The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Motorcycle Landing Wheels for Paraplegic Rider

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Landing Wheels for paraplegic motorcycle rider
Landing Wheels for paraplegic motorcycle rider

Here’s a project built by “Team Motorcycle,” students at the University of Minnesota, they added landing wheels for a motorcycle that is coming to a stop, enabling a paraplegic to ride a two wheeler.

Ryan sent me a note:

The bike was designed for Scott Tyson, a paraplegic of 15 years following a motorcycle accident. Next weekend, Scott’s friend Andrew Hightower (adviser to the students for this project) will bring the bike up to Calagary, Canada to provide Mike with his dream ride into the Rocky Mountains (Banff, Alberta).

I don’t have any specifics about the foot control modifications for rear brake and shifting, but the wheels look like they work quite well. This is a great project where the students tackle a real world problem and come up with a working answer.

Video below:

We’ve seen some other neat products, like the Boss Hoss Advantage trike for disabled riders, but this one keeps the rider on 2 wheels instead of going to a trike. It may not work in all situations but it’s certainly a nice option.

Great work guys!

Thanks Ryan, for the tip!

Comments

  1. This is a product way overdue, that I have been wanting to make every time I see a paraplegic on a trike or hack. Too bad it is really only feasible in a school setting like this, where fear of product liability lawsuits take a backseat.
    Cool they put it on a classic Gixxer…..
    Thure

  2. This is what I need. I survived a horrific motorcycle accident only to see my quads whither on one leg and the stop was the delima. I can’t put my leg back up on the footpeg after I come to a stop so I have been looking into a trike but really my heart was not into it. Keep us posted.

  3. They will still need to figure out a way to shift and rear braking. Very cool idea, I know a fellow who had a dirtbike accident and cant ride anymore, unfortunately, I dont think this can help due to the placement of his spinal injury, but still good to see.

  4. This seems like the type of project that would be perfect for the Aprilia Mana. Automatic bike, so shifting’s not an issue, which means the clutch lever could be reassigned into a brake lever (like an automatic ATV). Seems to solve both issues being raised.

    Still seems to be a lot more risk in a project like this, for the rider, I mean. Like, how to the wheels handle having to brake to a stop in a turn (at a lean)? How will the rider deal with legs that lack muscle control (I know I rely on my thighs to hold on and stay centered, as well as shift weight for tricky turns).

    I suppose all the risk is worth being able to ride again, though. I know I’d put a lot at risk to be able to keep riding if something like that happened to me.

  5. Braking isnt all that difficult, the honda VTX is currently using a linked brakeing system, the cbr1000 used it in 95. In the VTX, the rear brake is actuated along with the front brake if you squeeze the front brake lever
    Ive seen push button shift kits (air over electricmost common) that actuates the clutch (id assume), and shifts gears. The Can-am spyder uses a semi automatic pushbutton transmission that has sequential choice shifting and an “automatic” mode that will shift itself.
    Both problems solved there. now, the weight shifting could be a problem, as could a “switched” system for dropping the gear, but I’m sure its pretty reliable. maybe its speed actuated, maybe its switch actuated, perhaps both.
    Kudos to UoM students, production might not be possible, but once again its been proven “anything is possible by those that wish to try”

  6. I have a good friend who lost his right leg just above the knee. He was riding a solo Sportster with a proportional valve in the brake circuit so the hand brake does it all. Still difficult because all stops are “leaning left” and in gear. He then tried a big Harley with a side hack … stable, but not so much fun. Now he’s back on a solo bike but with an improved prothesis.

    We who are not disabled may criticize this idea for its shortcomings (like weight shift, hanging off and so on) but for a disabled rider, being able to ride again is invaluable. Accomodating to the disabilities is simply a way of life and anything to help is better than they had before. This is not to say that the system can’t be improved and it probably will be.

    Believe me, to see the joy on my friend’s face after a ride make it all worthwile.

    There IS a market for this type of accessory, thankfully not large … but it’s there.

  7. This is actually an old idea. There was a company out of New Orleans that made “landing gear” for Goldwings before the flood. There is another company, “landin gear” that makes for Harley and there is also another company that makes wheels that come down as the bike stops but the name escapes me.

  9. There was some mention of paraplegic motorcycling in Popular Science a few years back, mostly for people in countries with a lot of land-mines and where most people ride motorcycles.

    I can’t recall if they used an automatic or a hand shifter, but I think they did move controls around to account for whatever limb you were missing or lost use of.

    This is cool.

  11. Braking and shifting aren’t much of a problem. As another pointed out ABS and linked brakes take care of stopping and there are numerous bikes running around using servo motors to manage the shifting actuated at the push of a button.

    Using a road speed sensor, you could even have the helper wheels self deploy.

  12. There was a fabulous engineer/racer who was a paraplegic, raced with AHRMA. His setup was much like this, wheels activated by a servo, came down on demand, and it was stable enough for him to haul himself on and off the bike without assistance, getting in to his wheelchair. He was fast as hell. People kept asking him to commercialize it, but apparently the insurance was insane. Too bad, because it was really cool setup, very tidy and handsome design. WMRRA had a one armed racer as well, running a 748.
    The insurance industry keeps most of these great ideas from making it to market.

  13. I got to know Scott while we worked for the same company. He is going to love this & I wish him all the best. Keep the rubber side down “Scooter”.
    Shifting could be control with an air shifter switch on the handle bar & back brake possibily tied to the front master cylinder.

  14. How about a segway type gyro so the bike stays upright regardless of the side slope? Probably have to turn it off before the first corner… Just a thought

  15. Hate to be another one to downplay these students accomplishment, but I remember riding with a guy in Long Beach or Huntington Beach California at least 8 years ago who had lost the use of his legs in a moto accident and he developed a similar design that let him get around.

  16. where do we draw the line? how far do we go to put safety in the back seat so we can still be cool? if you cant for whatever reason physically controll or handle your bike then you shouldn’t be on it. period. if the weight is a problem its time to consider something lighter or with more wheels. building devices to aid riders in adding more digits to the statistics sheets is not the answer..

  18. One could look to the Piaggio MP3 for another approach. The two wheels in front allow it to be locked upright at a stop but lean up to 40 degrees while moving. It also has an automatic transmission and no foot controls because that’s the normal arrangement for a scooter.

    Keet: I wish I could remember where I saw it, but I can recall some photos of a paraplegic rider who held himself to the bike with a couple of straps around his thighs. The straps would need some kind of breakaway arrangement in case of an accident, I suppose.

  19. Not sure about the market for another set of landing gears , price would have everything to do with it . It’s not for us to say he or she doesn’t have the right because they happen to have a few parts that don’t work . If you ride a motorcycle then you know that it is just as safe/unsafe for a paraplegic out there on the road as it is for you . So I say good for him or her , have a ball !!!

    Dave

  20. It’s a good idea – might need a little development but the concept’s sound and there is a ready market – because there have been earlier designs the students probably won’t be able to take out a patent though. As some posts point out, trying to get the insurance companies to respond favourably will be the biggest barrier. I see a one-armed rider regularly on my commute and he doesn’t hang about on his Suzuki Bandit, so there are ways round the insurance pitfalls for disabled riders. He has clutch and brake levers on the left side and manages both with no problems – it’s inspiring to see him ride.

  21. hello , iam didabled but still caint put the bike down. just yesterday I was at a stop light . stoped and had my feet down ( you got it) over I went. dont seem to have the stright in leggs to hold up the bike at times. these look wonderful , how can a guy purchase this. thanks jim

  22. I am paraplegic and I live in Brazil. I am very interested in adapting a motorcycle to a few laps at the end of the week. You could pass me the data of the company that you made the adjustment? Please send the data to the email welingtonmoreno@yahoo.com.br Thank you

  25. I bought a motorcycle I though I could ride safley. I found out later after attending motorcycle training class, I could not performed the slow speed task as weell as I thought. Yes I could convert my bike into a trike. However, I am not going to do that. I much rather sell my bike rather than lose the thrill of riding a two wheeler. How can I obtain a dealer who sells landing wheels.

    Thank You

    Jerry

  26. We the paraplegic public need to get together and build these or other such great inventions, test and manufacture them for anyone in need of them. I am a paraplegic because of a motorcycle accidnt and I would love to be the test pilot for any such equipment that would make the paraplegics life more enjoyable. I will help in anyway that I can. My life is not over and I will ride and hope to help others ride as well. Doug Woolworth – Northern California

  27. I am 63 yres old layed my Harley down on 10/29/08 & had 7 surgers in 2 1/2 weeks. They had to cut my left leg off above the knee. & my wife left me over it. I still have a 2002 Harley Night Train & my 13 year old Son living with me. It is lowed in the back. I do not feel safe riding it. I have been Riding most of my life & without my Bike i am lost !!! Can you tell me how much is a kit for my Bike ??? I am also President of Louisiana Masons Motorcycle Chapter for Louisiana. We do everything for Kids at no coast to them. So, can you help me Ride again ???

    Many Thanks

    ” TONY “

    • Hi, did they ever market this landing gear setup?

      Did you manage to source one and evaluate ?

      Thanks in advance

      Elfed

  29. Hey Tony, just need to find out more information about this device. I go into the hospital in four weeks for knee replacement. Thanks

  30. I have not seen anyone mention a great bike for those without full use of their legs or arms – the CanAm Spyder. Paddle-shift semi-auto, ABS brakes, power steering – a GREAT BIKE.