OMG!!! This is so kool!!! It's so very close to being a dream come true, I almost can't contain myself.
I'm 28 years post injury (bike crash, what else) T-4 complete. I'm currently in the process of trying to gather information on building a custom sidecar (think chariot) for a an FLH, but it looks like the Spyder may have some real headstart advantages.
Let me ask some really fundamental questions.
1) Shifting. If I wait for the SE5 trans, I could skip the Klicktronics? The SE5 does have reverse, right?
2) Brakes. I'd have to have a local brake shop replumb the brakes to activate both the front and rear brakes with a handlever, from some larger mototcycle model?
3) Footplates. I'd need to have some custom fabricated/mounted. Maybe something alone the line of the foot plates on my Polaris 250 quad or a set from the trike kits?
4) Wheelchair. This is the biggie for me. Some sorta bike rack to hold my folding chair. Mounted on the side or maybe even on the back with a swivel?
Any info/ideas would really be appreciated. I would love to see photos of what you folks end up with.
Joe
It appears that there are more of us T4 Para's etc... that like this bike. As soon as I am back working I may be able to afford one and do conversions, for now I need to keep job hunting.
Cheers to you for your nice conversion.
...But...
My buddy rides a Suzuki with a sidecar (he mastered the riding) and all he did was make a long lever to go onto the shifter bar (minus the lever) and since it had a cable clutch he put a clutch lever on the top of the long shift lever.
His brakes were rigged so that the right brake lever operated both front and back.
I tried his first bike with sidecar (hondamatic 650) and right turns scared the bajeese out of me.
Paraplegic's previous motorcycle, before the Spyder
Hello Zeeker, and other T-x paras.
My previous ride before doing my Spyder conversions, is 1981 Honda GL1100 Goldwing Interstate, with a Velerox sidecar. Wonderful unit.
It first came to me with 'sucide shifter'....much like you mention, and long rod connected to the shifter.
I modified to this to a self designed electric over air compressor driven shifter. Way cool and I put over 40,000 miles on that system. Braking was simple, by just installing a hydraulic clutch master cylinder on the left handle bar directly above the original clutch lever. This master cylinder I tied via flex steel line to the rear brake.
The sidecar is great for holding the wheelchair, compressor, grocceries, my wife, etc. Love this bike, a great touring unit. The Spyder is a Hot Rod! And now nice to have a choice of rides. A sidecar system has bad right hand turn characteristics......until you put about 100 pounds of weight in the sidecar.
So, to help improve right turns, put 100 to 150 pounds of weights in the sidecar. You may have to re-align the sidecar, but simple way to ensure good riding. Ride anything that makes sense to you, ease of use and functionality are key ingredients. floto612
u r a freakin genius...I am a para...since birth...just fell on to the spyder...have been trying to figure out a way I would b able 2 ride a bike...was looking into building a trike from scratch...but I would almost have 2 rob a bank to afford that...unfortunately my last name is not Trump...how's the project goin? do you have anymore pics? especially if it is completed...what did you figure out about ur chair and how 2 put it on there?
I just made a powerpoint presentation on these modifications: 2 options for adding a front brake and two options for the e-shifter. I sent it to Floto for any revisions he can add to it. Drop him a line to see if he can send it to you..If not I can send you the original.
cool pic's I have cp and iam thinking about a simi-auto spider . Is there an automatic clutch ?
is the wheelchair rack on back or the side of the spider?
Iam thinking of using my Qukie 2 on some kind of rack.
if you any more pic's or thought's let me no.
Floto612 here and I must admit I have NOT been keeping up with all the inputs and emails I have been getting regarding my adventures to date with the my Spyder and wheelchair Mods.
I now have almost 11,000 kms (~aprox. 7,000 miles), circled a couple of Great Lakes, did the Homecoming Event in Valcourt to name a few highlights......all with a wheelchair hung off the side of my bike. Klicktronic shifter adapation working flawlessly, brake conversion to the Brembo Radial master cyliner......awesome! Floor boads to keep spasming feet 'inboard'...super and even look cool, or so I am being told.
Mattmac, I have attached to this reponse a few photos to try and help show what it looks like.....if they don't come thru I may need to email seperately.
I only know that the SE5 is a 'clutchless' tranny......not automatic. So, you will need to push buttons to shift up and down.....just not pull in a clutch. If I can help in some way, let me know.
Hi Everyone
I got my new Spyder on Aug. 1 It took me about a week and a half tto get the brake converted. The place I took it just welded a little lever on to the brake pedal and ran a cable up to a lever on the handle bars. It takes less effort to pull than the front brake lever on most conventional bikes. I have the es model and the shifting is smooth and fast. Its a dream to drive.
I used a couple of leggs from a bar-bq to make a carier for my chair but this is something that still needs work.
There are a couple of other modifications I will probably make over winter. I want to extend the gas filler so I can fill it while sitting on the bike. and I would like something to make the parking brake easier to use.
The pictures are of the first day I picked up my bike. CTV news was there but the highlight was riding home with my daughter and son-in-law.
I didn't have the carier on at this time.
Posting the pictures didn't work for me.
If you want pictures you will have to e-mail me or leave a message in this thread.
Thank's Floto
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