Howdy,
I've been lurking for a while and thought I should finally introduce myself.
I just purchase my first sidecar after several months of challenges. In 2004 I lost my right arm (above the elbow) and right leg (below the knee) in a boating accident. I didn't slow me down very much and this past summer I decided I wanted to buy a motorcycle (have always wanted one). I figured my wife would be completely against it, she had been when I had all my appendages. But she humored me and went to the local Harley dealer with me. When we walked out she wanted her own.
But common sense prevailed. We decide it wasn't worth while to get brand new Harleys only to cry when we dropped them because we were both new riders. So I found a 99' Ninja 250 (yea, big difference from a Harley) to play with and get the controls worked out for me. My wife loved it so we found her a newer one. She took her MSF class got her license and was off and riding. My Ninja barley ran. So we bought a newer Suzuki GS500 (had a similar feel to the Ninja). She rode it for a while and decided she liked it more then her Ninja, meanwhile I made my control adjustments so she couldn't ride it anymore. I took my MSF class got my license and started riding around some back roads. As it turns out, me and sport bikes don't get along. I can't get my prosthetic leg on and off the pegs very easily. So we decided to sell the Ninja, give my wife the Suzuki and I'd go get a cruiser.
I bought an 09' Vulcan 900. Beautiful bike. Of course before I could make my control adjustments my wife got on it. So back to the Bike shop. They now love us. Two Vulcan 900's and a Suzuki GS500 in less then a month. So now seriously in debt and looking to sell a new Suzuki, I decided that I still wasn't quite comfortable enough to be out on the road. She's been all over Texas on hers waiting for me to join her.
So about a month and a half ago I ordered a Ranger model Texas Sidecar. I picked it up two days before X-Mas and got it installed and aligned. It's just what I needed. I'm very comfortable on this rig. I need to put in several more hours of practice and side street riding, but I'm very happy.
Anyway, sorry for the long story. This site has been and will continue to be a great resource for me. Thank You.
Welcome Rob,
keep us up tp date on your progress.
w0w - an inspirational beginning.
Welcome to sidecaring. I look forward to learning more as your adventure continues!
Welcome to the world of sidecaring.
With your lack of leverage in the right arm you may wish to go to raked triple trees to reduce the trail for easy steering.
Get ahold of Peter Smith at Side Effects for his Steerite triple trees.
www.sidecars.ca or call (250) 573-2364
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars, LLC
Thanks, I was just searching for info on triple trees. I rode it around for two or three hours yesterday and it wasn't too bad. I've gained a lot of strength in my left arm, guess that's just how the body adapts. And I can still pull and push with my prosthetic right arm. But I'm thinking I'll want to invest in a new triple tree soon.
You can also check with Jay at Dauntless he carries or builds a number of steering modifications http://www.dauntlessmotors.com/Mountinghardware/steering_mods.htm
What a great and uplifting story! I'm glad to see that you proved to yourself and others that "you simply can't stop living." All the best to you and your better half.
- Luis
San Diego, CA
