I've been riding with a above the right knee prosthesis for about 4 years. Using mostly front brake on my 07 RKC. As each season rolls around I become a little less comfortable.

I was wondering if anybody had any ideas for a possible solutions. I missed ABS by one year, and its pretty expensive to modifiy thru HD. They said you have to replace wiring harness etc, etc.


Thanks,

 

I'm not sure who does it, but I have seen where a bike can be modified where the brake lever can be used to activate both front and rear brakes, much like the pedal in a car. Might be pretty expensive, but that would be the best solution, I feel.

 

There any grants that might be available to someone who has a physical handicap??
You are after all dealing with a above the right knee prosthesis and therefore physically handicapped.
Just pointing out the obvious just in-case there is something that you might be ably to apply and qualify for.
Trike guys might be able to point you in the right direction for that proportioning valve that splits the braking front and rear.
Rob

 

Moto Guzzi has for many years used a dual brake system, where the bar lever controls a front disc, and the pedal controls the rear brake and the other front disc.

once set up with a proportioning valve, it works well.

an ability to change the bias is important as there are slippy times when you want rear brake only.

OP, with your non abs system, I would suggest that you speak to a local indy.

set it up so that your lever controls a front disc and the rear brake...

or put a brake pedal on the left side for the rear ( coming to a stop...just pull in the clutch and use left foot for the rear brake..or gear shifting....your choice.

more than one option, and I'm sure someone smart will be along soon.

mike

 

Honda has had linked brakes forever. Stunt guys add a hand rear brake lever. I forget who, but one of the superbike riders awhile back had a rear handbrake set-up? May not be too hard to set up a linked system with the right master cyl and portioning valve? I'm sure it's been done...

 

You could change to an07 cop touring model and have ABS.

CARL

 

I wonder if you were able to add a suicide shift like handle that mounts or replaces the rear brake pedal? That would keep it on the throttle side.

 

You can fab up a thumb brake lever for under the left side grip/bar area. Road racer Mic Doohan did this in the 90's after breaking his right leg badly. Just run a brake line up & fab a mount w/ lever and dial it in. Your brakes will not be linked in tis case. It may take some time getting used to it but works great.
If you don't have the time/skills I'm sure you can find a local fabricator to lend a hand. Good luck.

 

+1 hukamosh

I believe you can have the rear brake lever fabricated to fit on the crash bars on the left hand side as part of the highway pegs or something similar.

However I believe this will be more expensive than the ABS mod on your bike. You can also just take a loss and update your bike with a newer model that has the ABS and probably not lose more than 2K all together but have a newer bike.

 

ABS is nice, but it's not the total solution here. As mentioned there are times when judicious use of the rear brake is required to help the bike stand up in slow turns, etc. Also road conditions exist where use of the front brake is not recommended.

If I had to choose, I would rig up a rear thumb brake lever on the right grip or some alternate method, maybe a heel lever for the left foot, and forget about ABS.