Custom Harley Options Keep Disabled Riders in the Wind

By Brett Foote - July 25, 2017

New technology allows virtually anyone to ride a Harley, no matter what life throws your way.

For a lifelong Harley enthusiast, there’s nothing worse than watching the hobby you love so much taken away from you. But it happens every day, to thousands and thousands of people. Whether it comes from a medical condition or an accident, a disability can completely change your life. It might even have you worried that you could lose your ability to ride altogether. In the past, that might have been the end of this story. But today, a number of custom Harley solutions exist for disabled riders that can keep them where they belong – in the saddle.

Even if you’re perfectly healthy today, you just never know what the future has in store. After all, the term “disability” is a bit of a misnomer. For most, it brings to mind a severe injury caused by an accident. But the term can also refer to things like heart disease, knee and hip injuries, diabetes, and even slowed reflexes.

Getting older also brings a loss of cognition, balance, and mobility. These things can happen slowly over a long period of time, and typically signal the end of the road for bikers. But there is some good news if you suffer from any of these ailments. There are plenty of enterprising companies out there building bikes and accessories specifically to address the pitfalls associated with virtually any type of disability. Let’s take a closer look at those options.

Trikes

Three wheeled Harley-Davidson motorcycles are the most obvious and well known solution for a wide array of disabilities. And they’ve only become more and more popular as an entire generation of riders gets older. These days, trikes can be modified to compensate for any sort of disability. Of course, that includes ailments like aching joints and slowed reflexes. Those benefits have made the trike an incredibly popular option among aging bikers.

Even if you’re missing a limb or are confined to a wheel chair, custom trike options are available to suit any biker. Companies like Boss Hoss offer trikes designed specifically for that purpose. The Advantage trike, for example, features a built in ramp and allows riders to remain seated in their wheelchair while riding. Conversions are also available that allow riders to transfer directly from a wheelchair to the bike’s seat. Either way, riders can enter and exit without any outside assistance and still retain their independence. And while stock trikes use a standard control layout, foot controls can be converted to hand controls where necessary.

Hand Controls

For amputees, quadriplegics, and paraplegics, the thought of riding a motorcycle might seem like a far fetched dream. But a wide variety of hand controls have made that dream a reality. Electric, air-activated, and automatic shifters, mounted right below the clutch, allow for easy push button shifting by hand. Additionally, aftermarket levers like the K-2 from Disabled Motorcycle Riders allow you to apply the front or rear brakes with one hand. You can even add a reverse gear and automatic clutch (like the EFM Auto Clutch) to your hand controls for 100% foot-free operation. These systems can be mounted on either side, or even on the same side in the event that the rider has lost a hand. There’s even an adaptive device known as Mert’s Hands which allows riders with one hand to use both arms to operate a bike.

Landing Gear

Retractable supports known as “landing gear” provide upright stability when your motorcycle is stopped. Once the bike is moving again, the supports automatically retract, much like the landing gear on an airplane. Some designs even feature wheels and can deploy partially when cornering for extra stability. This modification is extremely helpful for those with diminished strength, mobility, or balance. But it’s also very beneficial for those who have trouble getting on or off a bike. Landing gear allows riders to get on or off a bike without fear of it falling over, and you can even lean the bike to one side for easy access. There are several companies out there producing quality landing gear for motorcycles, including the excellent Legup system offered by Chopper Design.

Sidecars

We often think of sidecars as merely a place to set our furry friends. But they can also provide a viable solution for those with disabilities. Even if you can’t fathom the thought of riding in one, systems exist that allow motorcycles to be operated by someone seated in a sidecar. This way, a person confined to a wheelchair can ride without getting out of it. Even if there isn’t a person sitting on the bike itself. And if you don’t mind letting someone else do the work, sidecars allow you to enjoy the thrill of riding even if you can no longer safely operate a motorcycle yourself. Plus, the addition of a sidecar adds a great amount of stability to any bike.