FANTASTIC IDEA (for myself)

**HondaClaw** · 08-21-2011, 11:27 PM

Well, many of you may not know of my left hand's deformity, but the point is, I cannot grip the left clutch on the left side without letting go of the handle bar, and I find the clutch hard to depress.. So I was thinking would moving the clutch lever to the right hand side (and move whatever lever is on the right side to the left) be a good solution?

**Vealmonkey** · 08-21-2011, 11:38 PM

What bike? Usually the the right lever is for a brake. So, it may be a solution, but be careful please.

**just ben** · 08-21-2011, 11:43 PM

pics of the hand please! just kidding should be fairly easy to do. if you have a hydraulic front brake you will need a master cylinder made for the left side, one from a can am outlander would work if needed

**Xpress** · 08-21-2011, 11:43 PM

Yeah, be careful, the front right lever generally is for the front brake, which is where the majority of your braking force is. Maybe setup a foot clutch and suicide shifter?

**jeswinehart** · 08-21-2011, 11:55 PM

I am very interested in what you are thinking/doing.
My right thumb is,,, well, shot thumb throttling (I pay a high painful price on rides) but have all my fingers intact.
Left thumb is good but I am a little short on a couple of finger tips thanks to a 185-S missing a chain gaurd (I figured out 20 years ago the S stands for "Snapper")
Ben, I really don't think you want to see my "reminder" pictures

**Dirtcrasher** · 08-22-2011, 12:09 AM

If it helps you ride, who cares how yo do it.....

So many clutches are so tough to pull in due to lack of maintenance; but if your hand is an issue I think your idea is just fine and you may want to look into hydraulic clutches as they are so easy to pull.

The front brake is neglected by 75% of people anyhow, I feather it all the time but if I had to ditch it in order to ride, I'd be all for it.......

**Vealmonkey** · 08-22-2011, 12:25 AM

I helped design and build a hand shifter/clutch set up for a guy that had an artificial left leg and couldn't shift before. But I had never given much thought about someone who has a bad grip before. The only problem without a front brake is, if you are ever going uphill and have to use your brakes, just the rear brake could flip your trike rolling backwards. Some bikes use a tandem front and rear braking system, but I don't know if you would want front and rear brakes always being applied at the same time. You could always make some kind of auxillary left foot lever with a reservoir for your front brake. That is the easiest that I can think of right off the bat unless you went for another reservoir and lever closer to the center of your handlebars on your right handlebar. That really is kind of a tricky problem to help make it 100% safe and effective for your ride. I'll have to think on this for awhile.

**just ben** · 08-22-2011, 12:26 AM

Originally Posted by jeswinehart

Ben, I really don't think you want to see my "reminder" pictures

probably not. it would be a challenge to move a thumb throttle to the left side. maybe use a snowmobile throttle? i'm sure it would be more comfortable for you and less confusing then a left handed throttle

**HondaClaw** · 08-22-2011, 11:15 AM

Well I was thinking down the road if I ever get like a 200X or something, so it probably won't be soon, and yeah I have found myself using front brakes on the hill situation.. Very handy and obviously when I need to use the brakes I can take my left hand off the handle bar to pull the lever when needed. And the description of my hand, I wish it were some cool story of lesson learning etc. to tell but it's just a birth defect (boring right?? XD ) but it's like a pincer (claw is what my friends call me) my thumb and pinky are bent at the knuckle but they can work together to grip things (and play xbox haha) and my pointer, middle and ring finger are all just like nubs I guess haha I would post pics but I'm too lazy too x]

**phantombiker** · 08-22-2011, 11:24 AM

would there be some way to mount the lever in a verticle position?? would that make it easier for you?? first of all...can it even be done?!?!

Mark

**HondaClaw** · 08-22-2011, 11:29 AM

That might work hmmm

**phantombiker** · 08-22-2011, 12:03 PM

just a thought, bro.

Mark

**Jon Boy** · 08-22-2011, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by ben6626

probably not. it would be a challenge to move a thumb throttle to the left side. maybe use a snowmobile throttle? i'm sure it would be more comfortable for you and less confusing then a left handed throttle

just curious, but why not just move the throttle to the leftside like your saying and then use it like a trigger with the index finger?

**HuffieVA** · 08-22-2011, 01:48 PM

I would think (providing you are working with a trike that has hydraulic brakes (aside from the 84 Tecate I think the majority do)) why not run both from the right foot brake, you could certainly adjust the pressures to both the front/rear calipers to fit your general riding style, you could then move the clutch to the right and use your left hand solely for gripping the bars, you may loose a bit of handling by not having the independent brakes but take a look/listen at/to this kid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMCHE...eature=related

You can do anything you set your mind too...

**mi500** · 08-22-2011, 01:56 PM

another thought is modifying a auto clutch that are availible for lots of newer dirtbikes to work.

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FANTASTIC IDEA (for myself)