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Manual training
Mel Brown
Mel Brown
14 Aug 2020

Manual training

Did a private lesson with Stay Upright this morning o learn how to ride a manual. Aced it. John the instructor said I made it look natural. Now to start looking around for a new bike. ?

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Comments
  • Karl Janzik 14 Aug 2020
    awesome
    Reply
  • Spike 14 Aug 2020
    ?Stuff
    Reply
  • loiccanberra 14 Aug 2020
    That's great and I was happy to meet you in real life.
    Reply
    • Mel Brown 14 Aug 2020 author
      loiccanberra, It was lovely to meet you too. Hope your lesson went well?
      Reply
      • loiccanberra 14 Aug 2020
        Mel Brown, Yep it was good, p's circuit playing with the throttle, the clutch and the rear back. Practise is the key.
        Reply
  • colin_duckworth 14 Aug 2020
    Well done, Mel (and you, too, loic). Bet you can’t wait for the weather to improve a bit so you can get out there and practice. Any ideas on what you might buy, Mel?
    Reply
    • Mel Brown 14 Aug 2020 author
      colin_duckworth, Hey Colin. Thanks. I am thinking a naked, something around a 600. I don’t have a specific bike in mind yet but want to stick with the bigger makers like a Suzuki or Honda or Kawasaki. My biggest issue I think is going to be that I am fairly short so I need a lower bike so that I feel comfortable. It is going to be a couple of months before I am in a position to buy so just keeping an eye on bike sales in the meantime and wandering through the dealerships sitting on bikes to get a feel for what I want.
      Reply
      • colin_duckworth 18 Aug 2020
        Mel Brown, Good plan, Mel. Given it’s CBR, though, something with a little screen (at least) might be an idea for winter. I recall a (ex) partner of mine lobbing for a Ducati 600 Monster as her ‘progression’ bike (from a GPX250). If I recall, the seat height on the Duke was lower than the GPX! Maintenance costs on a Duke though... Maybe a Suzi GS500 is with a look?
        Reply
        • Mel Brown 18 Aug 2020 author
          colin_duckworth, I will have a look at that. I am going to do the motorcycle maintenance course when I get a chance but it will take me time to build up my own tools and things.

          And yes I had thought about the advantages of a screen. Especially this morning when I had forgotten to charge the batteries for my gloves and they were both flat. ?
          Reply
          • colin_duckworth 18 Aug 2020
            Mel Brown, Always a good idea to have some mechanical knowledge. And, yes...screen is a good idea here. As is charging the batteries for ya gloves! I’ve been too ‘soft’ to ride to work of late (my normal start time is 0630 hrs). Given I’m a motorcycle postie (these days...doing parcels in vans at the moment) I know all about fingers so frozen you can barely pull the brake on! Not fun!
            Reply
            • Mel Brown 20 Aug 2020 author
              colin_duckworth, Yeah I have some mechanical knowledge already. My dad was a truck driver and taught me a bit. But it never hurts to get more.
              I have ridden in most weather but I did wuss out yesterday just too wet and cold for me. But yeah glove batteries are charged and ready for my next ride. I think I will invest in some that hook up to the bike battery before next winter. ?
              Reply
              • colin_duckworth 23 Aug 2020
                Mel Brown, lol. No shame in wussing out in that weather. Definitely unpleasant. Wasn’t bad today. I managed to get out on Big Bird this morning (heated grips...mmmm) and Bumblebee this arvo. Roll on summer I say.
                Reply
                • Mel Brown 23 Aug 2020 author
                  colin_duckworth, Well spring. I prefer riding in the cold to the heat. Although there is something very nice about getting up to speed on a hot day. Have my batteries charged and thermals ready for the commute tomorrow. ?
                  Reply
                  • colin_duckworth 26 Aug 2020
                    Mel Brown, With the rain gone (so far) and later start times for work this week, I’ve been commuting on the bike! Yay! ‘Sharing the love’ between the GS and the TRX. Mind you, had to be in Fyshwick at 0730 this morning. Bit chilly. And the fog as I went from there to Mitchell!
                    Reply
  • Mel Brown 26 Aug 2020 author
    Yeah I am normally on the bike by about 7.15. Coldest time of the day. But still good to get out. The fog is a pain but only a few days till spring starts. More good riding weather ahead. ?
    Reply
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