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Born with no fingers on my right hand I have had to constantly prove to others what I can do. I was never allowed a bicycle when I was young due to my disability and other peoples belief that I wouldn’t be able to handle one. So I guess that I have spent most of my life as a passive passenger.
Imagine my delight when I landed a boyfriend who was a biker. On my second date with Ian we were on a ride out in the Lake District with a few friends, when a Triumph Spitfire decided to turn into our Honda Goldwing GL1000 and I had my first meeting with tarmac.
We both suffered minor injuries but the bike was a right off. The driver of the car was under aged and uninsured. What was worse was that Ian’s friends were unaware of my disability and spent a considerable amount of time searching the carriageway for some fingers. (Sorry guy’s).
Oddly enough my first encounter with biking made me want more. My date became my husband and we toured France and Spain on his Honda Goldwing GL1100 (oh and I was three months pregnant).
My dream was to become a rider not a passenger. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am fiercely independent and rise to a challenge. I found out about the NABD via a leaflet in a motor cycles spares shop, so I telephoned and met with Billy Bigbeard in 2002. The intention was to lend an adapted bike to pass my test, however personal circumstances prevented this.
Then when reading an Open House magazine I came across an article on a bike adapted for left-hand controls. The time was right, our eldest daughter had passed her bike test, our youngest is learning and I did not want to be left out.
My husband Ian telephoned Iain Tivey (0151 280 3380) and they had a long conversation. Two days later I bought a Suzuki Marauder 125 and promptly took it to Iain Tivey.
The adaptation of the bike involved moving the right hand controls (throttle & front brake) to the left-hand side of the handle bar. This adaptation means that the left hand has to do the job of both hands in operating the throttle, clutch, front brake and indicators.
The lower lever is the front brake (moved from the right hand side). The upper lever has been shortened, and is the clutch lever. As this lever has been shortened some of the ‘leverage’ has been lost so, in order to compensate for this, an Easy-Clutch kit was fitted.
This arrangement now means that the little finger and ring finger operate the longer front brake lever, whilst the first and forefinger operate the clutch.
The hydraulic system for the left hand brake is an adapted Kawasaki hydraulic clutch system. Whilst the throttle is a push/pull cable that only uses the ‘push’ cable (in reverse).
I have had a couple of lessons on my bike, now bear in mind I have never ridden before and it was ****** marvellous (I have had another meeting with the tarmac but the bikes still ok).
Many thanks to Iain Tivey and his wife Alison, if it weren’t for people like Iain who uses his expertise to help others I would not be ‘living my dream’. This also goes for the NABD for having the foresight to understand that everyone, with a little help, can enjoy the freedom and excitement that comes from riding motorbikes.
Thanks also to my husband Ian for putting up with me and believing in me.
“Living the Dream?” you bet!
Karen Walker
This NABD grant of £350.00 was sponsored by donations from The East Leeds Lions MCC
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