Upon first meeting Kim you would assume he is regular ‘Aussie bloke’ with a hobby for mechanics. On further inspection you would notice his passion for perfection, which is evident in the projects he has created.
A former motorcycle enthusiast, Kim was devastated when an accident led him to become an incomplete paraplegic. He lost the use of both his legs, but not the passion for riding.
Keen to get back on a bike, Kim designed and built two delta tricycles, which could be ridden without the use of his legs. But, being the enthusiast he was, he still craved the feeling he got from riding a two-wheeler.
“I wanted a two wheeler but lacked the legs to use one” Kim said.
It was then that he recalled a segment he saw on television, showing the Dreamfit stabilizer, invented by Darren Lomman, which allows paraplegics to ride motorcycles. He immediately googled Dreamfit Foundation and studied the hand-controlled motorcycle.
Kim’s electric bike, classified by the Australian Design Rules (ADRs) as a power-assisted pedal cycle, has a set of stabiliser wheels, which can be lowered when stationary via electric linear actuators.
“My bike simply would not have been built if it wasn't for the Dreamfit motorcycle I saw on the nightly news,” he said.
Kim started building the bike around 12 months ago, working on it when he could, depending on his health and the accessibility of parts.
“Most parts were from the USA and the wait time is often 2 weeks or more,” he explained.
The bike was designed specifically for Kim’s needs, but a similar model could be upgraded for other incomplete or complete paraplegics, depending on how the disability affects them.
Being able to get around on two wheels is important for Kim. With this bike he is able to attach his wheelchair to the back enabling him to independently ride around and have his wheelchair ready when he arrives at his destination.
After talking ‘bikes’ and ‘mechanics’ with Darren, Kim is already formulating ways to alter and improve his already impressive electric bike.
“I would like to have a go at converting mine to pneumatic (similar to the Dreamfit hand-controlled motorcycle) rather than the electric linear actuators I currently have in use on the bike.”
And this won’t be the last we hear of Kim, he already has ideas for other bikes, allowing him more freedom and exhilaration!Through regular posts on 3 online forums, Kim has attracted an impressive base of over 75,000 fans! It is also through these forums that his projects are made possible through the donations of funding and mechanical parts he receives to keep his projects alive!
“I owe a big thank you to Darren and the Dreamfit Foundation, for the idea that allows me to ride again” he said.
