does fly. Sorry, you just hit an old memory bank I haven't thought of in a long time. When I first saw the landing gear set up I remember saying, damn! that was our idea! Hope it works out for you. My brother and I will be at Sturgis the week before and will probably leave on Saturday. Let me know if you come out a little early, the riding is much better then. | ||
| Slaughter |
Keep us posted on how you're doing and how this trip goes for you!! It is do-able. Stew Goddard was paralyzed from mid-belly down and rigged up outriggers with car seat electric motors to retract and extend on his streetbike. That required he keep cheapo wheel chairs at his most popular spots where he'd stop. He'd call first, honk on arrival and they'd bring out his chair. He now has a CanAm Spyder. After his spinal injury, race officials would let him start on his RS250 in the Aprilia Cup - in the back row because his pit crew would hold him vertical for the launch. He'd often podium. Think about it, almost no stomach muscles and velcro attaching your butt to the seat and feet to the pegs. Couldn't find more recent pics.  Video of Stew on a track day (Message edited by slaughter on June 16, 2015) | ||
| Thumper74 |
Not landing gear...but consider side cars? Kids, dogs and women love them. | ||
| Tootal |
My 82 year old riding buddy finally gave up on bikes. He had some vertigo problems due to diabetes so he switched to a trike but he never liked it. He's lost a little upper body strength and says the trike is so much harder to steer than a motorcycle he just didn't enjoy it anymore. A side car is much the same, just not a motorcycle. I understand where you're coming from. | ||
| Rick_a |
A few gents around here got these (though the touring versions).  They don't ride like bikes, but have a low steering effort and are surprisingly fun, pretty agile, and quite stable. | ||
| Gaesati |
I have been often humbled by meeting riders on the road who have overcome disabilities:An instructor with one leg who would Velcro his fake leg to the footrest, he complained about wearing through boots though. A rider who had polio and used elastic straps to hold his weak leg in place and a tube to store his crutches in. A couple of one armed riders at track days who modified their controls so that every thing worked off one handlebar. A one handed rider who used a ski binding on his handlebar to attach his stump to the right side handlebar. A paraplegic rider with landing struts which descended when he rode into the pits. And one guy who had lost his right arm at the shoulder and right leg just below the hip who races using the number 1/2 and has modified the bike to use only left side controls. | ||
| Redbuell1203 |
Found a great setup for me yesterday on YouTube. It was designed by some school kids. It will work out perfectly for me. Using wheelie bar wheels and taking off the passenger peg mount and making a drop rod to where the wheels mount and use an actuator to make it move. | ||
| S2t_bama |
I'm so glad you've found a workable solution. I hope you move forward with this ASAP so you can begin enjoying it right away. God bless! | ||
| 86129squids |
Hey Red, great news!, Now, get that Youtube vid embedded here, I wanna see it!   | ||
| Redbuell1203 |
Paraplegic man rides motorcycle. 12th video down from the university of Minnesota. Great video. Unsure of how put up videos. | ||
| Pwnzor |
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| Cityxslicker |
Best of success getting back out in the wind. I got to spend a few weeks on a Can-Am; it was a fun ride and a hell of an attention getter... I would still love to see it stripped down another 150 lbs or so - single sport hooligan - I don't ride a passenger. | ||
| Redbuell1203 |
Thanks Pwnzor! |
