By JERRY WOLFFE
Of The Oakland Press

A Vietnam veteran who lost his legs below the knees soon will be able to jump on a modified Harley-Davidson and ride away — fulfilling a nearly 40-year-old dream.

The veteran, who asked not to be identified, bought a used 2000 Harley-Davidson Softail with a 1450 cc engine for about $13,000, said Tim Beaubien, owner of the American Road Shop in Waterford Township. The Road Shop is modifying the vehicle so it can be operated completely by hand controls.

The Harley was converted to a trike, a three-wheeled motorcycle, so it would provide stability for the owner, since he can’t reach the ground to hold it upright when the motorcycle is stopped.

The $8,000 modification of the transmission, shifter and brakes to be placed on the handlebars is being done by Beaubien and Mike Brause, a certified mechanic who works at the American Road Shop.

The Veteran’s Affairs Administration wrote a prescription for the veteran to cover the costs of the conversion.

Mike Harris, executive director of the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America of Novi, said it’s not at all unusual for the VA to pay for modifications of vehicles or motorcycles for disabled veterans.

“We find that we have a lot of vets who have a hobby and the VA will work with them” to help pay for the equipment the vet needs, Harris said.

“The VA won’t pay for the motorcycle, but it will pay for the adaptations,” he said.

“We have a member who loves to do woodworking and the VA helped him out in his shop,” Harris said of David Peck, a member of the MPVA’s Board of Directors.

“It’s a way for him (the vet with the motorcycle) to get out and do things and quit thinking of the negative,” Harris said.

Beaubien said the motorcycle is being fitted with a dual front and rear breaking system on the right handle bar. Usually the front brake is operated via a single lever on the right handle bar, and the rear brake is operated by a foot pedal.

Beaubien said it will require only normal hand strength to operate the motorcycle hand controls, and the throttle remains unchanged.

A reverse gear — which most motorcycles do not have — is being added to the transmission, since the owner is unable to use his legs to push the motorcycle back. The modified transmission will be controlled by two buttons on the left handle bar. The shifter on a regular motorcycle is operated with the left foot.

The angle of the front wheel and front end of the bike is being raked out by 5 degrees to make it easier to steer, he said.

“He brought the motorcycle in on Saturday and we’re trying to get it done in a week for him,” Beaubien said.

These modifications work on a cruiser-style bike, but not on sport bikes, where the rider leans forward, he said.

Besides the Harley-Davidson model being modified, such modifications to a trike can be done on a Honda Gold Wing or other cruiser “depending on how deep the owner’s pockets are,” Beaubien said.

The American Road Shop’s main business is selling motorcycle parts, accessories, art posters, art, apparel and mechanical service, he said. The Beaubiens — wife Barbara is Tim’s partner — also offer winter storage.

“We would absolutely modify another motorcycle so it can be hand-controlled,” Tim Beaubien said. “Everything ... has gone extremely well.

“We’re really excited about this. Whenever we can keep somebody riding, that’s what we want to do.”