Gbus Crisis

I want a small cylinder of aluminum (about 1 inch in diameter and 0.5 to 0.75 inches long) drilled, tapped and then welded to my rear master cylinder (also aluminum). This is needed for rev 2 of my conversion to left hand only controls. I'm opting to link the front and rear brakes with my foot being the primary actuator (but you still need a hand brake for the stopped-pointed-uphill-and-not-in-first-gear scenario). I've tried an aftermarket off-the-shelf solution but it leaks. I've got brake fluid all over everything and my patience with this rather simple task has come to an end. Time for the nuclear option. Please recommend to me a machine shop or a capable guy who likes a challenge. Chad

Thanks for the leads, guys. Incidentally, my GF came home and said she had met a machine shop operator/motorcycle racer at work today. I'm going to try him first. If he doesn't work out I'll give Guy a call. Again, thanks for the tips. You guys are a bunch of really swell fellows.

On Wednesday July 29 I was riding first in a group of five in southwestern Colorado. We were riding demo bikes for an upcoming magazine article. Our planned route was a quick-but-scenic path cut from the back roads from Los Angeles to Sturgis, South Dakota. All brands of bikes were represented and I was on a 2010 Honda Goldwing. It was approximately 5:00 p.m. We had been riding all day under threatening skies and gusty winds. Theories, stories, and guesses abound as to what exactly happened. I have no personal recollection of the events, and the biker following me was too far behind to see the accident occur. We do know that as I rounded the right hand hairpin, the bike went over the double yellow line and off the outside edge of the road behind the guardrail. Somehow I impacted the guardrail with my upper right arm. Whether this ejected me from the bike or whether I was already loose is unknown. I landed on my stomach between the guardrail and the rocky hillside a few feet behind the Goldwing. A fellow rider with some EMT training began work to stabilize me as the blood oozed from my jacket. Very luckily, the first car on the scene was a trauma RN who lived in the area. The two of them packed my arm, stopped the bleeding, and stabilized me for the flight to the hospital. The injuries to my arm were severe and there was no practical way to save it. The surgical team made the decision to amputate it at the injury site, a few inches below my shoulder. After the surgery, I was put into a medically induced coma until family members could be notified. I had no other severe injuries, bruises, or scratches. I was kept sedated for 36 hours. The other riders had notified my emergency contacts in my cell phone and by Thursday night my brother and parents had made it to the hospital. I was brought out of the coma on Friday morning and the feeding tube and ventilator were removed. By Friday afternoon my girlfriend, who had been studying Spanish in Peru, had managed to fly into Grand Junction just 25 hours after learning of the accident. On Saturday I was moved from ICU to the main hospital floor and I was released from the hospital on Monday. My father and girlfriend drove me back to San Diego, where I am getting settled in and learning how to deal with day to day issues with one hand. My spirits are high and I'm not letting this get me down. For now my body is healing and in a few months I will begin exploring my options for a prosthesis. I plan to return to riding when I am ready.

Thanks all! It's a pretty good feeling to be doing this again -- even if it is just in my driveway. I have a long way to go before I'm trail or street ready. The cables were reversed as well so it operates like normal. Twist wrist down to go fast!

Silver lever is the clutch. Black lever is the front brake. Grip is a typical twist throttle. This is a $1.99 solution to a million dollar problem. This is just fun.

Hey all, So the simple idea of just moving my stock throttle control to the left side has hit a small snag -- the FZ1 throttle housing is huge! It's about two inches deep and also contains the kill switch and the starter button. I'm a turn signal usin' and abusing fool! I beep the horn sometimes too. That stock housing will push the turn signals too far over -- not to mention trying to get a lever to span that distance. Please suggest to me some throttle assemblies (sleeve + housing) that will fit 7/8" bars, will open a 37mm carburetor and be less than an inch thick at the housing end. Thanks in advance.

I can get the clutch lever and brake lever mounted on one perch. That's not a problem. The problem is the order the are mounted on the handlebar. My options: 1) throttle :: turn signals :: lever perch 2 )throttle :: lever perch :: turn signals Option 1 is the ideal. The lever perch and levers are already designed (long enough) to go around an obstacle like a turn signal housing. They might be long enough to go around the turn signal housing and a thin throttle housing. I might have to get a skinny turn signal housing too. The goal now is to make the reach from throttle to turn signals as easy as possible. I don't think Option 2 is viable. The reach will probably be too long and I don't have the option of taking my hand off the throttle to operate the turn signals. I haven't tried it yet, but can't you just reverse the cables and get the throttle tube to rotate the standard direction? Either at the throttle or at the carbs? With the brake lever tied to the front brakes instead of the rear. Also no brake linking as my right foot is just fine. In the first iteration I'm going to try it without the auto clutch.

I have no idea how to ride that. We I ride I often do the following: - use clutch and throttle at same time - use clutch and brake at same time - use brake and throttle at same time How do you panic stop that thing?

This is very helpful. Thank you. Oh man, I'm only disabled -- not retarded. A thumb throttle won't work because using it and using turn signals are mutually exclusive. My hands are big. I had to take the Vista Cruise Control off of the Strom because it crowded my hand. I think I'll be using the full grip length. It's not handle bar space I'm needing. I'm trying to keep the reach to the turn signals and horn reasonable. This is for my street bike.

If the part of the throttle sleeve that holds the cable ends is too small, the carbs won't get pulled all the way open when you run out of wrist twist. Conversely if it is too big you'll be wide open at the carbs with only a small twist of the wrist.

Before I go with an after market kit, I'd like for you guys and gals to go out to your garages and look at the throttles on your bikes. Tell me which ones are nice and compact.

It's a real nice group of folks over there. It's hard not to work hard so you don't let them down. We'll get over there, Tommy, but I'm kinda hoping to have something to "show off" before I get there.

That's one of those ideas that sound good in your head, but turn out . . . disturbing when actually implemented. http://www.thegamergene.com/culture/when-m...horribly-wrong/ http://www.wtfcostumes.com/megaman_costume.php There's only one type of person that can pull something like that off: http://www.wtfcostumes.com/cutest_megaman_costume.php

The upgrades. They begin.

I wish him, his family and all his loved ones the very best. All those lives have changed.

Very cool, Doug!

I think these are the details: http://www.sdcmoa.com/motorcycle_competition.html Basically practice on Friday. Competition on Saturday. This kind of riding has always fascinated me. I'll prolly go check it out for a few hours on Saturday. Thanks for the heads up, Lem.

Last picture: Do you think the Stroms would have made it?

House of Motorcycles had key blanks for my V Strom in stock and they were able to cut and file them to where they would actually work. It was neither quick nor cheap but I wasn't about to head to Alaska with only one key.

Well yah, but how do I press that little f'n button? Wait, that's Craftsman isn't it?

BlueFin, Wow! Just wow! "Thank You" doesn't even come close -- even if I typed it in really big letters. I will, without a doubt, be making the most of your post. The only question is do I go Luke Skywalker style, or Ash Williams style? Chad

I want to tell everyone thank you for all the support I’ve received since my accident. The well wishes have been very much appreciated and have helped keep my spirits up. It has been truly inspirational to see the number of people who care enough to offer support and help. The outpouring of support has been staggering. I am settling into a routine as best I can. The time to re-up my medication comes by too quickly (especially at night) and the resulting lethargy and naps have stripped too many hours from already short days. I have read every comment, post, email and letter that has been sent my way. I am sorry I don’t have the time to personally respond to each one. I am seeing a rehabilitation doctor here in San Diego and will be starting physical therapy to help become left handed. After the amputation site has had a few months to heal I will be able to explore prosthetic options. In the meantime, I am going to try to document my progress as my body heals and I learn how to live life with one hand. The URL is http://righthandsidecurve.wordpress.com/. The lovely Michelle, love of my life, my true angel and the number one reason why I can do any of this, may also be an occasional contributor as she helps me mend. Once again, thank you all.

It was very nice meeting the new faces, and always good to hang out with Ken. Thank Laura for the yummy brownies again. Michelle had a great time too. FakeName did a great job demonstrating that the equipment (namely tires) we run on our bikes often have much more capability than we give them credit. I also got some drool on Hoss's FZ1 Bee. Sorry Hoss. Hot dang! That's a fine looking machine! Hope to do it again.

This is going to work out well. I'll be there on my FZ1 accompanied by my beautiful assistant on her own Wee Strom.

It'a a BEE! *drool* Those yellow rims are sweet.