This morning we woke to rain, but had a chance to get out between showers for some riding. I drove the Ninja 250 to a local school parking lot while my son followed in my truck. The plan was to let him drive/practice with the Ninja 250 so he could get used to the handling, clutch, throttle, brakes, etc.
I was pleasantly surprised at how well he handled the Ninja 250...smooth gear shifting, braking and acceleration. The team of instructors from last week's course did an excellent job teaching him how to ride a street bike!
My son spent about an hour practicing with the Ninja 250 with stops and starts, some slow riding and accelerating through the gears. He stopped and we talked a bit about his driving and the bike. I asked him how the bike handled and felt, he said, "Dad, it handles so much better than the bikes we trained on last weekend and the clutch is sweet!"
As we were talking, the sky became darker and we heard thunder off in the distance. We figured we had better head for home. My son drove the Ninja home with me following behind in my truck, he did very well driving on the street! As soon as we drove the Ninja 250 into the yard, the clouds let loose...good timing!
As a father, I am just thrilled to be able to share my passion for motorcycling with my son. He still has a lot to learn and will be traveling with me for the next little while. I learned to drive by taking the Canada Safety Council Motorcycle Training Course and I am glad my son has too (like he had a choice)! For others who want to learn how to drive, a motorcycle training course is essential!
Until next time, ride safe!
