Back on the Road: Assistive Tech Integration on a 2024 Harley Road King
Assistive Motorcycle lh Conversion harley-davidson road glide
At Elliott Motorcycles, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy the open road—regardless of physical limitations. When we were approached by a rider in New Zealand who had sustained a disability in an accident, our task was clear: modify a brand-new Harley-Davidson Road King to enable left-hand-only operation without compromising ride quality, aesthetics, or factory reliability.
Our customer was eager to get back in the saddle after his accident, but his physical limitations required that all primary controls be relocated to the left-hand side of the motorcycle. The biggest priorities included:
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Left-hand-only control of both clutch and front brake
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Retention of OEM components wherever possible to preserve warranty coverage and part compatibility
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Throttle re-engineering to allow the throttle to give the same feel and progression with a LH action.
The Harley-Davidson Road King is equipped with an electronic throttle (ride-by-wire), adding further complexity to a full left-side conversion.
Throttle System Redesign
The most technically complex aspect was the throttle system. Because the 2024 Road King uses a ride-by wire system, we had to design and manufacture a custom housing that allowed the throttle position sensor to function in the opposite rotational direction, while still maintaining a smooth progressive throttle response.
During the prototyping phase, we used in-house additive manufacturing to quickly test fitments and functional concepts. Once the design was finalised, we CNC-machined the throttle housing from nylon. Nylon was specifically chosen for its low friction, high wear resistance, and ability to maintain tight tolerances—critical for the smooth and precise operation of throttle ramps in a safety-critical application.
This allowed us to reverse the throttle direction while maintaining the responsive, linear feel Harley-Davidsons are known for. Finally, and ultra slim lightweight casing wash machined on the lathe to house the throttle position sensor in its new location.
The Outcome
The final result was a bespoke, road-safe Harley-Davidson Road King that looks stock at first glance but features completely re-engineered control ergonomics tailored to the rider’s specific needs.
The motorcycle was inspected and approved by the New Zealand road authority, ensuring full compliance with local safety standards. Thanks to these modifications, our client has been able to return to many happy hours on the road, enjoying the freedom of motorcycling once again.
Importantly, the cost of the assistive technology conversion was covered by New Zealand Disability Services, making the process not only technically successful but also financially accessible for the rider.
Thanks to our engineering experience, adaptive design capability, and commitment to rider independence, our client can once again enjoy the open road on his brand new motorcycle.
