Learner Rider

Ahhhh, what a pleasure to be more consistently achieving smooth clutching and gear changes!

The satisfaction of smoothly meshing revs into the next gear, either up or down, or even some other unusual circumstances (like going up a gear after coming through an urban corner, yet easing off acceleration in preparation for slow traffic ahead - trust me it’s a possibility when you don’t want the hard braking power of 2nd).

The bike’s sweet sound in gratitude, no engine over or under revving, no slight chain slap in the gear box (felt through your left foot and legs, maybe heard though I’m not sure) - just pure power take-up (yes even on a CB250!). The right sound, the right feel, the right response from the bike… ready for whatever comes next.

It is a pleasure worth working at each and every gear change. To build the muscle memory so that you don’t have to think for a millisecond to get it right. That’s what practice started to bring today on another ride out to Maroubra before dusk. Niiice!