Bike of the Week: A Superbike Made for Conquerors
By Stephen W. Clark
Photo Credit: Stephen W. Clark
Bike of the Week: A Superbike Made for ConquerorsThere is a story behind every motorcycle, but few show the willpower and determination of their owners like the story behind Aaron Lanningham's GSXR-1000. Aaron is a paraplegic who not only has overcome his injuries and is able to ride a motorcycle again, but also races it in expert-level races.Bike of the Week: A Superbike Made for Conquerors

Prior to the 1994 accident, Aaron was an up-and-coming club racer who had just began running in AMA Nationals. After doing well in club races in Utah and Colorado, Aaron decided to do some of the AMA National races further west. He ran well in Phoenix, Las Vegas and Laguna Seca, which prompted him to head to the east side of the country to hit a couple of more rounds there.
At the track in Loudon, N.H., while running in ninth position on his ZXR750, Aaron highsided and hit the wall. He was knocked out for about 30 seconds. When he regained consciousness, he says, his whole body felt like it was on fire. Aaron spent almost three weeks in a Loudon hospital, where it was discovered that he had suffered a T-12 spinal injury, which was the reason for loss of feeling and movement below the bottom of his rib cage.

Aaron's injury is what is known as an "incomplete injury" because he does have a little movement in his legs, which is most likely due to a steroid shot that Aaron received shortly after the accident.
Bike of the Week: A Superbike Made for ConquerorsAaron completed a year of rehabilitation back home in Salt Lake City, learning how to live without the use of his legs. But it would take more than a life-changing accident to stop Aaron's love for racing. About two years after the accident, Aaron was once again on the racetrack -- but this time, he was behind the wheel of a racecar. Aaron was fairly successful in racing cars, running a motorcycle-powered Legend car on dirt and asphalt tracks. "I liked the asphalt racing as it was similar to bikes, but I always needed someone's help to race," Aaron said. "It was costing a lot of money, so in 2001, I decided to get out of car racing and pursue something different."
Around the same time, Aaron read an article in Sport Rider magazine about a motorcycle with a stabilizer. Before long, Aaron built a stabilizer kit and fitted it to a Honda Superhawk. "The first time I rode it, I duct-taped my feet to the bike and just took off." And with every bike since the Superhawk, Aaron has further perfected the system. His current ride, a GSXR-1000, is an incredible machine.
Bike of the Week: A Superbike Made for ConquerorsBike of the Week: A Superbike Made for ConquerorsThe GSXR-1000 is built to Superbike specifications and is pushing around 180hp. There are a ton of trick parts on this bike, like Brembo brakes, Ohlins suspension and Marchesini wheels. But the most unique modifications are the ones that allow Aaron to ride the bike with his disability. On the back of the bike is a two-wheel stabilizer system that when going slow, Aaron can put down using a toggle switch on the clip-on. The stock foot pegs have been modified with stirrups that keep Aaron's feet on the pegs when riding. All braking and shifting is done with his hands using a push-button gear shifter. The back brake has also been completely removed. Without the use of his legs, Aaron's riding style is unique, as he has to use his upper body to turn the bike. To make this easier, Aaron uses clip-ons that bring the controls above the triple clamp.

With these modifications, Aaron is able to escape life in a wheelchair and once again ride a motorcycle. And boy, does he ride it. He's very fast. While I'm out on the track going at what I feel is a fast pace, Aaron will come flying by like I am standing still. It's amazing that he's able to not only ride the bike, but ride it as fast as he does. It's absolutely incredible.