When people find out I’m out there riding motorcycles with one arm, the questions come thick and fast — and honestly, they’re good questions. Riders, new amputees, curious onlookers… everyone wants to know how it works, what’s possible, and what it actually feels like. So I’ve put together answers to the most common questions people ask me about riding with one arm, based entirely on my own experience and how I’ve learned to make it work. Expect a long learning curve with a few bumps along the way, but do everything you can to tackle this from a safety perspective. Bikes are fun, and it's easy to disregard safety to keep your passion alive, so surround yourself with the right people — the people who are happy to see you back on two wheels for the long run.
Some of these questions are answered here and here.
Can you ride a motorcycle with one arm?
Can I ride a bike with one arm? Maybe. With the right set-up, preparation, guidance and practise, YES, you can ride a motorcycle with one arm. You need to be 100% sure you’re ready to ride — and that your loved ones are ready for you to ride. From there, planning and preparation, you can lose more than another arm without those two.
Legalities — I had to have my ability to ride a motorcycle assessed by a specifically trained and qualified occupational therapist. I then needed a doctor's certificate to support their outcomes, and I could then sit the standard motorcycle test that any other rider is required to sit. Your situation/location/legalities may be different — but it’s very important to check in with that side of things before you start.
How do you modify a motorcycle for an arm amputee?
I start with personal preference for the bike, then the controls — based on my capabilities. Then, lots of research on the bike, and as above, lots of preparation and planning… followed by lots of testing. Is there a bike that can't be modified? I highly doubt it. Is there a “best bike to modify”? As long as you can access all of the technical data for the bike, any bike can be modified — assuming you’re retaining the standard clutch. Going down the auto-clutch path just limits which bikes you can own/ride in the future — and adds an additional expense to your “modifications budget”.
Do you need a prosthetic arm to ride a motorcycle?
I feel like I have better control over my motorcycle when I ride with my prosthetic. However, there are plenty of riders out there riding bikes without a prosthetic. I will say, though, that most “non-prosthetic” riders only show high-speed / straight-line riding — I don't see them doing low-speed work/cornering or much manoeuvring in environments where speed can't be used to keep the bike upright. If you’re going at this without a prosthetic, get strong and healthy and maintain those levels of health and fitness while you’re out there on the bike.
How do you steer or countersteer with one arm?
I’m pretty sure that even if you still had two arms, you would only need one to execute countersteer inputs through the bike's handlebars. It's just now that one arm is doing more work. In my case, with 1.5 arms + a prosthetic, I’m using everything I have to share the physical and mental load of steering/countersteering.
How do you brake and clutch with one hand?
Like you would normally, with two arms. I run my clutch lever under my front brake lever. On take-off, I’m moving fingers around a bit to share the load, same when braking and coming to a complete stop. This is how I do things; you will develop a system that works for you and keeps you safe when you’re out there.
What bikes are easiest to ride with one arm?
Personal preference… but I don’t feel like a cruiser motorcycle would be that easy to ride. Disclaimer: the last cruiser bike I rode was before my accident, and I struggled to ride it — my brain and feet can't cope with forward controls. When I started learning to ride with one arm, I started with a bike that had a mostly “standard” seating position — building your confidence and comfort level are super important at the early stages of learning.
My TRX 850, as an example, would not be a good starting point — riding position, heavy clutch, tall first gear = needs a lot to keep things running straight. The little SWM 440 and even the Royal Enfield, though, could be great starting points for riding with one arm — the riding position is perfect, and the bikes are easy to manage even in the worst learning situations.
Is a trike or Can‑Am better for one‑arm riders?
Personal preference, but it’d be a safe bet if your confidence or ability wasn't quite ready for a two-wheeled motorcycle. I’m unsure of the standard controls on the Can-Am, but I’m sure it could be adapted with the right thinking, tools, research and testing. When I started my arm/bike project, people suggested I go this route, but it felt like an easy way out. I feel the same regarding auto-clutches.
How do you keep a prosthetic hand on the handlebars?
The hand of my prosthetic is engaged by a quick-release clip, which will let the hand disengage at a certain point (50 kg–60 kg), or I can easily remove the quick-release clip when I get off the bike. I’ve seen all manner of “hands” for motorcycle prosthetic arms; each has advantages and disadvantages, including mine. My clip is tethered to my body, and I’ve accidentally stood on it a couple of times, breaking it. Cheap fix, and I always carry a spare.
How do you shift gears with one arm?
For me, shifting up is as per normal: roll off the throttle, pull in the clutch, shift gears, release the clutch. Downshifting is done without the clutch — slight pressure on the gear lever, quick hit of throttle and at the same time downshift. I do this so I can still use all of my fingers to operate the front brake lever.
Is it safe to ride a motorcycle with one arm?
I feel like I’m doing okay — riding a motorcycle safely — but that's after lots and lots of practise and riding a bike an average of 25,000 km–30,000 km per year since my accident. Time on the bike doesn't equal practise in my mind, though. I still do low-speed manoeuvre practice drills and at least one emergency stop practice every week. Being safe on a motorcycle is mostly a mental and/or attitude thing anyway — you can have all your arms and still be unsafe. Get your head right, do lots of practise and ride within YOUR abilities, and motorcycling can be very safe.
