Right Leg Disabilities

Twin Lever Systems:

Where a disability effects the right leg it can make the standard motorcycle rear brake control pedal difficult or impossible to use safely or efficiently. The standard rear brake control on the majority of motorcycles is a right-foot-operated pedal. Twin Lever Systems: The most popular method of converting a standard motorcycle rear brake foot-operated pedal control to hand-operated lever control utilises a twin lever unit mounted on the handlebars. Twin lever systems have two master cylinders housed in a single unit, operated by two parallel levers, each lever operating a single master cylinder. When mounted on the right handlebar it allows for independent control of the front brake and the rear brake with the right hand. When mounted on the left handlebar it allows for independent control of the clutch and the rear brake with the left hand.

There are two excellent types of twin lever unit available for this type of adaptation.

• The K-Lever2 twin lever unit – https://www.kliktronic.co.uk/the-k-lever2-clutch-brake-system/

• The PFM twin lever unit – https://www.pfmbrakes.com/universal-twin-mastercylinder

Both of these units were specifically designed to suit the needs of disabled motorcyclists, and both are manufactured to precision engineering standards.

Both can be mounted for right-hand operation or left-hand operation and both can be set-up to control cable operated systems as well as hydraulically operated systems.

Both can be mounted on 7/8” handlebars or 1” handlebars.

Thumb Brake:

Another option is to utilise a thumb-operated hydraulic brake lever, which mounted on the handlebar and operated by pushing it forward with the thumb.

These are available to fit 7/8” or 1” handlebars and there are also fork-mounted versions for use on bikes with short handlebars where there is no space to fit a handlebar mounted unit.

There are several types of thumb-operated brake units on the market, but some are specifically designed for use as an additional control brake for use on the race circuits and they may not operate a brake system up to MOT standard.

It is for this reason that the NABD has, in the past, commissioned precision engineers such as Weaver Engineering and Hudson Engineering to manufacture thumb brake units to NABD specifications. Unfortunately, this has led to supply issues on several occasions when engineers have retired or been unable to continue supplying them for other reasons.

We recommend that people take the time to check that any thumb-operated brake control they consider using can operate the brakes on their bike to MOT test standard, rather than inadvertently opting for an inefficient brake control that could leave them open to and MOT test failure and/or prosecution, while also exposing themselves and other road users to an unnecessary risk.

Currently, the only thumb brake manufacturer that has given us an assurance that their systems do operate up to MOT test standard are Hel Performance. For further information see:

Footpegs:

Where a right leg disability involves a below knee amputation or any other condition that can interfere with the sensory feedback from, or special awareness of, the right foot, we strongly recommend the standard footpeg is replaced with a footplate that supports a greater proportion of the foot, to avoid the risk of it slipping off a standard footpeg and contacting the road surface and/or moving parts of the motorcycle, with potentially disastrous results.

If further stability may be required, we recommend the use of footplates fitted with a raised heal rim, (or a raised rim around the front of the footplate for some sport bikes). The raised rim serves to further ensure the foot remains stable on the footplate.

NB. Never secure a prosthetic leg to a motorcycle in such a way that it cannot naturally separate from the bike in the event of an accident. Being physically connected to a heavy motorcycle after impact, or when the bike has been dropped, could greatly increase the potential for serious injury!

Additional Concerns:

For information relating to Above Knee Amputations and/or other disabilities affecting the weight-bearing strength, range of function or ability to stabilise a stationary motorcycle safely, efficiently and comfortably, see the ‘Above Knee Amputees & Additional Concerns’ article.

Rick Hulse

NABD Chairman