My son is getting his first bike, an XR80, for his birthday next month (bought a mint used '03 a few weeks back, hiding it in my rental storage). A couple of weeks ago, I got the brilliant idea that I'd teach him how to use a clutch...on my XR400.
So, on an evening when my wife was working late, off we go to the nearest vacant, flat area just outside of the 'hood. The first few rounds, with me riding pillion, I start him off and let him tool around in 1st gear, occasionally shifting to second, back down to first, and braking. Doing well, smooth throttle control, decent timing on shifting, etc. Now it's time for him to try starting from a dead stop. Now granted, the clutch lever travel is a bit long for a 10 year-old's hands, and with my 215 pounds of ass on the seat and his 115 lbs...well, I'm pretty understanding and patient when he stalls it through the first 6 tries. He's getting frustrated, but nowhere near giving up. I wish I could have seen the determination on his face when he tried the seventh time, because he obviously said "Screw this shit!" to himself as he rev'd the motor and dumped the clutch, and BAM!, put the bike on its tail-end and both of us on our asses! As soon as I was sure he was okay (the bike shot out away from us and fell over to the right), and he was sure that I wasn't pissed, we cracked our asses up for at least 10 minutes before gaining enough composure to start over. We were near a pretty busy boulevard, so no telling how many people saw the "action." :rotfl: After getting on the bike again, second try and we were rolling. When we got home, he said "Dad, that was the most fun I have ever had without getting hurt!" Datsa ma boy!
My wife is now a bit concerned.
So, on an evening when my wife was working late, off we go to the nearest vacant, flat area just outside of the 'hood. The first few rounds, with me riding pillion, I start him off and let him tool around in 1st gear, occasionally shifting to second, back down to first, and braking. Doing well, smooth throttle control, decent timing on shifting, etc. Now it's time for him to try starting from a dead stop. Now granted, the clutch lever travel is a bit long for a 10 year-old's hands, and with my 215 pounds of ass on the seat and his 115 lbs...well, I'm pretty understanding and patient when he stalls it through the first 6 tries. He's getting frustrated, but nowhere near giving up. I wish I could have seen the determination on his face when he tried the seventh time, because he obviously said "Screw this shit!" to himself as he rev'd the motor and dumped the clutch, and BAM!, put the bike on its tail-end and both of us on our asses! As soon as I was sure he was okay (the bike shot out away from us and fell over to the right), and he was sure that I wasn't pissed, we cracked our asses up for at least 10 minutes before gaining enough composure to start over. We were near a pretty busy boulevard, so no telling how many people saw the "action." :rotfl: After getting on the bike again, second try and we were rolling. When we got home, he said "Dad, that was the most fun I have ever had without getting hurt!" Datsa ma boy!
My wife is now a bit concerned.
