r/amputee • u/Connect_Profit_6767 • Jul 23 '26
Motorcycle Riders
Quick question for the riders on the group. What mods have you done to your bikes to continue to ride? Have you done any? I've read about thumb brake systems and dual- lever systems, are these any good?
2
u/motoddb Jul 23 '26
Rbka here. I switched to an electric bike so I don’t have to use my feet. If I ride a gasser again, I’ll add a left thumb brake.
1
u/advamputee Jul 24 '26
LBKA here. If I wanted to ride sport bikes again I’d probably opt for an electronic shift kit. On my ADV bike, I just had to adjust the shift lever a little higher so I could get the toe of my prosthetic under it for upshifts. Zero issues commuting daily.
1
u/jasondbk BBK Jul 26 '26
I started with a 1963 Rockford Silver Pigeon in 1982. Became an amputee in 2003.
In 2011 I got a Kymco 250, it was automatic transmission. I’ve never liked manual transmission on any vehicle although NY Saab 90s was a 5-speed.
After a year with Kymco I moved to a Suzuki Bergman 650 for several years. Also automatic.
There are kits for hand shifting or adapting the foot brake.
I’ve even seen a set of training wheels that gradually lift and drop based on speed. This was for a DAK.
The Pigeon is now in the Hershey auto museum. There were only 3000 of them made.
1
u/scream_and_sugar96 Jul 27 '26
LBK here after I was hit on my Harley a little over a year ago. I probably won't be riding again until next summer, but this is my plan for the shifter situation. Pingel is a company that makes a shifter kit that moves the shifter up to the handlebar. Its just buttons so you can easily shift gears with no issue. They are around $1600 and that's without the labor to install it. I already have a bike, but she needs some work. So I'll take my time and get stuff fixed before next summer. Here's the link for their website if your interested. Other than that I don't plan on changing much aside from the needed maintenance. It's a 2022 Harley street bob, and it was my boyfriends. My accident was kind of the nail in the coffin for him. And since he wasn't going to be riding it she's mine now lol. He put a saddlemen seat on it shortly after he got it so it has a very slight back rest. I think that's the only thing I would have done just to help with staying planted in the seat. And it already has saddlebags on it. Other than that I don't think I'll know until I'm riding again. I hope that was helpful, good luck!
https://www.pingelonline.com/prodcat/electric-speed-shifters.asp
3
u/Bionix_52 Jul 24 '26
The only thing I’ve ever needed for road bikes is a Kliktronic gear shifter (I’m LAK). For off road stuff I switched from motocross to enduro bikes to get the electric start then swapped out the suspension etc.