Motorcycles
For the first 10 years after the motorcycle accident which left me paralyzed at the level T5/6, I only dreamt about returning to the sport I loved before. Finally inspired by my younger brother, in the spring of 1985, I purchased my second motorcycle, a used 850cc Suzuki. I suppose this was strictly an impulse buy since I had no idea how I will ride this thing and more importantly, how I will hold it up when it comes to a stop - in the mid 80's riders with disabilities like mine were almost as rare as astronauts.
By a lucky chance, one of my friends told me about sidecars and how much fun he was having riding his "hack". Although my preference at that time was to get back on a solo bike and feel the rush of taking fast curves in the road by leaning close to the pavement; reason prevailed and I settled on a combination of bike and sidecar. Before that first summer was over, I was a proud owner and a committed rider of my Suzuki/Velorex hack and my days-in-the-saddle were back. A few years after, I upgraded my ride to a larger bike and an improved sidecar. Subsequently, I tried other touring bikes like a Yamaha, Honda, Harley and Kawasaki, and now I'm the happy owner of a 1998 Honda Volkyrie with a California Friendship II sidecar.
While changing from one bike to the next, I modified controls and upgraded components to the point that allowed me to safely and independently tour much of the eastern US and Canada, as far south as Florida and New Orleans and as far north as Red Lake Ontario. Given my long standing love of bike-riding and my experience in modifying various bike/sidecar combinations, I am now happy to take the lead on starting a dialogue about this sport on the Abilities website blog. If you have a passion or just a passing interest in bike riding with a disability, I encourage you to join this discussion forum and we may both learn from each other and inspire others to enjoy life to a greater degree. I'm looking forward to reading your responses and contributions.
Landscape of Literacy and Disability (Canadian Abilities Foundation publication) by Ezra Zubrow, et al. 
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Your article here touched me on several levels.
On the first level I spent 25 years working with wheelchairs and wheelchair users to help them find ways and equipment to do things in a new way.
On another level I am a motorcycle addict who has been riding bikes since the mid 80's and don't what I'd do if I couldn't ride.
Because of my profession and love of biking I'd always wondered how I could manage to continue biking in the event I had a mobility related disability. Having thought about sidecars, I think that personally I rather go to a trike modification. But of course, the extent of the disability would likely determine which way I would need to go.
As it turns out I've developed my own disability, but it involves stamina and energy levels more than mobility. Climbing stairs or crouching and standing leaves me feeling like I've run a hundred miles but luckily, I can sit on my bike for hours and can still put in several hundred miles a day. Just don't ask me to pick up my 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale if it falls over in a parking lot.
Anyway, glad to ear you've managed to get back into biking, maybe we'll run into each other on a ride some day.
I never got my full licence. Can I do that riding a bike with a sidecar? Can I take the drivers train course on a bike with a sidecar? What dollar amount am I looking at to add a sidecar?
Dan
I, too, was severely injured in a motorcycle accident.
That is great that you were able to modify the controls and upgrade the bike components to allow you to safely ride throughout Canada and the US.
Despite the physical and cognitive challenges that I still experience as a result of my accident, like yourself, I never give up.
I was able to get back on a motorcycle and now currently ride a GSXR-1000. I love it!
Check out my web site for more information about my story: http://www.anthonyaquan-assee.com
Namaste,
Anthony