Is it possible to switch or change the position of the throttle on a motorcycle?

Question

Is it possible to switch or change the position of the throttle on a motorcycle?
Example: Could the throttle and brake controls be placed on the left side of the handle bars and the clutch be moved over to the right? Also, is there another way to adapt or change up the throttle for persons with limited hand mobility or other disabilities?

Answer 1

Anything is possible.I've converted Harley's to foot clutch and jockey shift.Only problem i see is having throttle and clutch on same side.If you moved clutch to right side you would have to figure out how to move front brake to left side.This could present a problem if master cylinder is attached it would be upside down.Just a thought but maybe use a squeeze type throttle control similar to jet-ski or snowmobile instead of twist type and leave everything where it is.There is always a way you just have to get creative and think ahead.

Answer 2

It COULD be done.
Exile Cycles have rigged bikes that didn't have a front brake lever. Everything is controlled with the rear brake pedal. The fluid is distributed through a proportioning valve.
The throttle would work best with a 2 cable housing, then the cable run can be switched. In other words, the cable to open the throttle NOW closes it, and vice versa.
This just leaves the clutch, which you'd have to mount on the right hand bar.
Another thought. Exile Cycles also has a setup the instead of a clutch lever on the left bar, the left grip is twisted, like the throttle is on the right.

Answer 3

I did this once on a Triumph 250 for a friend who had lost his right hand in Vietnam. He could work the front brake but could not twist the throttle. I switched the throttle to the left side and moved his right-hand switches to a plate I made and mounted between the handle bar mounts.
Most bikes have their throttle and switches all mounted in the same assembly. I would leave the right hand switch where it was and buy a universal throttle assembly for the left side.
If you have to, you could also re-do the brakes so that both front and rear brakes are applied with the foot pedal.
This isn't as hard as it seems since a lot of bikes now come with a valve that evens out brake pressure on both wheels.
Either set the valve differently, or get a different valve.
This job would require a bit more expertise then you have so I would consult a shop.

Answer 4

It depends on the make, model and year of the bike.
If the bike had hydraulic F brake and cable activated clutch, it would be improbable, but not impossible.
Switching the F brake master cylinder to the left side, the master cylinder would be up-side down.
If the brake had hydraulic clutch & F brake, the hoses could simply be exchanged between the 2.
You could simply switch the throttle to the left, but you'd have to roll it forward to accelerate.
Depending on the bike and the way the throttle was assembled, the cables might be switchable to roll the grip backwards.
Or if it was a single cable, the inards of the throttle could be modified to work normally.
I've seen a bike with the throttle on the left.
The person didn't have use of their right hand.

Answer 5

It can be done, and by the way Doohan had a rear thumb brake on the left side because his right ankle was immobile. There is a roadracer with all the hand controls on one side as he only has 1 full arm. I'm sure you could put a throttle and one regular lever and one thumb lever on the same side, you would just need to figure out whether to have the clutch as a thumb lever or the brake.

Answer 6

The current layout was mandated by federal laws, but there's nothing to prevent you from swapping positions. As stated before, if you merely swap the controls from right to left, your throttle will operate backwards, and your brake reservoir will be upside down - if they work at all. However, there are used to be some manufacturers of handicap accessories that might've been able to help. Most of the one's I've known have been sued out of existence because their clients "weren't informed of the possible consequences" of non-standard accessories. I used to make sidecars for handicap access and operation, but no longer. Handicap or not, certain people are a litigious bunch, so the industry no longer exists

Answer 7

its been done before..

when MICK DOOHAN had hand problems the factory fitted a thumb opperated throtle on the left handle bar above the clutch lever...