Home-built Wheelchair Thrills Easyriders Bike Show [video]

The name Matt Cuddy should need no introduction to Motorcycle.com readers. Not only does he have more than 5,000 posts on our forum, he’s also written dirt bike tests for us, including the 2010 and 2011 Kawasaki KX450F reviews.

Making this accomplishment more noteworthy is the fact that Matt is a paraplegic – he was hit by a car several years ago while riding his motorcycle.

Despite the limitations of his current condition, the motorcycle bug still has a deep bite on Matt – both dirt and street. Although he can’t ride a two-wheeler anymore, that hasn’t stopped him from riding on two wheels – on his gas-powered wheelchair!

Last weekend, Matt went with a couple of buddies to the Easyriders bike show at the Los Angeles Staples Center. He arrived on his recently completed wheelchair, which, in true gearhead form, is powered by a hopped-up Honda 70cc clone motor.

“I was tooling around the show when this big red carpet that went down the middle of the show opened up with no people,” Cuddy explains. “So I cranked up the wheelchair and did a big wheelie down through the show, got a lot of clapping, people taking pictures, etc.”

Matt’s performance also made an impression on the show’s organizers, who were preparing for a stunt show to entertain the audience. Matt was enlisted as the opening act for Jason Pullen, a talented stunter who performs on a Harley Sportster.

“I opened the show by doing some wheelies and high-speed passes in the newly re-built gas-powered chair,” Cuddy relates. “A lot of people took pictures and asked me for my name so they could contact me later to see if I could build one for their paralyzed son, brother, friend, etc.”

Luckily for us, Matt’s buddy Al captured the spectacle on video. Way to go, Matt!

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Related Reading
2011 Kawasaki KX450F Review: First Impressions
2010 Kawasaki KX450F Review

By Kevin Duke