Right Arm Disability

There are many types of disabilities that can impair the use of a right arm or hand and affect the ability to operate motorcycle controls, safely, comfortably and efficiently. These include:

Congenital limb abnormality
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Amputation of fingers, hand or arm
Reduced function in fingers, hand, wrist or arm
Arthritis
Traumatic Injury
Surgical Arthrodesis/Fusion
Paralysis resulting from a Brachial Plexus injury
Tendinitis
Hemiplegia
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Peripheral Neuropathy
Functional neurological disorder (FND)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) / Motor Neurone Disease (MND)
Muscular Dystrophy
Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM)
Ulnar Nerve Palsy
Kienböck’s Disease
Ganglion Cysts
Chronic Pain in fingers, wrist or arm
Sarcopenia
Inability to Sustain Grip Strength
Cumulative Fatigue in Hand, Wrist or Fingers

The following solutions address common challenges arising from a broad range of disabilities and conditions affecting the function and/or strength of a right arm, wrist, hand or fingers.

Struggling to Operate a Motorcycle Front Brake Control Lever:

If you are experiencing difficulty operating the front brake lever, there are several solutions that may improve comfort and efficiency without requiring complex modifications.

Thumb Operated Brake Levers:

Thumb-operated brake levers are activated by pushing a lever/paddle forward with the thumb. The operating lever/paddle is positioned just below the handlebar to facilitate comfortable operation with the thumb.

While several models are available in the UK, most were primarily designed for racing, so they may not always meet the standards required for road use or MOT test compliance.

It is essential to thoroughly research these products before purchase to avoid fitting an inadequate brake control, which could result in MOT failure, legal issues, or increased safety risks.

Example: Right Hand Thumb Operated Brake Lever (Racetorx, Peterborough, UK).
Compatible with hydraulic control systems.
11mm Master cylinder for 125cc-500cc motorcycles (supermoto, motocross, trails & road)
13mm Master cylinder for 500cc – 1400cc motorcycles (road, track, superbike and adventure)
Options available for 7/8-inch (22mm) and 1” (25 mm) handlebars.
Right hand operation only.
Operated by pushing a lever forward with the right thumb.
For further information: https://racetorx.co.uk/product/rtx730/

Other brands are available.

One Finger Levers:

Adjustable ‘one finger’ (or ‘short’) brake levers are being evaluated for their potential benefits to riders with reduced hand strength or function. Feedback from users with relevant experience would be very welcome.

Unable to Operate Any Form of Front Brake Control with the Right Hand:

When a rider is unable to operate any form of front brake control with the right hand, the recommended solution is to transfer the front brake control to the left side of the handlebars.

Relocation to the Left Handlebar:

The most popular method is to use a twin lever unit to accommodate the front brake control and the clutch control together on the left handlebar. This allows both the clutch and front brake operation to be controlled with the left hand.

Twin Lever Units:

The K-Lever2 (Kliktronic Ltd, Suffolk, UK): Suitable for hydraulic, cable, or mixed systems (as specified when ordering. https://www.kliktronic.co.uk/the-k-lever2-clutch-brake-system/

The PFM twin lever (West Performance Ltd, Isle of Man): Primarily for hydraulic systems but can be adapted for cable systems using a separate conversion kit. https://www.pfmbrakes.com/universal-twin-mastercylinder

Both of these units were specifically designed to suit the needs of disabled motorcyclists, using some very elegant precision engineering.

Key Features:

Dual hydraulic master cylinders in a single block.
Ergonomic levers for independent or simultaneous operation.
Single handlebar clamp and hydraulic reservoir.
Wide range of adjustment to suit the individual.
Suitable for motorcycles, scooters, trikes, sidecar outfits and quadbikes.
Compatible with 7/8” (22mm) or 1″ (25mm) handlebars.

These units are manufactured to the highest standards and are often supplied via the NABD Adaptation Grants system.

The PFM Twin Lever unit can be used to operate cable systems when combined with a separate ‘Hydraulic to Cable Conversion Kit’. See article in the Adaptations section of the NABD website, https://www.nabd.org.uk.

Thumb Brakes:

Another option for left-hand front brake control is to install a thumb operated brake unit beneath the left handlebar.

Racetorx (Peterborough, UK)..

Left Hand Thumb Operated Brake Lever
Compatible with hydraulic control systems.
11mm Master Cylinder for 125cc-500cc motorcycles (supermoto, motocross, trails & road)
13mm Master Cylinder for 500cc – 1400cc motorcycles (road, track, superbike and adventure)
Options available for 7/8-inch (22mm) and 1” (25 mm) handlebars.
Left hand operation only.
Operated by pushing a lever forward with the right thumb.
For further information: https://racetorx.co.uk/product/rtx300/

Hel Performance (Exeter, UK).

Left Hand Thumb Operated Brake Lever
Compatible with hydraulic control systems.
13mm Master Cylinder.
Available as handlebar or fork mounted units.
Fits 7/8-inch (22mm) handlebars only (no 1” handlebar option available).
Left hand operation only.
Operated by pushing a lever forward with the left thumb.
For further information: https://www.helperformance.com/motorcycle/thumb-brakes

The operating levers/paddles on both these units are available in a variety of lengths.

Other brands are available.

Struggling to Operate a Twist Grip Throttle:

For riders with limited wrist mobility but functional fingers and thumb, a simple palm-operate throttle paddle, such as the ‘Oxford Cruise Throttle Assist’ can reduce fatigue in the hand and fingers and allow much of the throttle control to be done with the heel of the hand.

This type of adaptation simply clips onto the twist grip, and it is very affordable at a recommended retail price of just £7.99 in December 2025.

This is the one I have been using the Oxford Cruise Throttle Assist over the past few years to alleviate the problems I have using twist grip throttles due to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and it has served me well. Though I am not recommending it over any other brand because I have not tried any others.

Key Features

Reduces wrist and hand fatigue
Assists throttle when cruising
Tool free installation
Universal design
Fits 28mm-32mm grips
Also available to fit 32mm-36mm grips (OX609)
Inexpensive to buy
For further information: https://www.oxfordproducts.com/oxford-cruise-throttle-assist-m-ox608.html

Similar products are widely available, each very similar to the next.

Cannot Operate a Twist Grip Throttle:

If wrist movement is absent or finger function is insufficient for a twist grip, but the thumb remains functional, a thumb-operated throttle may provide a fairly straightforward solution.

These are standard on many quadbikes, so they are readily available for 7/8-inch handlebars.

Cannot Operate Any type of Right-Hand Throttle Controls:

When right-hand throttle operation is simply not possible, the only viable solution is to transfer the throttle control to the left side of the handlebars.

Left Hand Twist Grip Throttle:

Transferring a twistgrip throttle from right to left can be a more complicated adaptation than it may appear.

For twin-cable throttles, the twist grip can often simply be moved to the left handlebar and the cables swapped over to reverse the action.

However, if your throttle body has the starter and ignition kill switches integrated into it, a universal twin-cable throttle will be required. These are generally easy to source.

For single-cable systems, use the appropriate port for left-hand operation and seal the unused port to keep water and other contaminants out.

Ensure cables are routed correctly to avoid interference with steering and ensure they do not become trapped or stressed through the complete range of the steering arc.

This adaptation sometimes results in the twist-grip overhanging the bar end slightly, if the left-hand switchgear cluster cannot be inched up to make space for it, but it is still perfectly serviceable.

Left Hand Thumb-Operated Throttle:

If the idea of a left-hand twist grip throttle does not appeal or proves to be problematic, there is the alternative option of using a left-hand thumb-operated throttle.

The ‘Goldfinger’ thumb throttle manufactured by Full Throttle Inc. was originally designed for left hand use on snowmobiles, but it has proven useful on a range of motorcycles. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126764169134

While operating the clutch lever, front brake lever and throttle with the left hand may initially seem challenging, most riders find it becomes quite intuitive after a bit of practice.

Switchgear:

Right-hand switches are generally not needed while riding and can remain in place for use before setting off or after stopping.

Steering Stability:

With any disability affecting an arm or hand, we strongly recommend installing a high-quality steering damper, with a good range of adjustment to suit individual needs.

A steering damper counteracts the sudden handlebar movement caused by road defects or unseen objects in the road.

It is important to invest in a reliable and robust steering damper, because cheap low-quality dampers are ineffective and can often make matters worse.

If cost is a concern, the NABD Adaptation Grant system may be able to offer some financial assistance.

Prosthetic Terminal Devices:

There are a number of prosthetic terminal devices that are designed to facilitate a connection between a prosthetic arm and a motorcycle handlebar in a safe and constructive way to enable an amputee to maintain an effective and comfortable riding position.

Where there is some residual function in the quadriceps and/or biceps of the upper arm, this connection can also enhance the steering and overall control of the motorcycle.

Some of these terminal devices could potentially be integrated into a motorcycle glove, orthotic device, or even a residual limb protector, to offer a similar benefit to motorcyclists suffering from other disabilities.

If you believe that a prosthetic terminal device or similar adaptation could help you continue riding, we encourage you to contact us at office@thenabd.org.uk and we will work with you to explore the best options for your individual needs.

These terminal devices are all designed to be easily detachable and will not tether motorcycle and rider together in the event of an accident.

I have written a more detailed article on the use of Prosthetic Terminal Devices in motorcycling, which you can find on the NABD website: www.nabd.org.uk.

The National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD) is dedicated to ensuring that, when it comes to motorcycling, a disability need not be a handicap!

Rick Hulse
NABD Chairman