Anyone here ride motorcycles? ASD a factor?

Post Reply New Topic

~2/3rds of the way through a comprehensive beginner class. 2 evenings of classroom presentation/lectures, then 2 days of parking lot riding/instruction. Another couple evenings of road riding coming up. We've had 4 different instructors (3 on the bikes) so learning a lot from a lot of very experienced instructors/racers etc.

Anyways, today I realized the very limited range of motion I have in my ankles - apparently even for a tall guy with long leg bones. The instructor had never seen anyone before with the issues I had. On this particular bike, at least, I can't physically place my left foot in the textbook location to shift gears because I don't have the range of motion to do it. He was perplexed looking at my leg/ankle like "Uuh, wtf? Just move it like this.." and I'm like "No, you don't get it - that's it - full stop - that's the end of my range of motion; I cannot pivot my foot more." So we had to come up with a different approach that would work for me.

Same thing, similar motion direction with the right foot for using the rear brake.. I could not place my foot in the textbook position and pivot it to use the brake, and again he had to come up with a workaround that works for my biomechanics.

Some minor issues with clutch/throttle coordination/regulation etc, and Doing the things I Knew I should.. and I'm not sure how much of that is ASD/Dyspraxia related and how much is just lack of experience and will improve. I did get better at pretty much everything over these couple of days and expect to improve a lot more with practice.

It's a bit annoying/frustrating.. but, it is what it is. I'll probably never ride a race bike (most people don't, anyways.) or maybe not a high powered sport bike or anything.. But, at least I'll be able to ride something that's comfortable for me with a couple workarounds.

With the foot/ankle range of motion thing.. I wasn't expecting that. I do have an Aspie "gait," to my step, but I'm not a toe-walker like my sister and a friend of mine, so this issue was a bit of a surprise to me. I use my feet for clutch/brake/gas in my car, but that's way easier because your legs lift and move whereas for this they want your foot braced against the foot peg and then pivoting up & I can only move my each of my feet so far up and it's Not enough to operate the controls properly. Oh well, I can still make it work - just differently.

Anyone else have the same or similar issues? Get easier/improve over time with practice? Any work arounds you've adapted for yourself? Hmmm, you'd only know if you had to adapt IF you took proper lessons and were shown the ideal ways to do things I suppose.. otherwise you're just doing what feels natural - which could be dangerous.. Or could be totally fine since it's an adapted workaround you'd have had to employ, anyways.

Also, my out of shape twin brother who does not drive cars at all did better than I did. He's always been more coordinated - but he's far less athletic. But it takes coordination to do this, not athleticism. Apparently the number one most difficult machine for a human to operate is a helicopter (because of all the various controls that have to be operated simultaneously by hands and feet) and the number two most difficult machine for a human to operate is a motorcycle. It's definitely one of those things that's far more complicated than it looks. I'll get it well enough to ride around safely on the roads just fine, but I accept that I have physical limitations that may prevent me from ever riding certain bikes or doing certain high level coordinated riding. Ah well, such is life - at least I Can ride one.

_________________
No for supporting trump. Because doing so is deplorable.

I had no trouble riding motorcycles. Your range of motion can probably be improved by standard physiotherapy techniques. If you have doubts, try becoming expert on bicycles first.

I owned two different motorcycles in my early to mid twenties. I enjoyed riding them very much. They were thrilling. I had a friend at the time who I rode with which made it more fun.

It can be scary sometimes like riding in the rain on wet pavement.

Wear a helmet with a face shield and be sure to keep the shield down. The one time I was close to a dangerous situation was when I was riding at highway speed with my helmet on but the face shield up. With no warning I was hit in the face by a large flying beetle. It was painful and disorienting. Not a good combo. It felt like a rock from a slingshot.

If you're a bit uncoordinated like me, you WILL get burned by the engine or pipes until you learn your way around the bike.

Can stretching help your range of motion?

I might be able to increase my range of motion via simple stretches as I have been a bit more flexible in the past when I was regularly doing some basic yoga. But I doubt I'll gain thaaaat much movement - not as much as my range is short by. I legit think it's a physical biomechanical thing of some sort that constrains it - like maybe short tendons or something. I'll try some stretches for a while and see if it makes things easier to move over time.

We're taking our time and doing things right. We're taking lessons with the best & most reputable school in BC - this is where pro athletes and local celebrities go to be taught because the course design & instructors are the best. Then we'll do everything else as safe as possible, too, from practice to protective gear.

I'm not discouraged from doing this. I might get momentarily frustrated with something - but I don't give up.

_________________
No for supporting trump. Because doing so is deplorable.

Short tendons are not genetic. I had my arm in a sling for a couple of months, and nearly lost the use of my shoulder. To get enough therapy, I made a rig I could use while at the computer.

I’ll never get on a motorcycle even to ride on one.

I have had one Honda CRM 75cc in my youth (cross type) and another Honda, a Hornet 500cc (naked), in my late thirties. Riding a bike gives you a sort of freedom you don't have with a car.

The "problems" with being an aspie:

- It took me a little more time to get the motorcycle driving licence than my peers, mostly because my balance skills are awful.

- I could not take risks, make races, and touch the asfalt with my knee when taking bends like other dudes. The reason: maybe my motor skills are also in the left portion of Gauss Curve.

- For the rest, it is a good idea be a motard

As rough as I am with my clutch hand (NOT as forgiving as a car, I need a lot of practice.) I passed my MSA test a few days back which means I can ride without supervision and at any speed. Went on a local road ride a couple nights ago, then a highway ride to downtown Vancouver and back last night. Stalled more times than I'd like, but did ok. I'll probably buy something early Spring and practice a lot before booking a road test for a full licence - which would mean I could ride at night and have a passenger, other than that there's no difference.

This will make me a better car driver, too. Not just for safety on the road, but for smoother shifting as I'm more focused on things when I drive now.

_________________
No for supporting trump. Because doing so is deplorable.

I've fallen off every motorcycle I've ridden but I seriously doubt that's ASD related

I don't think ASD is a factor.


I've been exposed to motorcycles and been on them for as long as I could remember. Both my parents rides them, and their main means of transport.
So I've been always aware how motocycle passengers must also be 'careful', even if they're not the driver.

When I tried bicycles as a child, I did well. I'm the only girl daring enough to go fast and make the whole bike jump.

I tried to ride a motorcycle twice -- once with my mom's, but it didn't last long. Another one that I couldn't, because it's too heavy for me to handle.


At this present, I'm severely out of practice. I could barely turn a bike without stumbling. Riding on motorcycles is out of the question.
But I could always get on one, even the risky kinds.

Gained Number Post Count (1).
Lose Time (n).

Lose more time here - Updates at least once a week.

Sounds nice but can't afford one. Here in Ontario you need to be insured all 12 months of the year even if you only drive it in the summer. Total rip off on top of our already overpriced insurance premiums.