Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge first ride since the accident rolling up soon!

I found this Hand Shifter and thought it was a pretty cool idea. Since the accident I've been very interested in how I could keep riding if I didn't heal, or something else bad happened. I've gotten even more obsessed with sidecars and alternate ways of operating my bike than I already was. I have always liked sidecars, but now I'm continually thinking of how they are built and how they can be improved. A couple weeks after my accident, a co-worker got his spinal cord severed in an accident too. Seeing him improve from nearly loosing his life to wanting to talk his wife into letting him find a way to ride again has been pretty inspiring to me. I figure I should be able to get my first ride since my July 5th accident in a few weeks. I am looking forward to getting back out there, even though I am a little worried about how strong (or not) my knee will be. I always tell everyone that if I can't get my right side working, I'll just slap a sidecar on my bike and keep going. Once I get too weak to balance the bike at a stop, It will either be a sidecar or a Trike conversion, but I can't imagine not having my America.
I admit though, I am feeling pretty apprehensive about getting on my own bike again. Soren took me on the back of his for a few blocks a few months ago, and the pain in my knee was really more than I thought I'd feel. I want so badly to get back out there, but I fear the bike leaning to the right at a stop as I go for the kickstand, and my knee buckling and the bike and I go over. I had thought I could have Soren help me practice putting my kickstand down with me so I know someone can grab my bike if things go bad, and once I get over that worry, I am ready to try a short road test. Let's hope the gas hasn't gone bad in my bike!

Good luck on the riding and recovery. I would suggest a trike or sidecar if the leg is still too weak.

Good luck, I have been looking into a trike conversion for the BA. There is always that training wheel set up if you need it but want to go back to 2 wheels once fully healed.

I've seen a pic somewhere of a Rocket3 trike that looked, REAL GOOD!
I have a right leg that doesn't work due to a car t-boning me off my new triumph Tiger in 1971.snapped the femur and wrecked the knee in the process.I use a knee brace.Would a knee/leg brace of some sort be any use to you? Just a thought.

The one I use has a steel insert in each side to stabilize and support the knee but there's numerous types.

Good Luck Laurie,

When you get right down to it, only you know you in both the physical and mental sense. Like you and Frank, I was involved in the little mishap 2 1/2 years ago. And similarly, my right leg was the casualty.

Last Spring Friar was a great help in mounting the Voyager kit on this speedmaster. I've ridden it maybe 300 miles. While it's good being back in the wind, the riding characterstics are counter-intuitive to being on 2 wheels. Counter steering isn't part of the program, it's more turning the bars through the corners, which takes more effort. I don't really know how the Voyager kit compares to a true 3 wheeled Trike, Tryke set up. With both I found you pretty much have to motor down the centre of the travel lane due to width. An advatage is you get to keep your feet on the pegs at a full stop. Cornering is about 15 mph slower versus 2 wheels. I've also pondered a sidecar set up. To do it again I may have searched for a BA/speedmaster sidecar rig. I saw some posted on ba.com 8-9 years ago.

Like you, my goal is to get back on 2 wheels. First order is to continue treadmill strength training and stretching (range of motion) exercises. The idea of laying a 2 wheeler on its side somewhere and being forced to sit on the curb crying like a baby doesn't fit my hardboiled red rock image. So jokes aside, the mental part is real, but in my opinion you can't let the past determine the future. Learn from it, make your best judgement and good luck

jh

Laurie, have you seen this website. Landingear.com

Best to you, Laurie. I had a look at the link Mike provided. Landingear looks to be a viable solution if your knee won't cooperate. No matter what, I hope you get some of that wind in your face soon!

Good luck Laurie,
After my little accident (April 2008), it took me about 12-14 months to get my left arm raised back up to where I could operate the clutch comfortably again. I'm still not comfortable giving other bikers the 2-finger wave/salute though. It took a while longer to find another blue/white 2007 TBA.
I'll admit, it was a little scary at first riding again. I felt like I was leaning, while riding straight, and riding near those concrete NJ barriers bothered me (it felt like I was drifting too close to them).
But give it some time and you should feel more comfortable again. Hopefully your knee will not give you any trouble, just take it easy.

Here's my write up on Freedom's Trike (photo gallery at the bottom).

http://www.friarsride.com/freedoms-trike/

Also, there's a paraplegic at the Great Falls Harley dealership who rides an older restored Harley with a sidecar, which is where he puts the wheelchair when riding.

Where there's a will, there's a way. I like that LandingGear setup Mike posted.

Isn't there a member here with a sidehack on his America?

Rudy (majorrudell) has one, but he is rarely on here

Just wondering if there is a disabled bikers association on your side of the pond like we have over here?

The nabd offer advice and assistance if required

Not that you'll need any Laurie, cos you're gonna be healed

Thanks everyone! I did get to push the bike a bit today and can put the kickstand down without help. Washing all the dust off the bikes made the knee swell a bit today though. We are planning a short ride Saturday, and then hopefully a bit longer one to make sure I don't have shot nerves too.

Thanks so much for the landing gear info! I had no idea that one was out there! I'm looking at figureing a way to get a previous co-worker riding again too, so any more info on paralyzed riding options will also be greatly appreciated. Hopefully I never have to use it myself, but this has opened my eyes to the need others may have. I'd like to learn more. Thanks again. Love all of you here! It is always such a big help to ask questions and get the help and support from everyone here!

I love the "I'm not gonna let this get me down" attitude you're showin' here, Laurie!

(...with an attitude like that, I know you'll be "up and runnin' on all cylinders" very soon!)

"Love all of you here!"

Now don't go getting all starry eyed and slack-jaw sloppy mate!

Glad to see you're gonna be back in the saddle again. As far as sidecars, I never rode one until I got my Russian bike and sidecar two years ago. A word of warning, TOTALLY different animal. Looks like a bike, but handles nothing like a bike, for obvious reasons. Still, it is fun in a really different way. And it's kinda like riding down the road on a bi-cycle. I wouldn't trade the riding style for a two wheeled cycle experience, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Keep up posted on your succesful return!

In the words of a famous American, who I don't know the name of,
I'm sure you'll "Git 'er done" and be back riding Laurie.