12 replies to this topic

[redryder49]

Has any quads on here ridden a fourwheeler my girlfriend wants to ride it but is affraid to, and im not sure how to make it work since she has no balance. Any suggestions.

[The Black Sheep]

I'm a para, so I don't know if this will help, but I have found that balance is pretty easy on a four wheeler. My dad got one a couple years ago and I was afraid to get on it because I have fairly bad balance in my torso. I have strong arms, which might be the big difference, but even without gripping the handlebars I have surprisingly good balance. It's not like sitting in a chair or on a flat surface. With a leg on each side, it is really easy to sit up right, and I don't feel like I'm going to tumble sideways.

I'd still be very cautious if she does try it. Can she grip with her hands at all? I guess a lot of it would depend on what her current ability is.

[redryder49]

She basically has no balance sitting up, she's c5/6 i would be driving, and no she has no grip w/her hands.

[fatcrx]

she sounds like her injury level is siumilar to mine only i want to drive

[lissalloy]

redryder49, on 11 November 2009 - 03:01 PM, said:

She basically has no balance sitting up, she's c5/6 i would be driving, and no she has no grip w/her hands.

Maybe put a backrest on the quad like mine, see attached picture.

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Edited by lissalloy, 29 September 2010 - 08:40 AM.

[apedeferri]

I am a C7/8, and have a 08 Kawasaki KFX450r quad that I set up for me. I modified a go kart seat with a seatbelt to hold me in, foot plates and straps, both brakes operated by right hand lever with proportioning valve, automatic clutch, Klicktronic shifter, and some other small stuff. I attempted to attach a picture(s). The set up worked flawlessly and I could ride it as hard as I wanted. However, my body took a beating at the speeds I would ride. I got bored riding slower, so something new is in the works.

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[MTB John]

The high backrest with a seat belt would be the best option. Failing that, try strapping yourselves together. But be careful about your heads knocking together..

[dangerousdave]

If she is to be a passenger
High back rest/head rest , 4 point seat harness , foot stirups
Secrely as possable as she will want full off road ride to experiance the full thrill

[guido]

Or you could look at a Woodstar - I don't know much about them, but there is one listed: http://disabledgear....uy/C162794.aspx

They seem designed for Quadraplegics, and a lot of fun.

Otherwise probably worth getting the seating on a quad bike sorted so your gf feels safer and it's more protective (seat belts etc)

The great thing about a quad bike is that when you're sat on one, you're the same height as someone standing, so when you go out for walks with people, etc, you can enjoy being at the same level while walking and talking.

Many of them do automatic gears (or CVT - continuous variable transmission) which makes them so easy to use.

Can't recommend getting out on a quad enough. Worth putting a silencer on though as they're noisy buggers otherwise.

[fenty]

I'm back on the soil again. A christmas pressie to myself really.

Got this to handle gardening duties round the house (I have a 3/4 acre plot).

It's a 2004 Kawasaki KLF300 2wd. I chose the 2wd cos it has a locking differential so it wont tear up the lawn when I'm mowing it. I'm in the process of making a rig to fit attachments to it and I've started making a sweeping attachment for the drive.... All to placate the wife that I didn't just buy it for messing about on...





I'm a T4 complete and already have a Vmax trike and balance is not an issue even at speed as you keep yourself upright using the bars and the straddling seating position is a lot mor stable.

A KLF300 doesn't have a manual clutch, but it does have a manual shift, footpegs rather than boards and a separate foot operated rear/parking brake, none of which I can use.

First to tackle was changing gears...

I made a bracket to fit to the spotlight mounting points on the front rack. To this I attached a generic hand change lever I found on ebay.



I then made a bracket to slide along this lever so I could fine tune the height of the lever to avoid my knee and adjust the length of the lever throw when changing gear.



I threaded a length of steel rod at both ends and used the clevis ends off some old cruiser forward controls I had in the garage to connect the hand lever to the existing foot lever





et voila, the finshed article.



Well not finished actually. Once I get all the lengths finalised I'll make them a bit neater.

It leaves me I can now ride it.

Oh, I also added a padded bum stop to stop me sliding back onto the rack when going up hill. I cannabalised the armrest off an old shower wheelchair. Matches alright with the seat I reckon.



Next up, footboards and knee retainer straps.

[MotoMom]

Velcro works great!! Check out Ben Brown, Nova Scotia he actually races quads.http://www.myspace.com/racingbenbrown
And Ricky James, So Cal, he races motorcycles. Ricky is T6 para. http://www.rickyjames824.com/home.html
Recluse will give you 50% discount if you let them know you have a disability lots of options...
Once you get her out there she will want to go everyday!!

[Tetracyclone]

YOU ARE HAVING TOO MUCH FUN. There is danger you will miss the reality of how depressing life is.

[rue2you]

When you get it figured out Brad, you call me! That sounds like a fun new Southern Ohio Wheels idea!!