Klictronic, brakes and a paraplegic with a Spyder
Hello,
I too am NOT a forum person, and rarely use them...but this is a good cause! I now have two other contacts with 'challenges' that own Spyders. For me, I was asked to help with BRP on the Spyder by my dealer. Had a few meetings with BRP and was then able to be the first order in Canada and one of the first deliveries in Canada.
My level of para, is T-12 which allows me to have some stomach muscles and balance, but I am a complete T-12...no feelings or use of my legs. Suffer some terrible spams with this at times, as my T-6 friends do not.
Ok, lets get to the point. I'm some what mechanically, rebuilding cars and bikes for a hobby and snowmobiling most of my 'challenged' years....33. The Spyder is a perfect fit for those of use 'vertically challenges' and we need to take advantage of this. Four things need to be considered, and I have listed them in my view of priority.
1/ fit and comfort
2/ making it move
3/ making it stop
4/ mounting a wheelchair.
1/ Making the Spyder fit me, as I am six foot six inches and 220pds was easy. I pulled both driver foot pegs off, simple C-clip holds a 10mm pin and sring assembly, and am building up a foot plate with toe holds from checker plate alluminum. I suffer spams, so as I did on my Goldwing, I am ensuring my feet do NOT come off. My design allowed me to lower my feet, form the stock original foot peg placement, taking pressure off my butt and lower back....no sores is my hope.
2/ I had built my own electric over air shifter setup for my Goldwing, which provided over 40,000 miles of care free driving.....but, there is NO room for this system on a Spyder. I opted for the Klicktronic and will be clamping the mounting plate to the inboard side of the 'leaf looking design thing' of the left drivers foot peg mounting bracket assembly. There the Klictronic actuator will be out of harms way, in a cool environment, accessible, AND I can leave the orginal shifter arm in place(will need to weld on a tang or ear flange for the connection to the clevis on the Klictronic actuator). I have removed all panels of my Spyder to allow me to run cables and choose various mounting locations. My first choice was inboard to the oil cooler and lower engine mount, but I believe this to be a too hot location. The control box for the Klictronic slides directly above the battery located under the seat to the passenger side. All cables and will access this point, and the bungie cord holding the battery, will hold one ear of the Klictronic control box. More than ample for our use. I choose the 'on bar' control switch assembly for the shifting control....as apposed to the under bar control.......you choose what you feel is right. I am just accustomed to that set up, as that is what I used for my Goldwing......also, I will NOT accidently kick off the 'on bar' assembly when lifting my feet over and onto my Spyder.
3/ Making the Spyder stop.....this is an issue. The foot brake, to my understanding, was used by BRP as the Spyder is registered as a CAR in California....requiring it to have ONE foot brake mechanizim for all points (along with a parking brake, not sure yet why a metal gas tank is use though). I am now in the midst of using a manifold rail from an old Wing and a dual banjo bolt....removing the original brake lines from the Spyder master cylinder and putting them on this manifold rail and bringing a stainless steel braided line from a handle bar master cylinder I have already mounted. You will need to take away the plastic spacer on the Spyder right handle bar.....just cut it off, to make room for a handle bar master cylinder. The front right handle bar master cylinder, a normal front brake on a motorbike, should be a heavy one. I used one from an old 850 VFR, as that bike had huge dual piston front brakes, dual rotor config....my thinking is that it should hold back the Spyder, as I have huge powerful hands to squeeze the handle. Once I get thru this, I will update this thread....... I too was concerned about the ABS, but the two brake lines from the Spyder master cylinder go directly into an ABS control box up front, under the Syder power steering unit....so, my thinking is that there in no magic in the orginal Spyder master cylinder, just a brake light switch (which the handler master cylinder has) and a brake pad wear switch, which is cam actuated on the original Spyder foot pedal. As mentioned, I need the Holiday season to get to finishing all this.
4/ mounting a wheelchair....last of my worries, but still a worry. Intial thoughts here are to remove the passenger left foot peg and mounting brackets. This exposes a wonderful place to build up my own hanger bracket for an folding ultra light wheelchair....which I need to get. My Goldwing had a sidecar, which I could store my wheels and wheelchair frame.....on the Spyder I simply want to fold the chair, lift it 6 inches, and clamp it into a hanger. So what if it looks ugly....it's a wheelchair, nothing I can to to hide it...and maybe if someone notices it, well they may then change their opinion of what 'vertically challenged' folks can do.
Ok, long response, sorry, but once I get further into my project I will update with photos etc....being in Canada, I have 4 months to work on this before the weather will let my ride! Cheers.
I'm waiting for the automatics to come out since I have disabilities that prevent me from efficiently using my feet for shifting. My dealer in Hayward, CA told me that they are hearing March, but I just called BRP and they tell me "Summer '08". I hope March is the real answer. If anyone has heard anything about when automatics are coming out, feel free and share your info 
