Claudia Calleja
Bike’s reincarnation as three-wheeler
Video: Mark Zammit Cordina
When Martin Calleja wrecked his motorcycle in a traffic accident three years ago, in which he lost his arm and had to be fitted with a prostheses, he feared that would be the end of his biking days.
Despite the severity of the accident, the passion for biking remained bubbling inside him and, aware of this, his biker friends started concocting a plan that would help him ride again.
The idea was to inject new life into Mr Calleja’s old bike by turning it into a three-wheeler he could steer with his mechanical arm.
Inspired by the brand of the bike, a Honda Blackbird, the trike was christened the Tri Bird and it is almost ready for its first flight.
“Biking is a passion you are born with... once the passion is inside you, you can’t remove it... After the accident I didn’t want to have to get rid of my bike,” Mr Calleja said.
His biker friend Spiru Spiteri added: “When Martin was in hospital the idea started brewing in my head to turn his wrecked bike into a three-wheeler he could drive, similar to the one I have.
“We wanted to first wait and see how things turned out for him. When Martin left hospital we told him: You can still remain a biker,” he said.
The retired engineer led the project, carried out with the help of other bikers and Mr Calleja’s 17-year-old son Luke. The plan was to build a reverse trike that has two wheels in the front, instead of the back, for easier steering.
They commissioned the building of the trike’s frame and built the rest themselves using the parts from the Honda.
With the help of fund-raising activities, like a recent bike ride organised by television programme On The Road, other parts they needed were either bought, donated or handmade by Luke.
The skilled teenager also built a mechanical arm for his father using scrap pieces of metal and a small motor from an old radio-controlled model. The arm, called the electric claw, opens and closes and allows his father to hold things – something his original prostheses did not do.
Almost two years after the Tri Bird project started, it is finally near completion. All it needs are the cosmetic body works, fine tuning and testing for roadworthiness.
“Apart from the fact that biking is my passion, this project is a form of mental therapy as it occupies many days and stops me worrying about my disability and constant phantom pains,” Mr Calleja said.
The accident happened in August 2008 when Mr Calleja was riding along the St Paul’s Bay bypass on his motorcycle. A four-wheel drive suddenly steered into him to avoid another car. The impact sent him hurling towards a crash barrier that sliced off his arm on impact.
After coming to the terms with the fact that his arm had been amputated above the elbow, Mr Calleja is now determined to ensure the accident does not rob him of his passion for biking. His friends are backing him on this.
Anyone who wishes to learn more about the Tri Bird project, or make a donation, can visit the Facebook page entitled Tri Bird Malta or access You Tube videos under the headings “electric claw” and “Tri Bird”.
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Mr Carmel Pule'
Apr 26th 2011, 21:28
Congratulations. Now I hope that the Malta Transport Authority will not find it too hard to licence it, as it is now. I want to do the same, build a car reminiscent of the old early cars. But they tell me that it is almost impossible to get it licenced in Malta. Regarded this matter of assisting Ingenious people, America seems to permit new ingenuities to go on the road with less restriction than Malta.
Congratulations. In Malta ingenious people are handicapped in many ways.
As far as crash barriers are concerned, many years ago in the Times I published the fact that our barriers have no daming action and could be killers. Also I complained at come bends having an ever tightening radius which play havoc on skidding. Also at Cospicua now that the Busses have been taken over by foreigners, some tight bends are being modified. Many years ago I complained about the final bend out of San Gwan Tghuxa, and nothing was done about it, but now that foreigners have spoken about it, our authorities have obeyed. It takes foreigners to run this country!! And you know what some local people went to the same universities as these foreigners!!
Prosit for the trike.
Jesmond Micallef
Apr 27th 2011, 14:13
Greetings Profs. Pule'.
I agree with your idea that crash barriers should have an effective energy absorbing function too. Crash barriers are not meant to be rock solid as it may prove to be lethal to the occupants. Crumple zones within vehicle structures serve this purpose and provide additional safety to the vehicle's occupants in cases of accidental high energy impact.
Your reference to foreingers and America is a good one. America is quite cool in this regard as there is quite alot of freedom in this respect, mind you educated freedom. One aspect that comes to mind is the massive homebuild aircraft industry there. But, you left the EU out of this I'm afraid and needless to say, that all of them have a history of needing oneanother, this same medium of language communication is evidence of this, just to start with. There are other historical instances where foreigners have and continue to help those who need help, Profs. Pule', rest assured and have no doubt about it.
Mr Martin Calleja
May 1st 2011, 18:33
I thank you Mr. Pule, you always post encouraging notes.
Crash barriers are lethal, unfortunately, I have the scares to prove it.
In Malta we do have very ingenious people and it is a shame that we do not recognise them fully.
Regards MC.
Mr Martin Calleja
Apr 26th 2011, 17:53
Thank you Mr. F. Portelli, very well explained, you took the words out of my mouth!
I personally thank, Mr. Dominic Abela and Dr. Zammit Lupi who where the first to help on the site of my accident. All those at Mater Dei, ITU, various wards, hyperbaric unit, burns unit, the staff of physiotherapy at St. Luke's, especially my physiotherapist, Mr. Simon Cila, where I still attend sessions up to this day. The pain clinic for soothing my phantom pains and all the Specialists, Doctors, Nurses and Staff, for saving my life and a speedy recovery. I thank, my family for staying by my side at all times and at all costs. When times are hard for and for times when I am difficult.
This project has helped me recover from my accident and adapting to my new life as a disabled person. The help of many, close friends, Tonio-'Paqpaq', Pierre-'On D Road', Claudia-'Times of Malta', 'Kuki Team', fellow bikers and other good hearted persons, is turning, my dream of riding something close to a bike as possible, into a reality.
I am a very lucky person, I have the support of my good friends and members of the family. I pray for those whom are in the same situation or even worse and they do not have the support that I have.
For all this I am grateful.
MC.
Frank Portelli 2BFRANK
Apr 26th 2011, 14:45
Martin Calleja has been an inspiration to all of us ever since his tragic accident.
Martin has made great strides following his horrendous injury
He has had unflinching support from his wife Janet, and his children Luke and Rachel.
His friends especially “the bikers” have been there for him too and they continue to support him.
Martin owes his life to the Medical and Nursing staff at Mater Dei and a quick thinking doctor who happened to arrive on the scene of the accident.
I would hope that we can make our roads safer for bikers especially with regards to crash barriers.
Ordinary Crash Barriers are lethal for bikers --- as they act like a ham slicer.
Not surprisingl Bikers fare better if they crash into a wall rather than into a crash Barrier
Providing crash barriers that have plastic or rubber fittings can make crash barriers less lethal for bikers
Some of our roads remain a death trap for motorists and bikers alike.
http://www.fema.ridersrights.org/crashbarrier/index.html
Jesmond Micallef
Apr 26th 2011, 14:38
The relationship between father and son is a unique one. Both should do thier very best to enjoy eachother. I congratulate Mr. Martin Calleja and his family but also to his son Luke who got his brains going in finding a sloution to his father's minute inconvenience. Congratulations to the team of bikers here also who got together in finding a solution to Martin's biker's soul. I guess the crave to that exhillerating ride a motorbike offers is too much for a biker's passion to forget. Very nice reading and well done to the timesofmalta.com.
Mr Martin Calleja
Apr 26th 2011, 17:55
Thanks Mr. Micallef, your comments are a great boost to myself.
Jesmond Micallef
Apr 26th 2011, 18:09
You are most definitely welcome, Mr. Calleja.