[acde]

I’m intrested in riding a bike for basicly fun going to work too but it’s only 1 mile away so my car wil do fine. Anyway I lost 100% of my vision in my left eye 3 years ago, Been driving for 11 years. Would it be safe for me to ride on a motorcycle 250R? I want to have fun but not at the risk of my life Mike

[ShannonG]

Left eye blindness would interfere in your ability to shoulder check , see oncoming traffic when it was close to you, see cars passing you ( like you need me to tell you that). Are you licensed to drive a car? How do you find it? Your peripherals are compromised in a helmet anyway so maybe you would find your impediment is less of a factor on a motorcycle.

[RydRy]

Id second shannons voice on this- and the constant scanning you MUST do on a bike is very tiring ont he eye(s)

[Ben]

If you can drive with one eye you can ride with one eye.

Ben
~Best Beginner Motorcycles Admin

[AzN LogiK]

I think it might mess with your peripheral vision, which is needed because other drivers are ignorant of us bikers. I’d say try it on a bicycle first for a couple weeks until you are comfortable with that. I went to UC Davis, where we all bike, and i actually find that better if it’s within 5 or 10 miles. Also much more healthy and cheaper, and it’s much easier working on a bicycle than a motorcycle.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely not. You’ll kill yourself.

[Matt]

Mike, the question is really only one you can answer. Obviously depth perception isn’t a problem, and general situational awareness isn’t problem, as you’ve driven just fine for a decade.

What you need to know is how significant is your loss of situational awareness? And how can you minimize or even overcome entirely that loss?

Now, it isn’t like you can’t see your left mirror from your right eye. So the only true issue is the 90 or so degrees to your left with your neck fully cranned that you can’t see with your right eye. How much overlap is there between that and your mirrors? What can you do to maximize that overlap? Convex mirrors (like the ones on big trucks that allow the driver to see down on the ride below the hood) might be an answer.

I’m certain there are other one-eye’d riders out there. I’m sure some of them have even figured out how to do it safely. But it will take additional effort on your part.

Actually, a really good source of information would be found in the veterans support world. Eye damage is not uncommon on the modern battlefield, and returning soldiers have long been one of the big buyers of motorcycles. These days the government works pretty hard to get vets back into a normal life. I’m sure somewhere out there are resources and tools for exactly your situation. Not know anything about the specifics of the US veterans support infrastructure, I can’t even suggest where to start

[ShannonG]

Every time I hear the word ‘peripherals’ I think of 40 Year Old Virgin.

[Author]

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