Several AMA members shared their experiences of overcoming disabilities to keep riding. Here are some of those stories in their own words:

I put many, many miles on my old Harley-Davidson XLS 1000, from Mexico to the Yukon, from Pacific to Atlantic. In 1996, I reached the point where I couldn't ride it so I took it to Lehman Trikes. I had a hell of a time unlearning countersteering. When the trike finally got too old, I bought a new FXDX trike and have put 3,000 miles on it so far. I have two vehicles: one trike for summer, one old truck for winter.

A friend of mine, Scott Hancock, is a paraplegic due to polio. He drives his wheelchair onto his sidecar and latches the wheelchair in place. A lever on the right side of the sidecar retracts the ramp. All the controls have been moved to handlebars on the sidecar. His wife, Toni, can ride on the motorcycle seat or he can go down the road with nobody on the motorcycle, which draws some stares.

Mary McFarland (photo above)
Clark Fork, ID
AMA Life Member #738654

I am a machinist, auto mechanic, motorcycle mechanic, mechanical engineer and CAD draftsman and designer, so I have been able to modify several motorcycles for my use even though I am a right arm amputee. I have ridden roughly 200,000 miles on modified bikes, mostly sport touring.

Briefly, the modifications are:

• Move the throttle to left side.
• Add a "cruise control" (throttle lock).
• Integrate the front brake with the rear brake and pedal.
• Add a "hill hold" to the clutch linkage to lightly apply brakes when clutch lever
• is fully pulled.
• Add a grip point (knob) to the right handlebar for my prosthetic hook.
• Relocate switches to left side.

Drawbacks are:

• Custom fabricated and machined parts are required and are expensive.
• Learning to use the clutch and throttle with the same hand requires practice. Torquey engines are easiest to control.
• Finding a mechanic willing to participate in making these changes is nearly impossible and no dealer will touch your bike afterwards.
• Only the amputee can safely use the modified bike.
• Resale of bike requires conversion back to standard layout.
• Individual application of front or rear brakes is sacrificed. (ABS or good front-to-rear weight bias is a must).

Of course the big plus is that you can ride as well as your personal skills allow.

Anyone who wants more information can contact me by e-mail at tpomeroy@ctcn.net .

Thomas R. Pomeroy
Urbana, OH
AMA # 605190

I have disabilities that make swinging a leg over a motorcycle not impossible, but uncomfortable. Also, I have hands that don't work too well, which makes it difficult to use the clutch lever. Several years ago, I sold my Kawasaki Voyager and was bikeless for a while. Then I heard about the Honda Helix. I still have it and I'm still riding.

So, I would suggest to those who can no longer handle a motorcycle, check out one of the new "super scooters." They have big motors and are fast enough to run with any traffic anywhere. Plus, there is no clutch lever.

To those who might say, "Yeah, but it ain't a motorcycle," I say, "Try it. You might like it. And at least you're riding again."

Bob Kerns
Hopkinsville, KY
AMA #320211

My girlfriend's name is Robin. She's a beautiful woman who is gifted in many ways. Robin suffers from spina bifida, a fusing of the spine that forces her to use a wheelchair or crutches. The characteristic that most drew me to her was her spirit. She could easily complain about her condition or acceptance but she never has.

When we started riding together on my 2000 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic, we ran into several stumbling blocks. The most challenging was devising a way to carry her wheelchair with us.

Well, Robin wanted to ride so bad and I was determined to give her that. So, after one bright idea, three toolboxes, a new luggage rack, and four 2x4s later, I had come up with a workable product. It holds the wheelchair like the garage hangers you use for bicycles. After a test trip, we set off on a summer run to Sturgis, South Dakota.

We rode 3,800 miles in nine days, through rolling hills and valleys, across rivers, through the dry Badlands, up into the Black Hills, stared at the majesty of chiseled rock, through canyons and past pastures that seemed endless. On the return trip she was pelted with hard rain as we chased a thunderstorm through South Dakota and Minnesota. She didn't complain, even on our last day, when we pushed ourselves 16 hours through Pennsylvania to our home in New Jersey.

I believe all things are possible with hard work and patience. I also believe that this woman has shown me the real meaning of the words courage, endurance and spirit.

Vinny Cucchiara
Bloomfield, NJ
AMA #622445

My wife, Alice, has carpal tunnel syndrome in both of her hands from working a manufacturing job all her life. She had problems holding the clutch lever in while we rode in heavy traffic, so I installed a White Bros. Easy Boy clutch arm kit. The kit extends the clutch arm at the transmission so that at the clutch lever you have more leverage. This allowed her to hold the clutch in for extended periods while in downtown Sturgis. She really likes it!

I have an artificial leg. My leg was amputated due to a birth defect. The only real difficulty I have riding is shifting with my left leg, as I don't have any ankle movement. The heel-toe shifter on my Harley works real well for me. I used to ride dirt bikes and missed many a shift while riding in the dirt. My buddies got used to hearing my bike singing away while I hunted for the next gear.

In conclusion, there are always ways of overcoming a handicap and doing the things one likes to do in life. Don't ever say, "I can't." That statement can be your downfall.

Dennis Stanke
Portland, MI
AMA# 515825

I have cerebral palsy, a muscular disorder that affects my legs, hands and speech. I also have scoliosis, a lateral curvature of the spine, and I was unable to walk until age 7, when I had surgery. That has not stopped me from riding street bikes and ATVs. I currently race ATVs for the sheer pleasure of having fun in the dirt and for the competition. A person needs to take risks in life sometimes. I'm glad I did. Otherwise, I would have missed out on a lot.

Todd Macke
Decatur, IL
AMA # 435770