Learning to ride one handed?

[AngelGrinder]

Would she be able to go and do a CBT on an unmodified scooter?

Ok, so my girlfriend wants to learn to ride. Unfortunately she doesn't have a left hand, which obviously makes it impossible to use a clutch or rear brake on a scooter.

She can ride a push bike no problem, and grip the bars ok, she just doesn't have the fingers to use the clutch and switch gear. She could probably use the indicators, but would need to let go of the handlebar on the left.

If she was to go and do a cbt on a scooter, would they be ok with her not using the rear brake atall? If not, what are our options?

If she enjoyed it, how would she go about getting a full license? We don't have a ton of money to spend, so something big and automatic is out of the question...how would you modify a manual bike to have the clutch somewhere else, how much and how difficult would this be?

Basically any advice would be welcome!
____________________
Currently Riding - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000 Mille

[TQ]

Has she managed to get a provisional licence then?

You'll need to check with the DVLA but not being able to grip both sides of the bars sounds like it might be a problem.

Any coppers on here know if you can get pulled for not holding the bars?

I don't know about the CBT but you can easily fit a thumb rear brake to the right bar if/when you get her a bike.
____________________
First Bike :Gilera DNA 50 | Second: Imported 1989 NSR125
Third: 1998 Yamaha XJ600N | Currently: 1999 Yamaha FZS600

[AngelGrinder]

[Scooty]

Hmm, I think it would be difficult at best on an unmodified scooter. Why don't you ring the training centre that you are thinking of using and pick their brains?

In the longer term it would be easier, there are auto bikes available on the mainstream, and I've seen a lot of examples of people modifiying their own bikes.

This is from NADB (https://www.nabd.org.uk/adaptions/javaindex.htm)

[Kris]

There must be a way of doing it because I've ridden alongside a guy that lives near me who only has one arm.

He rides a hornet and from what I gathered used a clutch lever on the right bar...
____________________
NSR125RR - ZXR750H1 - ZX9R E1 - GSF600S - GSF600SK3 - VFR400-NC30 - SV1000N - ST1100-R - CBR900RR-R - GSF1200SK5 - GSF600SK1 - VFR1200FA - GSXR1000K2 - ZZR1400 D8F
www.prisonplanet.com

[Scooty]

This forum might be pretty useful:

https://forum.disabledbiker.co.uk/index.php
____________________
Current Bike: 2018 Honda CRF250L
Ex-Bikes: 2002 Honda CG125, 1998 Honda VFR800, 2011 Honda CBR600F, 2013 Triumph Sprint GT SE, 2015 Kawasaki ZX10R

[AngelGrinder]

[G]

A c90 doesn't have any controls on the left hand side, but has a 3 speed semi auto.

I suspect if you stuck a 125cc pit bike engine in one and registered it as a 125 she could also do her test on this (think it's got to be over 120cc or something).

On that, I've got two here and what with only being able to use one at once, if you'd like to borrow one or just try it out if you're down this way, can probably work something out.

As above; for big bikes you can go to a clutch on the right hand bar.

[Kris]

Have a read here

https://www.mtb-amputee.com/motorcycleamputee.htm#Motorcycle_Modifications_for_Arm_Amputees.


____________________
NSR125RR - ZXR750H1 - ZX9R E1 - GSF600S - GSF600SK3 - VFR400-NC30 - SV1000N - ST1100-R - CBR900RR-R - GSF1200SK5 - GSF600SK1 - VFR1200FA - GSXR1000K2 - ZZR1400 D8F
www.prisonplanet.com

[radical]

I dont think you can ride a motorcycle or scooter modified or not with one hand. Some scooters have got a brake pedal for the rear brake such as the old Honda ch125 spacey.

[stinkwheel]

What about a honda Innova 125?

They have a semi-automatic gearbox. The gears are operated in the normal way but the clutch is automatic.

So you have throttle and brake with your right hand, gears with your left foot and brake with your right foot. All your left hand does is operate the switchgear which I'd suggest could simply be mounted on the right bar for ease of use.

Regarding a "proper" motorbike. Seen it done plenty of times.

I've seen it done with the clutch lever mounted along with the front brake and I've seen it done with a thumb lever for either the clutch or the brake (like a quad bike throttle lever).

With a little engineering, I reckon it would be possible to have the clutch working off the gear lever. My Jawa came with this as standard and it was perfectly possible to ride it without using your left hand.

You'd need to make up a linkage that lengthened the travel on the gear shift and rig something so it pulls the clutch cable (or operates a hydraulic master cylinder) as you move the lever up or down. To move away, you push the lever down and hold it. As you release the lever, it lets the clutch out.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[supZ]

[radical]

This scooter would only require the switchgear to be modified for right handed use as the rear brake is pedal operated, most bikes tend to have the indicators and horn on the left hand side with some also having the headlight switchgear on the lefthand side, you would need to consider the electrical modification needed carefully. https://www.cyclechaos.com/wiki/Honda_CH125

[L-Jam]

Pics or it didn't happen.
____________________
Journalist, student, egotist.
Click here if you're a young biker, wondering what to do after a moped/125!
Skp 50 --> GS 500 --> CBR600F with custom HRC paint jobby --> GSX-R 750 K7, beautiful!

[Glenben92]

Honda Pan Euro's have balanced brakes so if you just grab a handfull of front brake, it'll automatically apply 25% rear as well. So there's a breaking mech sorted
____________________
57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010

[stinkwheel]

I have previously given this subject some thought.

I had an idea you could do it using cables (or telescoping rods that work in tension and telescope in compression) and a rear brake master cylinder to operate a hydraulic clutch from the gear lever.

I was bored so did a very rough animation of what I mean.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[G]

Oh and you can get centrifugal clutches for a variety of bikes.
Lots of off-road bikes are supported and some used as drag bikes.

[Ciar?n]

Just a nudge for the scooter things.

We have a customer with only one hand.
He rides a little Piaggio ZIP 50 that we modified for him some time ok.

He has both levers on the right hand side, and the throttle twists the opposite way for throttle.

It's all perfectly legal and mot'able.
____________________
22/8/08 A2 Passed! Full License Biatch!
Past: Suzuki CS50, Gilera Ice 50, Gilera Runner 125SP, CBR 600 F2, CBR600 F4i, CBR 600RR5,

[deleted111]

I used to live nextdoor to a chap who had his left hand mangled in a machinery accident. It was a complete mess but he was determined he'd keep on riding. Couldn't use his hand at all and managed perfectly well. Can't remember for the life of me what he rode, but he had no trouble.

So long as the CBT centre are made aware in advance, I'd have thought they'd be able to cater for her okay. It's all been said above fella, bikes and scoot's can be sorted out easily enough, it'll just be trying to wing it through the CBT and tests that might prove a bit of a task at first, but all in all I think it'll be just fine!

Cheers,

Steve.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

I passed a guy on a trackday that only had one arm. He was giving it large in the fast group.
____________________
My Flickr

[pinkyfloyd]

Theres a bloke around here drives a trike he's built. He only has 1 arm and instead of bars for steering he has fitted a tiller type device.
____________________
illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[plugger147]

As has been said there are ways around the problems, try the training centre and see if they can help or take G up on his offer. If she get's on ok then sorting something out shouldn't be to difficult.

A monster I saw out not to long ago:
____________________
Tristan the wrote: just whipped off my trousers to find a big bruise on my arse, caused by matt rear ending me...

[Clanger]

I have a friend who rides a Bandit with one hand, all his controls are placed around the good hand...he's based Berkshire way. I'm not sure who he got the conversion done with...but people in NABD would be able to give you a heads up, I'm more than sure.

https://www.nabd.org.uk/adaptions/javaindex.htm
____________________
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Pete.]

We had a guy on the runway doing speed runs and drag racing, with a missing arm. He was bloody good too on his R1.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[colin1]

Good job she has a right hand for throttle, as it would all be a lot harder if she only had a left hand.

It is handy to have a rear brake, but I dont think you need it reallly, so I'd vote for a normal scooter. Much easier to ride than a c90 or modern equivalents.

A c90 is fun as a toy but it's not great compared with modern stuff for general use.
____________________
colin1 is officially faster than god