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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: GS Jockey on April 01, 2019, 09:27:47 AM

Title: Fairly (H)armless
Post by: GS Jockey on April 01, 2019, 09:27:47 AM
Just thought I'd better let folks know, in case odd things are mentioned in future, that due to Cancer I had to have my right arm amputated a couple of weeks back.

So now looking for a L/H throttle and a thumb brake/clutch lever. And still wanting one of Randy's exhausts. Should gain another 3hp from the sticker on that, as well as the weight loss. :blum1: :blum1:
Title: Re: Fairly (H)armless
Post by: ZOA NOM on April 01, 2019, 10:24:36 AM
Holy shit! Now THAT'S dedication!
Title: Re: Fairly (H)armless
Post by: balky1 on April 01, 2019, 11:23:56 AM
I am really sad to hear that.
I can't help with parts, but my ex-neighbour rides without one arm. I think he bought a Kawasaki brand new and already made for him from the factory.
Title: Re: Fairly (H)armless
Post by: scotiafj on April 01, 2019, 12:20:50 PM

Thats crap.. as youre in the UK get in touch with NABD ,they should be able help you out with modifications and the like  , :good2:
Title: Re: Fairly (H)armless
Post by: GS Jockey on April 02, 2019, 06:21:58 AM
Quote from: ZOA NOM on April 01, 2019, 10:24:36 AM
Holy shit! Now THAT'S dedication!

Thanks, but not dedication, more addiction to FJ acceleration... :wacko1: :wacko1: :wacko1:
Title: Re: Fairly (H)armless
Post by: PaulG on April 02, 2019, 07:04:37 PM
At least they didn't remove your sense of humor at the same time.   :good2:  Keep us up to date on your mods. It would be an interesting thread to follow. Good luck.   (popcorn)
Title: Re: Fairly (H)armless
Post by: fj1289 on April 02, 2019, 10:17:37 PM
Respect!

I met a gentleman in Fayetteville, North Carolina several years ago that would make physical adaptions to a motorcycle each year to sell.  He was in a wheel chair when I met him (result of a receiving a grenade in Vietnam) - he had just gotten checked out in a B-25 Mitchell!

Very impressive person to meet!
Title: Re: Fairly (H)armless
Post by: GS Jockey on April 09, 2019, 03:36:41 AM
OK, quick update. I called in to work yesterday to hand in a 'sick note', and to take some photos of the hand controls (indicator and gear stalks) to help explain to the prosthetics fella what I'd like to be able to do. While I was in the cab, (which I managed to climb in to with no real problems) the driver gave me the keys and said to take it for a drive. Just the unit, no trailer. The Boss, standing by my door, gave me the nod.

So, I drove about half a mile down the road, turned round and drove back to the yard. Three-point turn, then out of the yard, reversed up to a trailer and coupled up, including Suzis and landing legs. It's a start, and quite happy with that for now.  :good2:
Title: Re: Fairly (H)armless
Post by: Troyskie on April 09, 2019, 04:36:27 AM
 :good2:
Title: Re: Fairly (H)armless
Post by: racerrad8 on April 13, 2019, 02:15:29 PM
Dave,

As I mentioned in my email, I wasn't sure if you were having fun for April Fools Day since you did post on April 1st...

So, here are a couple of thoughts from me.

1) The throttle will work just fine on the left handle bar, the cables just need to be switched/flipped over to go from a right twist to left.
2) There is a company here in the US that makes a replacement for several clutch discs that are centrifugal and no longer require the use of a mechanical release. They don't have anything for the FJ, but maybe I can reach out and see if they can offer something.
    https://rekluse.com/product/exp-technology/

I started doing a little reading, and there is a lot of information out there of riders with only one arm riding and riding well. This will be a great topic to follow and if I can be of assistance please let us know.

https://youtu.be/Ob1NbDJL4Sc
https://onehandedbikers.wordpress.com/
https://disabledmotorcyclerider.com/klever.html

Randy - RPM
Title: Re: Fairly (H)armless
Post by: GS Jockey on April 14, 2019, 06:22:39 AM
Hi Randy,

First, thanks for the reply and email. Second, can I just say that you are EVIL, giving me these ideas which, if the thoughts I've strung together could work, would give me what, in my opinion, would be a quite awesome FJ. :wacko1: :wacko1:

I didn't mention this before, but one bike I've been considering to suit my situation is a Honda NC750X dct. I had a play (test ride) on one a year ago, and it's one of the most 'fun' bikes I've ever ridden. The push-button gear change is so quick, according to one guy I spoke to who has ridden both, it makes a quick shifter 'look like a Tractor transmission'. And it occurs to me that the 'Rekluse' clutch, combined with a 'Kliktronic' changer, would give me a similar experience on the FJ. And though they don't (yet) do a clutch for the FJ, they do have a dealer over here in UK.
:yahoo: :yahoo:

From what I could gather from their video, they have good CAD-CAM capability, so it shouldn't be too difficult for them to 'knock one up' for the FJ, I would think.

So, would you care to do a bit of 'reaching out'?

(Oh shit, I've just had the thought of a 'Rekluse' clutch combined with a 'Kliktronic' fitted to my BMW F650 Dakar...)

:Facepalm:
Title: Re: Fairly (H)armless
Post by: Sparky84 on April 14, 2019, 08:07:18 AM
Quote from: GS Jockey on April 01, 2019, 09:27:47 AM
Just thought I'd better let folks know, in case odd things are mentioned in future, that due to Cancer I had to have my right arm amputated a couple of weeks back.

So now looking for a L/H throttle and a thumb brake/clutch lever. And still wanting one of Randy's exhausts. Should gain another 3hp from the sticker on that, as well as the weight loss. :blum1: :blum1:

Mate, I was in the same boat as Randy with the Date.

Sad to here the news of your Loss but MATE it doesn't seem to have dulled your enthusiasm and spirit.

I hope they got all of that sucker out of you and Good luck with the Mods

Cheers
Alan

Title: Re: Fairly (H)armless
Post by: GS Jockey on April 15, 2019, 01:21:32 AM
Cheers Alan. Mods are going to be over next twelve months, but I'll keep you all posted. If they work for me then the news will be out there for anyone else unfortunate enough to find themselves in a similar position, for what ever reason.
Title: Re: Fairly (H)armless
Post by: GS Jockey on April 23, 2019, 08:52:30 AM
Quote from: balky1 on April 01, 2019, 11:23:56 AM
I am really sad to hear that.
I can't help with parts, but my ex-neighbour rides without one arm. I think he bought a Kawasaki brand new and already made for him from the factory.

Sorry Balky, only just noticed this message, thanks. I've been toying with the idea of a Honda NC750X with the dct gearbox. Had a test ride/play on one last year, a real blast to ride on the sort of roads I normally infest, and would do touring as well. Easy enough to convert to 'left-hand drive' due to not having a clutch, though the guys at the Honda shop seem to want to make it difficult.

Oh and Randy has come up with a possibility for my FJ, but I'm saying no more about that until it starts to happen, if at all. Just to keep 'Dr Sod' at bay. :biggrin:
Title: Re: Fairly (H)armless
Post by: GS Jockey on September 13, 2019, 04:07:26 AM
Time to resurrect this old topic briefly. So:

1) Left hand throttle fitted.
2) Front brake plumbed in to clutch lever.
3) Need for clutch lever negated by fitting an EFM (Google them) centrifugal clutch. (Randy did his best to help me get a 'Rekluse' auto clutch, but the bottom line was they just didn't seem interested. Thanks for trying Randy...)
4)Result:

https://youtu.be/MC9j6xwdC8c
Title: Re: Fairly (H)armless
Post by: Troyskie on September 13, 2019, 05:14:53 AM
Mate!

"Now all you have to do is throw your hands in the air"

That was inspirational. Well done.

:good2:  :yahoo:
Title: Re: Fairly (H)armless
Post by: Sparky84 on September 13, 2019, 05:58:44 AM
Double Mate!

Absolutely Awesome  :good2:

Title: Re: Fairly (H)armless
Post by: FJmonkey on September 13, 2019, 10:12:50 PM
Just awesome!
Title: Re: Fairly (H)armless
Post by: racerrad8 on September 13, 2019, 10:19:38 PM
Quote from: GS Jockey on September 13, 2019, 04:07:26 AM
Time to resurrect this old topic briefly. So:

https://youtu.be/MC9j6xwdC8c

Dave, that is great to see you riding.

I hope you took lots of pictures.

Did switching the throttle cables around from top to bottom work for the left-hand throttle?

Congrats on the successful conversion to keep you and the FJ on the road.

Randy - RPM

Title: Re: Fairly (H)armless
Post by: GS Jockey on September 14, 2019, 06:52:02 AM
Quote from: racerrad8 on September 13, 2019, 10:19:38 PM
Quote from: GS Jockey on September 13, 2019, 04:07:26 AM
Time to resurrect this old topic briefly. So:

https://youtu.be/MC9j6xwdC8c

Dave, that is great to see you riding.

I hope you took lots of pictures.

Did switching the throttle cables around from top to bottom work for the left-hand throttle?

Congrats on the successful conversion to keep you and the FJ on the road.

Randy - RPM



Cheers Randy. Not got any pictures yet, just this short video, as you can see from the weather it was a bit too bloody wet to hang around picturing. I've handed it back to the mechanic for now to finish things of, he'd only 'thrown it together' so I could have a quick try of the clutch/throttle/front brake conversions.

He's going to finish it off with a Fazer 600 top yoke (top triple tree?) and a pair of XJR bars. Also had a XJR starter motor fitted at the same time, don't fancy the original deciding to get hot and die with that clutch fitted... :biggrin:

The throttle works OK, just a bit sloppy, needs a bit of slack taking up. He did try the cables that came with the throttle but couldn't get them to fit, so cut them to length and fitted them in to the FJ throttle box in place of the original top cables. I'll see how I get on, maybe have to try a Quad/Snowmobile throttle if I can't get on with this one.

Hoping to get it back again, finished for now, by next weekend. That will give me a couple of weeks practising riding it before our version of 'RTTW' on 5 October. I'm also planning to get some photos/more videos and put them together to a sound track. Not sure about copyright issues, but it would sound something like this:

https://youtu.be/aCDvjofJ130

Oh, and I hope to be ordering that exhaust off you before too long.

Cheers,

Dave.