Broken-wrist - the KR goes single-handed!

**ldnz** · 26th March 2007, 22:06

So i've just smashed my right wrist in a completely un vehicle related incident, and I need to get mobile again. Please don't give me the blah blah dangerous blah blah line, i've had enough from too many nurses (incidently the docs have been much more supportive...)

The throttle has done a magic migration to the left bar (a huge giggle with one hand and noone to help) so its rideable, just not stoppable with the back wheel having a tendency to lock haha.

I'm now considering ideas for the front brakes. Everything from getting a hydraulic clutch lever/cylinder and using that (too much on one handlebar?), to getting a very long brakeline to connect front caliper to rear brake cylinder.

What else could I look at? As always, i'm on navy pay so needs to be very cheap/free (pay in beer works well...)

The goal is just to have basic safeish transport for the next 6 weeks (hence the KR and not the ZX6R!).

Cheeeeeers!

**Hitcher** · 26th March 2007, 22:14

So you'll be missing the World Cup Super Eights as well then.

**ldnz** · 26th March 2007, 22:18

Apparently so - Super Eights?

**Hitcher** · 26th March 2007, 22:56

Originally Posted by ldnz

Apparently so - Super Eights?

Lou Vincent. Broken wrist. Coming home.

**ldnz** · 26th March 2007, 23:00

Gotcha, sorry just came off ship and missed that bit of news.

**KLOWN** · 26th March 2007, 23:02

pm one armed bandit. Hes only got one arm so he'll have the low down on one handed controls

**ldnz** · 26th March 2007, 23:12

Good point, will do. Does nobody else bother doing this? Get injured and take a break from riding??

**Macktheknife** · 26th March 2007, 23:58

Originally Posted by ldnz

Good point, will do. Does nobody else bother doing this? Get injured and take a break from riding??

Not with a reasonable serving of common sense no, most of us just accept it is time for a rest while healing, ACC will fund taxi's for you to get to work and back if you are covered for the injury.

**K6K** · 27th March 2007, 00:48

I have a broken wrist and pelvis at the moment...itching to get back on a bike again but wouldn't even think about trying to ride with a cast on my arm. It has only been two weeks but I think the pelvis would allow riding in a week or so...but the cast is on for another 4 weeks

Its all academic anyway cause the bike is busted.
If you do intend to try for the darwinisim award be bloody careful. Have you ever tried braking with your left foot in a car? You can train yourself to do it but the first few times it feels entirely wrong and it is all to easy to stomp much harder than you intended. If it is similar to left handed braking...

**ldnz** · 27th March 2007, 07:39

Yeah i've already found that. And the throttle twists the wrong way. But the KR is a very light and easy bike to manage and I quickly got used to it.

ACC fund taxis? Damn gotta look that up.

**Back Fire** · 27th March 2007, 07:56

Originally Posted by ldnz

Yeah i've already found that. And the throttle twists the wrong way. But the KR is a very light and easy bike to manage and I quickly got used to it.

ACC fund taxis? Damn gotta look that up.

I rode with a fucked wrist, broke the joint apart and tore all the tendons in my right wrist... fuck it was hard shit... I had enough strength after 4 weeks but with the stuffed tendons I could baaaarely twist the throttle... good thing a 1000 does need much... but anyway... now that I look back I'd say I wouldn't do it again... stuffed in an emergency...

taxi's from ACC... yes they are supposed to, but some bullshit about you have to go through the hospital for the first 6 weeks the get the taxi token things... all bullshit and crap so I didn't bother... this was about 6 months ago btw

**imdying** · 27th March 2007, 13:06

OAB is in Japan, so won't be checking the site much. I did the conversion for him, but all we did was move the clutch. Don't ride you bike without a front brake... just don't do it.

Would be very easy to use the rear mcyl for the fronts... you'll just need a longer hose which plenty of places can do. In the end, is it worth it? If you fall off and break that wrist again, is that going to be worth it?

**ldnz** · 27th March 2007, 19:05

I need mobility, of any sort. However I can't afford a car or taxis and don't have people who can run round for me.

Its now looking like I can grip the right bar sufficiently well to safely operate the front brakes with a new cast. So may be able to get away with just having moved the throttle.

Whatever happens, I won't be on the road until i've done a number of hours in the car park and can repeatably and without thinking emergency brake.

**Shorts** · 27th March 2007, 23:15

You can move both the clutch and brake over in tandem. That's how I have my setup (I ride with only a right hand). Brake on top, clutch on bottom. Use a shorty brake lever so you can easily grab both at the same time.

You'll get the hang of the controls fairly quickly. My husband rides my bike and he got it the first time he hopped on.

The option you mentioned above putting the front caliper to the rear brake pedal will work too, just be certain to regulate it well your you'll face plant. YOu can link the fron and rear through a splitter from the rear pedal. That will give you fairly decent braking.

Trial and error. Personally, I wouldn't move things to ride like that. I'd wait to heal up.

**Dodgyiti** · 31st March 2007, 17:56

Yes, try healing up a bit first. Nothing would leave you more gutted than going over a bump and damaging the healing process- then back to square one.
How can I give this advice?

Because I am the dumbarse what tried it for you.

Mind you, the wind whistling up the cast while riding blows out all the crap and chips of plaster and is strangely soothing on the itchies